Making sound investment decisions is very important, regardless of if you’re a well-seasoned investor or a novice. It increases your chances of receiving a favorable return on your investment. And of course, since everyone wants to decrease the risk associated with making investments, it’s important to develop the key traits that other great investors have developed in the past. That may mean getting up a little earlier, studying the way industry more or better applying yourself to investment strategies if you are currently investing or planning to become an investor in the future. If so, be sure that you acquire these critical seven traits before moving forward.

1. Discipline

One of the things that many successful investors have is discipline. In order to be good at investing there are a lot of things that must take place, including things such as:

– follow up and follow-through
– finding systems that help keep you current and up to date with the latest investment trends
– controlling your spending
– doing an adequate amount of due diligence
– reducing or controlling making compulsive investments and so forth.

Maintaining these areas can play a key role in having the level of discipline needed to make effective investment decisions that yield great results.

2. Time Commitment

Making good, sound investments take time. Successful investors take the time needed to effectively assess their personal finances during different stages of their lives to better determine how much of a risk they can afford to take. Adequate time must be put into researching the market prior to making good investment decisions. This allows seasoned investors to make the necessary adjustments to their investment strategies far in advance of any foreseeable major life events. For example, major life events such as the birth of a child, having to pay for tuition, going into retirement, or anticipating divorce or even the death of a loved one can have a significant impact on your investment efforts. Successful investors put in the time to reassess and re-balance their accounts to reduce risks.

3. Confidence and Assurance

Successful investors are also confident about their investment decisions. This is because they use facts, historical information and perform research prior to making investment decisions. This provides them with the confidence and assurance that is needed to make the best investment decision possible.

Additionally, great investors also know exactly what to do should there be a crash in the stock market. They have learned not to overreact in these situations but to rely on prior techniques and strategies that they can use to guide them during stressful situations.

4. Risk Tolerance and Management

Successful investors know and understand that there is some level of risk associated with making an investment in the stock market or other investments. To better manage and reduce the risk associated with such investments, they perform an assessment of how much risk they can tolerate. That way, if any losses take place, they are not financially crippled as a result of it.

One of their other strategies consists of diversification, studying the markets and not being easily moved by what’s going on in the news.

5. Knowledge and Experience

Successful investors, even if they are new to investing, acquire a certain level of knowledge about investing before they make their investment choices. They can either rely on their own personal investing experience or surround themselves with others who are experts in the field.

Basically, successful investors avoid making decisions without having the proper knowledge to guide them. Having knowledge in advance can be used as a means to allow financial literacy to become the foundation for making sound investment decisions and better financial choices overall.

Scott Langdon from MoneyTaskForce.com says, “knowledge helps you to not only know the price of various things but to know the value of them too.”

6. Keeping Up With the Current Investment Trends

In order to make the best investment choices possible, it’s imperative to keep up with the current market trends. Not only this, but it’s equally as important to have a sense of history about various market conditions as well. The history can be used as a reference point when making vital investment decisions, as financial trends sometimes repeat themselves.

Great investors are also knowledgeable about areas such as:

– capital gain holding periods
– foreign, political and legal issues that could impact the market, and so forth.

Basically, successful investors keep themselves well-informed about a wide variety of things that could have an impact on their investment products. To that end, successful investors keep themselves well-informed about a wide variety of things that could impact their investment choices and you should too.

7.Patience and Determination

These last two traits are very important. Although they are both very different, both are very necessary.

Because becoming a good investor takes time to develop, you need to have the patience to develop the skills needed to be effective. As a result, it takes patience to arrive at the best investment decision that yields the most effective outcome.

You must also be determined to make the investment that yields the best results. Here’s what I mean, you must be determined to find the right investment vehicle and the right strategy as opposed to taking unnecessary risks.

This combo trait allows you to implement both patience and determination whereby you can press forward to get through any uncertainties or challenges during the investment process.

As with other successful investors, you can win at the game of investing by pushing yourself forward based on the financial course that you have set for yourself.

Of course, this may require a great deal of time and patience to pull off. But it will certainly be well worth the wait.

To sum up, if you want to become a successful investor, it’s important to adopt the qualities mentioned here in this guide. It can help transform your investment efforts from being an average investor to becoming a well-seasoned pro.

If you’re a business owner, you’ll need a credit card for large payments for your business. For personal use, a credit card can help you in budgeting and purchasing items you badly need when you’re out of cash. 

Whether for personal or business use, using a credit card is convenient, and it’s a good way of building a credit history. Also, you can attain financial independence with the proper use of credit cards, and this can only be achieved if you kickstart and open one. 

So, how do you choose your first credit card? Check some helpful tips below. 

Evaluate Your Financial Situation

It’s important to assess your current financial situation by starting evaluating your credit score. Your creditworthiness is reflected in your credit score, which typically ranges from 350 to 850. You can request a copy of your credit score from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You’ll be eligible for higher credit limits and lower interest rates if you have a high credit score. Of course, you can choose one of the best first credit cards that will help you financially. 

What if you don’t have a credit history? It’s still possible to get approved for a credit card even without a credit history because you can build yours. Here’s how:

• Applying for a secured credit card is a great way to build a credit history. It usually requires a cash deposit, and those who have little to no credit history can apply.

• Using a co-signer on a credit card application is another method to have your first credit card approved even without a credit history. A co-signer will back you up and serve as a witness that you have the ability to pay back credit card debt. However, misusing a credit card and building up debt can negatively affect the credit score of the co-signer.

Know the Risks and Benefits

Before getting your first credit card, you have to understand the risks in order to avoid misuse or abuse. While you can buy whatever you with your credit card, even small but frequent purchases will tend to accumulate and sum up to a large amount of money. 

Ask the representative of the bank or financial institution to explain to you in layman’s terms the risks and benefits of the type of credit card they’re offering. Don’t hesitate to ask relevant questions concerning credit card use, impact on your credit score, and other financial matters you want to discuss. In that way, all the details on the terms and conditions are clear to you to avoid blaming yourself at the end.

Know the Credit Card Charges and Fees

It’s important to understand the different credit card fees so you can avoid them. Of course, you don’t want to pay a lot of money on these fees apart from the amount of money you borrowed. Remember that finance charges are not fixed amounts like other fees, and they change depending on the interest rate. The balance is usually carried over from one month to another after the grace period (usually 21 to 25 days) ends.

Here are some of the credit card fees you should be aware of:

• Annual Fees: Credit cards with annual fees tend to offer great rewards programs. But, you can avoid this yearly fee by using reward cards and choosing a credit card provider that doesn’t charge annual fees. 

• Foreign Transaction Fees: If you purchase an item outside the country, you’ll be charged with a foreign transaction fee, which is two to three percent of the total purchase amount.

• Cash Advance Fees: If you availed of a cash advance, you’d be charged with this fee, which usually doesn’t have a grace period. Remember that cash advances have higher interest rates than standard purchases. 

• Late Payment Fees: This fee will be charged any time you purchase something after the due date of your credit card with a $28 cap. 

• Returned Payment Fees: Invalid payments can lead to this charge. Let’s say you’ve mailed a check for payment without sufficient funds to cover the payment. The cap amount for this charge is $39.

Conclusion

When choosing your first credit card, it’s important to evaluate your financial situation, know the risks and benefits of opening a credit card, and the fees involved. In that way, you can choose the best one that suits your financial needs and payment capability to help you attain full financial control and independence for a better and happier life. 

Pet dogs are always cute, playful, and loud. So, whenever they behave differently, it is a little easy for us, fur-parents, to identify if there is something wrong going on. Although they could not speak directly to us, their body language and actions will be their call for help. Thus, we should pay attention all the time.

One of the most common dog health problems experienced by pet owners is dog diarrhea. More often than not, this health issue is neglected by humans since dogs are expected to dispose of feces now and then.

Just like humans, dogs also experience an upset stomach, but they could not directly complain about it. Below are the most common symptoms to watch out for that could mean that your fur-baby is already suffering from diarrhea.

Unusual Stool

Dog diarrhea is characterized by the discharge of watery and soft stool more than twice a day. Of course, the abnormal appearance of your pet’s stool will initially tell you that there is something wrong. But how do you differentiate stools caused by a weird food combination or a severe breakdown in the digestive system? Here are some signs that you should look for:

• Soft and watery stool than the usual
• Presence of blood or mucus in the feces
• The feces leaving a residue when picked up
• Loose stool with no distinct shape
• Unusual color of feces like yellow, green, blue, or black

Vomiting and Weight Loss

Pets experiencing dog diarrhea may also vomit from time-to-time, leading to dramatic weight loss. Dogs who vomit might be suffering from small intestinal diarrhea. This kind of inflammatory bowel disease results in three to five bowel movements per day, with a more considerable amount of feces.

Small intestinal diarrhea happens when a dog gets exposed to harmful bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, Giardia, clostridia, or campylobacter.

Straining to Defecate

Try observing your dogs while they defecate. If they communicate signs of pain, they are probably experiencing large intestinal diarrhea. It is the type of diarrhea that forces pets to dispose of a small amount of stool for more than five times a day. The feces may contain blood and slimy mucus.

Dogs who have large intestinal diarrhea do not experience vomiting and lose weight. It is usually caused by whipworms, polyps, colonic ulcers or cancer, and even stress.

Lacks Energy

Pets are generally playful, day and night. Aside from defecating unusual stools, dogs with low energy levels can also mean that they are suffering from diarrhea. Having an upset stomach weakens them and lessens their drive to move around and play.

Dehydration

Monitor your dog’s hydration level through their gums. When you suspect illness, check the dog’s gums. If they are not moist enough for you to slide your finger along them easily, they are probably dehydrated.

Dehydration causes dogs to have dry and tacky gums. When this happens, take your fur-babies to a veterinarian immediately, as dehydration can lead to electrolyte imbalance.

Overall, your best pet buddy will act like its usual self even when it does not feel well. However, if it shows the signs mentioned above, then it is time to get them out of harm.

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Going to university or college is more than just getting an undergraduate degree. It’s also a rite of passage that’s likely to encompass your first experience of living outside your parent’s roof and taking charge of your own finances.

However, the unhealthy combination of student loans, credit card debt, interest-free overdrafts, and even shared dorms could mean that by the time you graduate, your credit scores can be left in tatters.

What gives?

For many students, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overspending and getting it over in their heads. And, those with bad credit scores are often burdened with it throughout adulthood.

To save yourself from floundering into the sea of students with bad credit records, apart from feeding yourself with information on bad credit loans and scores, here are the things you need to do.

Don’t apply for a credit card because just because it has freebies.

Most credit card providers entice college students to sign up for their credit cards in exchange for irresistible freebies and other perks. This often takes place on booths during campus events.

Don’t sacrifice your financial freedom in the future for a free pizza you don’t need, or a T-shirt you’ll never wear! Avoid applying for a credit card on a whim. 

The most sensible thing to do is review your credit card options thoroughly and select the one that works and suits best for you. In this way, you’re protecting yourself against the consequences of recklessly applying for a credit card whose terms aren’t actually favorable for you.

Don’t miss or make late payments.

When you’re too busy with juggling midterms and essays, missing a credit card payment is likely to happen. And late or missed payments have severe consequences.

So how do you save yourself from committing this all-too-common mistake?

It’s pretty simple. Set recurring payment alerts for all your bills, ideally a few days prior to the due date. Many issuers will even set up automatic alerts and payments and then link it to a savings or checking account.

Whenever the payment alert buzzes on your phone, you can automatically check and review your card statement. In this manner, you can track your expenses and look for inconsistencies or any suspicious charges before the automatic payment takes place.

Set a budget.

If you don’t track your finances, chances are, you wouldn’t know if you’re piling up debt than what you can afford and handle. Hence, you need to set a budget and stick with it religiously.

The key here is to learn how to live within or below your means. Compute how much you need to spend every month and spend less. The long-term impact of budgeting and spending wisely on credit scores, credit profiles, financial stability, and overall stress is boundless.

To fabricate your budget plan, start by listing down income every month, including the money you make from your sidelines jobs, if there are, as well as the allowance your parents give. The next thing to do is tally the monthly expenses like school supplies, food, rent, gas, and car insurance. 

You can also write down a goal to keep yourself motivated. 

Don’t grow old with your credit card.

Banks and credit companies love handing out credit cards to students. 

It owes to the fact that young people easily get waylaid in the excitement of freshers’ week, which drives them to spend beyond their means. Also, most people aren’t likely to switch providers. A customer who acquired his/her credit card at 18, may well still be a loyal customer at 70.

But put in mind that lenders have different stances when it comes to credit card usage. Some providers like regular spending, as long as you pay the balances in full, while others want you to make minimum payments because it’s more profitable for them. 

Whatever may be the case, it’s important that you know your limits when it comes to spending.

Look for a part-time job.

If you find yourself putting up expenses on your credit card and living beyond your means, you have to make a decision: spend less or earn more.

If you want to be less reliant on credit and online loans and live comfortably, you can look for a part-time job.

All universities and colleges employ students in various facilities and programs. Or, you can find a job working in a retail store, restaurant, local businesses, or even babysitting. Any side hustles will do, so long as it won’t interfere with your class schedules and commitments.

Takeaway

As a college student, you’re probably more eager in last-minute road trips with friends and enjoying a late-night pizza rather than thinking about your financial stability in the future. However, if you start botching up your credit scores in college, it can catch up to you later on. 

Fortunately, you can avoid it. All you need is some know-how and diligence so you can commence life after college with positive credit scores rosy financial health.

Everyone wants a holiday home. Having a home to escape to in the winter months can be a great way to get in the mood for the holiday season. After all, your regular home is where you spend all your work time. When you’re ready to munch some fruit cake and pound down eggnog, you don’t want to look at the same old couch you sit on after a long day at work. So, how can you afford a holiday home? Well, before you go all out and buy that $8 million ski lodge in Breckenridge for retirement, we’ve got a handful of tips that you should consider first. 

1. Location, location, location. No doubt you’ve heard this advice before, but it’s a good reminder. The same square footage can cost way more depending on where you decide to buy. For instance, if you sold your mansion in rural Iowa and moved to San Francisco, you might be able to afford a granny flat studio in the rough end of town. Be sure that you look into the average housing costs in the area you want to buy, and consider similar areas as well. For instance, if you are hung up on that Colorado ski lodge, it might be worth looking into similar properties in Idaho. The views will be just as grand, but the price tag won’t.

 

2. Know how to finance. For most people, the thought of putting down a few hundred thousand on a holiday home might seem outrageous. If you don’t even make a hundred grand in a year, how can you afford $400 grand for a holiday property? The secret is knowing how to finance. There are plenty of options for folks at all ends of the income and credit score spectrums. If you’re in good standing with financial institutions, you could score a sweet low-interest bank online personal loan to finance that Florida beachside abode. If you’ve got a rough rep with creditors, though, don’t sweat – there are hard money lenders in Arizona that can get help you land that desert escape. 

3. Consider your options. Just because you’re buying a vacation home doesn’t mean you only have the option to do it by yourself. You may have heard of timeshares before but not exactly been sure what they are. Basically, you and a few others buy into a property together. Let’s face it – it’s your vacation home, you’re not going to be there year-round. So, each person only buys in a bit, and you only go during your allotted time period. Time shares are a great way to still get that sweet vacation home experience at a fraction of the cost. 

 

4. Offset the cost by renting. One of the best ways that you can pay for your vacation home is by renting it out using an online renting service. If you buy a luxury condo near Malibu and are worried about paying it off, letting people rent it for their own vacations is a great way to help. Plus, you’ll be helping them have a great vacation too! The holidays are all about spreading the love, so sharing your home with strangers who want to rent it out around Christmastime can be a generous and fun way to pay it off quickly. 

5. Rent one out for yourself! If it looks like buying your own vacation home is a little out of the budget, that’s okay. One great option is to look online for a vacation home to rent during the holidays for you and your family. Instead of buying a home to sit around unoccupied all year, you could instead have fun trying out new places every year and making the most of each new place that you visit. Sure, it’s not the same as having a place of your own, but with so many fun and interesting rental options out there, you’ll be sure to have fun exploring the world of vacation rentals.

A holiday home can be a great option for those with the means. Before you take the plunge, just remember to think through all your options, and keep these 5 tips in mind!

The age-long debate about the advantages of renting or buying a home continues, and there seems to be no concession from any side in view. A lot of variables and a lot of unique factors influencing individual homeowner’s choices are too many to reach a consensus on the issue. Or thing is certain though: both renting and buying a home comes with its fair share of costs. Everyone knows buying a home doesn’t come cheap, even though it makes sense to you and your family financially.

One good positive is the fact that the cost of owning a home isn’t fixed. If you can handle the upfront payments, these home project developments will permanently reduce the intermittent expenses of homeownership. Others avert costly repairs for life or until you decide to vacate the house.

Note that both federal and state tax credits can help you bear the cost of performance-enhanced projects if you feel your budget is unable to cover the upfront payment of these projects. You can also finance your home with an equity line credit, unsecured private bank personal loans, online lenders or credit unions. 

1. Do A Home Energy Audit or Professional Assessment

Home Energy Audit 

Conducting a Do-It-Yourself home energy audit, or getting a professional home energy assessment is one of the best ways to prioritize and create a cost-effective home improvement test. Assessments and audits are meant to help examine all the key systems and parts of the home to help you know where you’re either losing heat, misusing electricity and where efficiency is failing in your home. For example, the following places might likely be checked:

– Air leaks from either windows, vents and door frames.

– Mechanical devices like heaters, boilers, and furnaces.

– Other appliances and electronics like oven ranges and refrigerators.

When you’re done with the audit or assessment, you may come up with a to-do list that includes various improvements like:

– Patching drafts and leaks.

– Changing old, ineffective appliances for new and effective ones.

– Replacing or adding substandard insulation.

2. Invest In A Cool Roof 

Sunny and hot weather can turn your roof into an enormous heating pad, roasting the upper floors and even the best-protected attics, tending to waste the airconditioning efforts, hopelessly fighting against this simple thermodynamic impact. A cool roof may not necessarily cool your house, but it sure reduces the upper floor heating severely. Like most height-related jobs, changing a traditional roof to a cool roof can be very dangerous. Getting quality fall protection equipment is necessary if you intend to change the roof yourself, but it is advisable to let the professionals handle it. Cool roofs are cost-effective in sunny or warm domains while in colder climes, cool roofs take longer to assert their worth as their reflectivity disrupts passive solar heating during the winter season.

3. Switch To Native or Climate-Appropriate Landscaping

Making a switch to climate-appropriate or native landscaping can help increase water savings as well as reduce or even eradicate any additional watering needs. These landscaping are cost-effective and come in handy in arid places where water-intensive landscaping such as turf lawns are not achievable without enough water supply. These native landscapes amalgamate plants that are only found in such a region’s natural habitat, while climate-appropriate landscapes amalgamate plants that can be found in similar climes around the globe.

4. Install New, Efficient Windows and Doors 

Using a DIY door and window seal usually doesn’t work out, so you are advised to buy and install brand new doors and windows. It is a good thing that the installation of high-efficiency doors and windows is said to be one of the surest ways of ensuring the value of your home the case of a resell and also builds equity, so if you’d like to sell anytime soon, doing this alone can compensate for the cost of your project. Despite the aesthetics wooden windows give to a home, vinyl windows are quite affordable unless the wooden windows are for your home’s character conservation.

5. Periodically Stain And Seal Wood Decks And Siding 

Even though staining and sealing wood in your home isn’t the idea of fun, doing it from time to time can highly increase your home’s natural wood lifespan and reduce any expensive replacement in the future. Wood siding should be freshly coated every 3-5 years, decks should be coated every 2-3 years unless it is heavily used and in severe climate, then it should be coated yearly.

Conclusion

Time and money are always limited which is why it is advisable to adopt a compromising strategy to improve your home and save cost by employing the BIY – Buy It Yourself – approach.

A BIY approach means you have to purchase the materials, and probably the tools needed to undertake the project which can be done with close interaction with your contractor, who then does the job and charges you for workmanship and any other miscellaneous. What this means is that you buy the materials and tools yourself, saving the additional money and time it would cost if your contractor had gotten it himself. According to research by HouseLogic, using this technique can save costs by 20 percent, which for someone on a tight budget, is quite a sum.

Becoming a homeowner is a goal that many Americans have and look forward to. Not only can it contribute your financial health (when executed properly), but it can also lay the foundation for your growing family, be the backdrop of your favorite memories, and become a lifelong project that you’re completely proud of.

But buying your own property requires a lot of personal and fiscal responsibility, from learning how to read the housing market, to applying for loans, to figuring out how much down payment you can afford—not to mention that buying a house typically requires a substantial amount of capital.

If you’re considering being a homeowner at any stage in your life, it’s important to start saving up now. Here’s why.

Housing prices change

If you pay any attention to finance or real estate news, you probably know how much of an impact the housing market has on economics in this country. And with that, you’ve probably heard about how much the real estate market can fluctuate over time. Housing prices dip and rise pretty much constantly in the United States, making the right time to buy practically unpredictable for potential homeowners.

This is the first reason why we recommend building your savings right away. If you have a substantial home savings, you’re in a better position to buy in a buyer’s market when you’re likely to find a better deal when you’re searching for real estate.

Let’s say you find the ideal cottage on the coast that you’ve always dreamed of: the market is in your favor and the price is right, but you don’t have enough money to make a down payment on the house of your dreams. Contributing just a small amount to your savings from the time your in your twenties could put you in a better position to buy if a situation like this were to happen to you!

Better financing options

Another plus to building a home savings in advance is that it could enable you to get better financing options because you’d be able to make a more substantial down payment. Jumbo loans, though they allow you to put less money down, can end up costing you more money in the long run if you incur higher interest rates or take longer to pay off the loan.

Having a bigger down payment can even help you secure a better bad credit loan if you have enough savings to buy a house, but your credit doesn’t qualify you for other loan types. 

Edge on the competition

Many sellers prefer cash offers rather than credit because they are less likely to fall through than loans are. If you’re able to save money to buy a house outright, you’ll likely fare better if there are multiple buyers putting an offer in on the same house.

Tax benefits

Another advantage to building your home savings is cutting down on your tax bill. If you live in a state with first-time homebuyer benefits, you can put your money in an FHSA (First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account) to avoid getting taxed on the income that you put toward your home savings. This money can be used for down payments and other homeowner costs. If you withdraw from the account for another purpose, you may face penalty fees.

Financial stability

If you choose to stowe your home savings in a traditional savings account, you’ll have more flexibility to spend your savings on other things you may need (besides a home). If you encounter some sort of financial emergency, like medical bills for example, you could employ your home savings as necessary.

How you can start saving

Ready to launch your home savings? Here are a few tips to help you do so:

• Use a budgeting app to monitor your savings and track your financial goals

• Commit to making a specified contribution to your savings each month

• Keep your home savings in a separate account than your other savings

Final thoughts

Saving up for a house may seem like an impossible goal right now, but by following our home savings tips and referring back to this guide, you can watch your savings grow and reap the many benefits!

There are various types of import finances that you ought to know. They include factoring, revolving credit, letter of credit, asset financing, among others. With such a variety of options available, the requirements tend to vary from one financier to the next. There are specific guidelines that you must adhere to ensure your international e-commerce business to be eligible. Below are simple ways to get access to import trade financing;

• Show your business generates consistent cash flow

When you are looking for a financier, they will require assurance that your venture generates continuous cashflow. It may be quite challenging, especially when you are searching for these finances.

Nonetheless, you ought to make an incredible and convincing image. Nobody will invest in a shaky enterprise. One way to show you have a trustworthy business by paying employees on time. You can also provide a statement on how you’ve been crediting all your creditors within time. You need proper documentation. As a slight change can make or break your eligibility for a online loan.

• Have a minimal debt load

You need a clean slate balance sheet. It should depict that you can keep all your debts in check. Trends on debt repayment are the easiest way for money lenders to know if you are reliable or not.

You need to prepare a robust financial defense while requesting an additional loan. You ought to illustrate how it will grow your international e-commerce.

• Have a stellar payment history

Credit reports generated by independent 3^rd parties ought to depict that you can be trusted. Having your payment proof isn’t enough. Some unscrupulous traders may forge their payment history. It thus puts everyone in jeopardy.

You need to inquire about any report that might discredit your chance of getting a loan. You need to note all the loopholes so that you can fix them.

• Compare financiers

You need to compare various import/export eCommerce financiers, including Qupital Hong Kong. You must never settle for any financier even if you find yourself in a challenging situation. Take your time to analyze various financiers and check out their services. It will enable you to compare multiple rates as well as their repayment periods. Making a comparison will allow you to get the best deal possible finance deal in the market.

• Use the inventory to secure a loan

Another way to access international trade finances is by using your catalog. You can evaluate the goods you have in store. After that, you can apply on loan basing the amount on the inventories’ value. It’s a fantastic chance to ensure your business stays afloat without having to dissolve it. 

You must have a good credit history before you decide to use the inventory to offer your business the finance it needs. You ought to create a product list and value.

You must have a financial plan each time you head out to request international trade financing. Various import/export financers, including Qupital Hong Kong, are ready to support your global e-commerce. You can use the above ways to get your next international e-commerce finance if you are low on cash flow.

When you take a loan, you put yourself in a financial commitment where you have to make a payment within a stipulated period until it is cleared. However, this can affect you financially since part of your income is used to repay it.

While it might come in handy when you need it the most, taking a loan can also have detrimental impacts not only to your financial but also social and psychological situation. That being said, it is essential to take into consideration several factors before committing yourself to take a loan. Some of them include:

1. Interest rates

The majority of the lenders will always charge interest on the principal amount you have borrowed. The interest rates play a significant role in determining the total amount of the loan that you will pay. They vary for different lenders; hence it is crucial to shop around for favorable rates.

Furthermore, check out for other hidden charges like the administration fees, processing fees, and appraisal fees, among others. They will ease your calculations as you decide to take a loan.

2. Your credit score

Many lenders always offer loans based on your credit history. Before you consider applying for a loan, ensure that your score doesn’t have any hitches. If some things don’t add up, you may have to contact the Credit Company or bureau involved to resolve the matter.

In case of low credit score, try and improve it for you to qualify for higher loan limits. You can achieve this by clearing your minor debts or increasing the spending limit of your credit cards.

If you have a bad credit history, consider borrowing from lenders who offer loans for bad credit scores. Remember that a high credit score will let you secure a low-interest loan.

3. The terms of the loan

Different loans have different terms directing how they should be paid. These terms and regulations determine the total loan cost in terms of interests accrued. If the period given to pay is more extended, the monthly repayments will be lower. Ensure that you can make the monthly payments on time to avoid penalties from the lenders. 

4. Type of loan

There are different types of loans to choose from. The reason as to why you need a loan will dictate the kind of loans you can take. From mortgages, student loans, equity loans, personal and business loans, among others.

You can consult a financial advisor and be knowledgeable on the various options you have.

5. Your financial situation

Budget your income so that you can figure out the money to spare to service the loan without straining. Be cautious not to take a larger loan than you require as this can attract unnecessary fees. If it is not an emergency, you can opt to postpone or find an alternative to raising the money, which will not generate interest. 

Conclusion

When you decide to take a loan, always remember that it can make or break your future success. Next time you need a loan, especially personal loans and business loans ensure you have the knowledge, and consider all the pros and cons before implementing your decision.

There is no doubt when we say that the global sports betting market is growing in size every year and is becoming more and more popular. It is said to be the most rapidly growing sectors in the world, especially in Nigeria. Nigeria is a place where sports betting has burgeoned like never before. The profits earned from the sports betting market accounts for a major part of the revenue earned by the Nigerian government. With the rising demand of sports bettors in Nigeria, there is also a massive rise in the number of online betting websites.

As the digital revolution is in full swing, there are dynamic changes that keep occuring in the betting industry. Read on the concerns of this article to know about the size of the global sports betting market, know about future projections and delve deep into the main causes of the market expansion.

The sports betting market – How huge is it?

It is vital for you to understand that the total size of the sports betting market is tough to project as record-keeping is not done on a regular basis. There is a dearth of resources on which the researchers can solidly base their studies on. The records are so disparate that it is not possible to paint an accurate picture of the size of the betting market.

As per records from Statistica, international sports betting is predicted to have a capitalization of $300 billion. The licensed online sports bookmakers account for a rising revenue of $40 billion. The remaining sports bets are staked at other places like horse tracks, casinos and other global conduits.

United States has the fastest expanding betting market

In the year 2010, the value of the sports betting market was estimated to be of $20 billion. Later on in 2016, the value expanded to $40 billion. The current market capitalization is between $60-75 billion which proves that the market has grown at a fast pace of $10 billion in a year. With the present pace of growth, American sports betting industry will occupy a noteworthy share of the global market.

Asia Pacific (APAC) – Is this the biggest sports betting market?

As their population is somewhere around 4 billion people, it is a bit surprising that this region holds a fair market share in the betting industry. The residents of Asia Pacific account for 48% of the sports bets all over the world.

Reason behind the increase in popularity of sports betting

With the spread of digital connectivity and increased wealth, there is also a simultaneous increase in the sports betting market. Hong Kong and Macau are among the most famous revenue-generating places of the world. As wages keep increasing in the APAC region, people have more and more money to place in the sports events.

The internet providers of the APAC region report fast penetration into this industry. With the help of a better internet connection, people can get access to the current information and news on sports betting. Whenever you’re able to keep up with the latest news on sports, you can better become a sports fan.

Sports betting – How much will it grow at other places?

Sports betting accounts for 40% of the total global gambling revenue all over the world which is way more than other sections like poker, casinos, lotteries or other forms of gambling. According to latest projections, the compounded annual growth rate is projected to rise by 9.65% by 2022.

Though everyone is concerned about America and Asia Pacific, there are several other areas like Nigeria that are even growing in terms of popularity.

It has to be stated that in Nigeria there are more and more operators. So if You are interested watching how this market grows You can check viewpointnigeria.com for a list of best betting sites. Its still very young market and it will take a few more years for its to mature.

Growth is not considered to be as impressive or aggressive in Europe or Australia mainly due to the history of betting in such regions. Latin America and Africa are also steadily growing in terms of sports betting.

Popular sports bets

By far, football has the biggest betting volume followed by American football. Apart from these, there are 3 other North American Leagues, the NBA, MLB and NHL, also get a fair share of the betting volume. Horse racing is characterized as a niche market and it gets betting volumes in France, UK, US, Australia, South Africa.

Online sports betting and its popularity

Among everything else, the fastest growing sports market is online sports. These are multiplayer video game competitions that include professional players. In 2017-2018, e-sports generated more than $700 million in revenue and this is projected to grow up by $1.5 billion by 2020. As e-sports is gradually shaping into a budding industry which is an already established one, it can easily generate a noteworthy stream of revenue for the sports betting market.

The proliferation of digital sports betting is beyond the usage of desktops and laptops. 30% of sports betting take place through mobile devices. This figure will cross 45% by the end of 2019. Technology has changed how we play and how we live. It has also changed how we place our bets on sports.

Savings and checking and cards… oh my!

Playing the cash game is often like playing beat the clock. You move money from one account to the next to avoid overdrafts. You try cash advances on credit cards to cover yourself when times are tight.

But what can you do if you’ve exhausted all your accounts and still need cash? That’s when you can turn to your assets. Hold on, we’re not asking you to sell any of your belongings, we’re talking about car title loans.

To simply put, a car title loan is a relatively fast way to get money using your car’s title as collateral. If you’re interested to know how you can get one, let’s take a closer look at the 5 car title loan requirements:

1. You Own a Car

Of course, you must own a car if you plan to get a title loan. This means that the car is registered under your name and it’s your name that shows up on the title.

Still making payments to a lender for your car? That’s okay too!

In many cases, the lender will hold the title for your car and they’ll record their lien on the vehicle. But a title loan can still be taken using the equity you have in the car.

Equity is the difference between the value of your car and what you owe on it. If your car has some equity, you may still be eligible for a title loan. The amount of your loan will be affected by the amount of equity you have in the car.

2. You Have a Valid ID

A valid form of ID, like a driver’s license or state-issued ID card is a must. If you own a car, odds are pretty good that you have a driver’s license to fill this requirement.

But let’s say you don’t have a license but still own a vehicle. For example, you own a car that your adult child uses to drive you around. Then that car is eligible for a title loan as long as the title is in your name.

3. You Have a Monthly Income

You must be able to prove that you can repay your title loan. In order to do that, you’ll need to provide a document showing your monthly income. This might include any of the following:

• Paystub
• W2
• Bank statement showing regular direct deposits
• Social security statement
• Unemployment statement
• Tax returns

4. You Have Full Coverage

Most of the title loan lenders ask for full coverage insurance on your vehicle. Adding full coverage to your insurance policy is usually easy to do. Ask your insurance agent or visit their website to do this.

However, this requirement can be only subject to the loan amount.

5. You Have Some References

Do you know someone who would say great things about you? If so, you’re one step closer to getting that car title loan.

Personal references serve several purposes. They allow us to verify that your identity hasn’t been stolen and to verify the information on your application. They also serve as a backup communication in case we can’t reach you.

Here are some good ideas for possible references:

• A relative who doesn’t live with you, like a sibling or cousin.
• Your boss or another coworker who knows you.
• A neighbor or close friend that you speak to often.

Do You Meet the Title Loan Requirements?

If you need cash, a title loan is a great option for you. As long as you meet the title loan requirements, you can get cash in your pocket in just a few minutes. And you’ll find that many title loan lenders have kept the application process very simple so that you can borrow money fast during emergencies. These title loan requirements can vary from one lender to another, so it’s better to do your research before applying for a loan from any lender of your choice.

When you lease a car, you have to return it once the contract is over. You also pay an amount that serves as a bond. You will only get it back after the dealer has done a thorough inspection of the vehicle. Therefore, you need to prepare the car before taking it to the dealer at the end of the lease. 

Repair and maintenance 

You need to take the car to a mechanic for a general check. You want the vehicle to be in top condition at the end of the lease. If there are parts that require replacement, you need to get them done. You don’t want the dealer to spot any problem and use it as a reason for deducting anything from the deposit you paid at the beginning of the lease. 

Read the terms 

Go back to the terms and conditions that you signed. It’s time for you to go through the conditions that you signed up for. If there are aspects that you didn’t follow or you think you did wrong, you have to correct them first. Again, you don’t want to be in trouble with the dealer upon returning the vehicle. You will also prepare yourself for possible expenses for damages. If you agreed to pay for these problems at the start of the deal, you have no choice but to do it. 

Inform the dealer

You might have to inform the dealer a month or so before the end of your contract about your plans. If you decide to end the agreement once the lease is over, the dealer has to know. If you intend to sign an extension of the lease, you also have to inform the dealer about it. 

Determine your next step

If you decide that you will return the car at the end of the deal, you won’t have any vehicle to use anymore. Therefore, you need to plan what to do next. You can find a new car to lease from the same dealer or look for a new dealer. You might also want to buy a new car through financing. You still need a new car as soon as your current lease is over; otherwise, it will be a problem. 

If you didn’t feel satisfied with the partnership you had with the first lease provider, it’s okay. You can always find other companies that offer cheap car lease deals. You might receive a better deal when you partner with another company. You can also negotiate the terms to match your needs. 

Learn the features of the new car models you might choose from. When it’s time to search for a new car to buy or lease, you will make the right decision. You can also ask your friends who recently leased a car or a mechanic who knows a lot about vehicles. Whether you decide to lease or buy a new one, you will spend a lot, so you need to make the right choice.

Most businesses these days are getting more and more aware of the importance of social media marketing. Hence, it comes as no surprise that businesses are looking to learn dynamic and impressive ways by which they could increase their real USA Instagram followers. 

The importance of Instagram followers

Social media has assumed gargantuan importance of late and when you are looking to target a wider audience and you want to extend your reach without having to actually visit far flung places; one of the best options at hand is to target social media channels. 

This is why by growing your Instagram followers count and even your networking on other channels, you can give yourself the best chance to flourish. This is easier said than done as there is massive competition in the market. 

There may be too many companies offering similar products and/or services and hence it becomes important that you put in a little extra to stay ahead of the crowd. So, you will have to make use of different strategies for the sake of increasing your follower count. Let us see the possible ways you could do it.

How to boost your Instagram follower count? 

1. Research

Remember there is no true shortcut to success. This means that you should devote ample time to research as it will give you a head start into finding the best of hashtags which are likely to generate good amount of traction. 

At the same time, look at the pages of your top competitors and try to analyze why their posts are getting so much hits. This could be a time consuming process but the leads you will get is going to offer significant insight into helping you grow your page in a meticulous manner. 

2. Content is the King 

No matter which form of marketing you are going to indulge in, this is one rule you will always have to live by. You absolutely must come up with great content. Unless your content is catchy enough, none of your followers are really going to interact and they would just act like a dead number. 

So, be creative with the captions, upload jazzy pictures which are likely to steer a conversation and come up with compelling content which automatically boosts up the follower count. This is by far the most effective of all strategies if you manage to implement it right. Have a separate dedicated team focusing merely on the content because the success of all other tips would fall down on the kind of content you are churning. 

3. Get creative with hashtags 

When it comes to Instagram, the real magic lies in hashtags. You have to ensure that you are targeting the right hashtags which will get you maximum number of followers. Do not use too many hashtags and neither should you be too selective with it. 

You need to have a systematic trend in place and your analysing team needs to periodically monitor the traffic every hashtag is generating. It is this data numbers crunched by the analytical team which can play a pivotal role in helping you gain massive number of followers. 

4. Grow your follow count organically 

While some people are tempted to buy followers in bulk, we are of the opinion that it should be done organically. There are sites like InstaGrowing that is so designed that they can help you increase the count in an organic manner. In these cases, the growth in the follow count isn’t randomly done at a single moment. The growth in follow count is gradual and this makes it look a lot more natural. It is good even from the seo point of view as well. 

5. Try to be a part of big conversations 

You should ensure that you are becoming a part of big conversation. This is a very smart move as it will help you gain the right prospective accounts and new followers. When you become a part of interesting and trending conversations, you are likely to hog the limelight and thereby new user accounts come across your profile. 

So, these are some of the ways by which you can increase your followers count when on Instagram. While we recommend trying natural ways first, you can always opt to buy organic followers as this is an easy way to gain the right traction without toiling too hard for it. 

The key thing to remember when it comes to social marketing is that the dynamics is always changing. The algorithm which may be working today might not be so effective tomorrow and therefore this can lead to severe problems if you do not take the dynamic approach. 

With the best of social media marketing campaigns, your page is likely to grow and your increased follower count could have a cumulative effect.

When winter rolls in the biggest issue might be your bills rather than the cold. With energy usage up, whether it’s electricity or natural gas, the average home has large spikes that can prove to be unfortunate for the homeowner. 

Fortunately, with some forethought, you can head off hefty winter bills and make it through to spring with a little bit more cash in your pocketbook. Let’s look at some easy methods to save you the headache and heartache that comes with the winter billing spike. 

1. Programmable Thermostats

One of the easiest ways to keep your bills down is using programmable thermostats to their utmost capabilities. Ideally, your central heating should be controlled by a thermostat that will let you program by the hour and day. 

When using one you can choose the temperature to run the house when you’re home, one for when you’re at work, and even lower the temperature while you’re sleeping. Most people will want to keep things different on the weekends which is why a thermostat that works by the day instead of just a 24-hour cycle is handy. 

They can cost a bit upfront but with a bit of finesse, you can drastically reduce your heating bills during the winter with a programmable thermostat. 

2. Judicious Use of Space Heating

Space heaters are one of the best ways to drive your electric bill through the roof, everyone knows that. 

However, using them wisely can actually help keep bills down. If it’s just you, or you and a significant other, in a home then a great way to save on your heating bill through the winter is to use a space heater to keep the bedroom warm.  

In areas where things freeze, however, your pipes may still freeze up. That can make them a bargain in some areas but a liability in others.  

Still, as a general rule space heaters cost less to run than most types of heating when you’re using a high-efficiency model. Just make sure that you don’t need central heating just to keep your plumbing intact. 

3. Seal Things Up

Most homes have air leaks. It’s just a fact of life and they may not cause a perceivable draft in normal weather. These leaks can cause a horrible loss of efficiency over the course of the cold season, however, and you should look into getting them sealed up. 

If you’re the DIY-type you should wait until you have around a 30° differential in temperature between indoors and outdoors and go take a look for warm spots around the outside of the home. Most can easily be sealed with weatherproof caulking. 

If you’re not, then a home inspection will allow an HVAC professional to find them for you. It might cost a little bit of money but over time it can add up to big savings on your winter energy bill. 

4. Pay Attention to Windows

Blackout curtains are actually great at keeping thermal energy in place, in addition to keeping rooms dark. They’re a relatively small investment for most homeowners but they can help keep the heater from running throughout the whole day. 

You don’t have to use them year-round if you feel they’ll interfere with your interior decor, but a good set will help keep warmth from creeping out the windows. 

Double-paned windows are an even more efficient way to keep heat in. The vacuum between the glass pieces is an incredible insulator, but it may take a few years for you to get a complete return on investment since replacing windows is an expensive task. 

Lastly, before winter you should check the weather stripping on your windows. If they’re cracked or otherwise damaged you should replace them to keep air from leaking out of the home. 

5. Lower Your Thermostat

A difference of 5° on your thermostat can easily be made up for with a good sweater and lower your bills a substantial amount. It’s not counter-intuitive… it’s just thrifty. 

Using warm clothing around the home through the winter months will let you keep the thermostat at a lower temperature and your heater running less often. 

Remember that your thermostat only exists to keep the heat at a certain level, it’s not a throttle for your heater overall like some people assume. Establish a baseline temperature you can live with through the winter months and the savings can be enormous. 

6. HVAC Inspection

Find a professional in your area to take a look at your heater and ducting. Dust and other debris can accumulate in ducts and overall lower the efficiency of central heating. 

Small fixes can be made to your heater as well. Things like filters or less efficient components will add up over the cold season and every part of the system should be in optimal shape so you can get the most bang for your buck. 

Best of all: your chances of a heater breaking down during the winter go way down. Coming home to a frozen house is no fun and the repair bill is likely to outstrip most of the other savings you’ve made by carefully planning ahead.  

You should have a service done at least once a year anyway, so why not schedule it for just before winter comes knocking at your doorstep? 

7. Cover the Attic Door

If you have an attic with an uninsulated ceiling you have an air-gap that’s not doing you any favors. Even if you have blow-in insulation upstairs you can actually save quite a bit of money by just buying a roll of fiberglass insulation and running it over your attic’s entrance to prevent warm air from escaping. 

Since warm air rises… this is actually a pretty big concern. Just remember to wear gloves when you remove the insulation in the spring since fiberglass fibers will render most people itchy and uncomfortable. 

Keep Warm and Save Cash This Winter 

You don’t have to be uncomfortable to save money on your winter heating bill. Indeed, if you follow the above tips you’ll not only save money but likely enjoy an overall warmer winter. 

The cold months are right around the corner, are you prepared to save on your monthly bills? If not, there’s no time like the present. 

A warehouse shuttle system is a highly efficient storage and retrieval system that uses high speed shuttles to manage stacked rows of storage containers. Completely automatized, the system dispatches the shuttles to quickly complete dynamic orders, accessing and retrieving the required cases without any human intervention. The system makes it possible to achieve an extraordinary high rate of operations, effectively multiplying the storage capacity of a warehouse manifold.

How the Shuttling system works

As the name suggests, a warehouse shuttling system consists of a small ‘shuttle’ that runs on fixed rails, quickly traversing long rows of storage cases or totes. The rails usually form a grid of sorts, allowing the shuttle to reach every stacked crate throughout the level.

While initially expensive to install, a shuttle system pays for itself many times over through the course of its operation by drastically increasing the productivity of your warehouse. You can consider taking a bank personal loan to finance the setup, or if that is not possible (due to an ongoing debt, for example) you might want to look into taking a title loan using the fleet of vehicles in your company’s possession.

Advantages of a Warehouse Shuttling System

Over Manual Stocking

The biggest cost factor in a warehousing business – contrary to popular expectation – is not the volume of storage, but rather the speed of operations. Moving from a manual, labor intensive storage and retrieval arrangement to an automated system single-handedly brings a massive boost to efficiency and profitability, not to mention the sheer reliability.

Over Automated Storage and Retrieval Cranes

Even if the enterprise already employs a technological solution, like an automated storage and retrieval crane, it can benefit by switching to a shuttle based system. Cranes, while good for servicing a large number of levels vertically, are quite limited in terms of speed and responsiveness in peak times. Shuttle systems, in contrast, can literally zip across the rows of containers, completing complex requests in a fraction of the time taken by a crane.

Low Maintenance and Servicing Needs

Another advantage of shuttles over cranes is maintenance; a shuttle sliding on rails has much fewer technical issues and wear-and-tear as compared to a crane with its multitude of joints and motors that must always work in sync. Moreover, in case of multiple shuttles on different levels, the breakdown of a single shuttle does not bring operations of the warehouse to a halt, as the other shuttles can still be employed for a limited storage capability even as the fault is fixed.

The shuttle based storage and retrieval system also has fewer servicing needs. The core of the system are the rails, which are quite robust, and the vehicles themselves, which can be replaced individually if need be.

Industries Most Suitable for a Warehouse Shuttle System

Shuttle systems are the best solution for order consolidation buffers, order picking, sequencing and other such fields of application which have to manage highly complex internal logistics. Industries that deal with the orders of a large number of small products, packaged consumables, for example, need the high speed storage and retrieval rates offered by a shuttle system.

They are also useful in workstation supply of small parts, or the provision of goods in production and assembly lines, due to their capacity of handling complex orders at a high cycle rate. This makes them an asset in any advanced manufacturing process, such as in automobiles.