Find out :- How's the housing market in your area !!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/html/43um.stm


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Master Aaron Sethi

The Independent -- Stephen King: The policy to print money is right but we must be told how it works

Stephen King: The policy to print money is right but we must be told how it works

There is something wonderfully quirky about the way in which a major change in monetary arrangements is announced in the UK. Not for us a detailed paper outlining the new monetary process, the intermediate and ultimate measures of success, the longer-term implications and the possible exit strategies. Instead, we get...

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Struggling with Credit Crunch ???

Credit Crunch and coping with that has become a big question for many couples and families or I should say with everybody. Even I am on the same boat and trying to face this beast. Few weeks back me and my wife were discussing the same and we came across some great ways to consolidate our expenses and managed to save couple of £££. I have jotted down few idea's which I think can help anyone to maximize their savings and get their spending to work toward their happiness.

Watch your Expenses: - First thing to look out is your monthly outgoing, try to create a descriptive list of your monthly expenses, categorize and priorities your expenses. Assign the priorities based upon the requirement, need, value for money, Interest, Luxury and the final happy factor. Get rid of the ones which fall at the bottom of your list.

Consolidate your insurance policies – Most of our insurance policies over lap when it comes to the cover they provide e.g. your house content insurance policy does provide you with protection on damage to electronic goods like laptop/handy cam etc at home and abroad, So it makes no sense to have a separate policy for each of these items, In fact try to consolidate them into one big insurance which covers the wider range of stuff.

Bank Account + :- I am not trying to promote any bank over here, but do check with your bank for Bank Account + or Premier Bank account, as they are pretty useful, they provide you with travel medical insurance, car breakdown insurance, free cash withdrawal when abroad and much more for a small monthly fee. Basically they go with my point 2 which emphasizes on consolidating all your insurances to one policy which provides better and wider coverage.

Explore the market: - Before you go out and buy stuff off the shelf, get your home work done, Explore the online space to see if you can find better deal e.g. Rather than buying the book from waterstone why don’t you try it at www.amazon.co.uk, I am sure you would get it at least 20% cheaper then in store or even better to look out for it on ebay. Price comparison websites are pretty useful when we have to make a decision about mortgage, car insurance, house contents insurance, savings account and many more, try to explore these websites – www.moneysupermarket.com, www.gocompare.com , www.confused.com , www.mysupermarket.com (This particular websites compares the supermarkets for your grocery shopping) before you make the final decision.

Avoid Shopping Malls :- Avoid un-necessary trips to shopping malls, The more you see the more you are encouraged to buy the stuff, less you visit the shopping malls, less likely you would get cravings to buy new things and less you spend.

Avoid Sales: - Sales are the worst places to visit when you are looking at saving money, a Gucci bag which has been reduced from 200£ mark to 50£ is a very good bargain but ask yourself a question, Do you really need it ? if answer is no, just don’t go for it. Avoid going to Sales.

Socialize More: - Well this is the time to get in touch with old friends, organize a get together, try to organize events at your place or at one of your friends place rather then at some expensive wine bar or restaurant. Its lot economical to organize a party at your own place then at some trendy restaurant plus try to circulate this trend within the group. Another option is to try to organize frequent picnics with your family and kids, with some home made food and avoid wandering around shopping malls.

Explore your self: - Try to find some thing unique about your self and develop it into a unique hobby, this way you would be spending more quality time doing some thing which you like or have just started exploring in you rather then wondering around and spending money to cheer up yourself.

Essential Pieces Of Free/Open Software for Windows

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27 ways...to raise finance

1 Friends & family

Almost always, the first stop has to be your mum and dad. In the case of sisters and brothers, sibling rivalry may intervene, but the maiden aunt who thought the sun shone out of you aged four: she’s high on the list. Try your college friends. Try your colleague friends.

Why do these sources top the list? Because they know you well and if they are not an easy hit, you should ask yourself whether you are doing the right thing. Because although you will have to promise them a return of some kind, they won’t extract interest from your account every month. A word of advice: don’t take more than you should, even if it’s offered.

2 Overdraft

Now come the obvious mainstream sources— as in banks and finance companies. We reckon there are six ways to get money from banks, and at least 60 providers of most of these financial services. You won’t get meaningful amounts from any of them without providing security, "because you might not pay it back."

Overdrafts aren’t always the cheapest form of business finance, but they are the most flexible. Enough said.

3 Business mortgage

We can also cover this one briefly. Similar to a domestic mortgage, and therefore requires a property.

To see the full article, please go to:

http://www.realbusiness.co.uk/4788241/27-waysto-raise-finance.thtml

Market Oracle - Good stuff to read !

1. Stock Market Crash Red Alert: Meltdown Imminent!

By: Martin Weiss

The nation's largest banks are so close to collapse and the world economy is coming unglued so rapidly, a major Wall Street meltdown is now imminent.

Specifically, it's now increasingly likely that virtually all of our forecasts of recent months could come to pass in a very short period of time, including …

Read Article

2. How Can the U.S. Economy Recover Without Manufacturing Capacity?

By: Glen Ford

"You can't put people to work in American factories that don't exist."

Read Article

3. ECB Dithers as Eastern Europe Bad Debts to Bankrupt European Banks

By: John_Mauldin

This week's letter is likely to lose me a few friends, though. I am going to start a series on money management, portfolio construction, and money managers. It will be back to the basics for both new and long-time readers. I am not sure how long it will take (in terms of weeks), but it is likely to make a few people upset and provoke some strong disagreements. Let's just say this is not stocks for the long run.

Read Article

4. Gordon Brown Bankrupting Britain as Tax Payer Liabilities Soar- Update

By: Nadeem_Walayat

This analysis presents the current status of Britain's path towards bankruptcy which I first pointed out in April 2008 which followed the Bank of England's initial offering of a £50 billion slush fund to the banks that would never be repaid and marked the tip of the bank bailout ice-berg.

Read Article

5. European Monetary System at Breaking Point

By: Jack Crooks

When others were fawning over the European Union and its committee creation of the euro, Milton Friedman made this prescient and brilliant comment: “It seems to me that Europe, especially with the addition of more countries, is becoming ever-more susceptible to any asymmetric shock. Sooner or later, when the global economy hits a real bump, Europe's internal contradictions will tear it apart.”

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6. Dow Jones Stock Market Index Forecast 2009 - Update1

By: Nadeem_Walayat

This analysis seeks to update the forecast of 20th January 2009 for the Dow Jones stocks index in the light of subsequent volatile price action.

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7. Risks of Investing in GLD ETF

By: Eric_deCarbonnel

1) GLD does not allow redemptions of its gold bullion

GLD failure to allow redemptions in gold is suspicious. In fact, only two gold ETFs worldwide allow redemptions in gold, and both of them are located in Switzerland: Gold ETF from Zurich Kantonalbank (ZKB) and Julius Baer (JBGOUA).

Read Article

8. Global Economic Outlook: 2012 and Beyond

By: Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar

Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar writes: It is said that today is pregnant with tomorrow. What and how we have done things in the past has shaped out today and what and how we do things today determine the shape of our future. To see into the future of our economies, with some small degree of certainty, we have to pay attention to what is happening around us and what we do.

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9. Obama's Stimulus Will Send Gold and Gold Stocks Into the Dustbin

By: Oxbury_Research

We've been stressing the point ad nauseum for roughly a month now that what's necessary to get markets in gear and put the money back to work is theater, financial theater, and it appears we're about to get it. Today. Finally.

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10. Stock Market Crash 2009: Why Black Tuesday Should Lead to Free Fall

By: Eric_Chevrette

After Black Tuesday did effectively materialize on February 17 with substantial losses in the US banking sector , we're going to review the various technical factors now pointing towards a further free fall for global stocks.

Read Article

Top 10 virtues of Successful Entrepreneurs

1. Passion: Take a look at any successful entrepreneur and consider how you would rate their passion for their product, business and life. Successful entrepreneurs have an almost infectious passion for things that drives them forward, inspire them to achieve great things and keep them motivated when others would give up and take the easy route to a pay cheque. Launching your own business is a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows: do you feel that you could brave the ride? If you answer YES then read on.
   
   
2. Dedication: Launching your own business is an all-consuming exercise. There never seems to be enough time to do everything that you want to do, and you’re performing several people’s jobs at once, working evenings, weekends and public holidays to make sure that your business thrives or at least survives its first 12 months. Do you have this amount of commitment in you? If you can answer YES then do read on.
   
   
3. Self-belief: There will be times in any successful entrepreneur’s career when their belief is tested. People may tell you that it cannot be done, that the idea just will not work, that it is folly to pursue such a dream. A successful entrepreneur is one who is able to wade through the doubters with their belief intact. Do you feel this describes you? YES? Congratulations – read on.
   
   
4. Open-mindedness: Everyone has heard of the successful entrepreneur who has been so single-minded that they have ignored everyone else and alone have still achieved great wealth and success, but in the main you’ll find that these are just over-simplifications of an individual’s story. Successful entrepreneurs must be open to new ideas, to be able to develop their business; flexible in their approach to satisfy the needs of the market; and willing to take on board the thoughts and objections of others, to be able to formulate an argument that silences the doubters. Are you open minded? Answer YES and you too could move on to the virtues halfway point.
   
   
5. Inspired and inspiring: Having an idea is one thing, but being able to convey your excitement about it to others is imperative to the success of your business. There is little point in having the best idea since the bread slicer if nobody hears about it. A successful entrepreneur is someone who talks about their idea with passion to everyone they meet through their work and social life. You don’t have to do the hard sell on your friends, but getting the word out is all about taking every opportunity to expand the circle of people who have heard of your business and are inspired by its very existence. Can you be that inspiring? YES means that we’re halfway through our list.
   
   
6. Can do, will do attitude: You need the motivation to get out of bed each morning and fight to advance your business or to challenge an established but restrictive belief. Successful entrepreneurs see road blocks to their business as simply challenges to overcome. Do you have a rebellious streak? Can you think laterally? If you answer YES then I’ll allow you to read on.
   
   
7. Focussed: Life is full of distractions. Family, friends, social activities, television, Sarah Michelle Geller. Successful entrepreneurs are focussed individuals, able to distinguish between work time and home time and not allow these two worlds to blur into each other. Home time may need to accept some compromises in the beginning, but it is important that you take time out occasionally to remind yourself what you are slaving for. Are you focussed enough? I’m hoping you’ll say YES because it’d be a shame if you had to stop reading now.
   
   
8. Willing to learn: No one person can know it all. It may sound terribly boring, but the willingness to learn will give you knowledge to understand your product, your promotion, your audience, your marketplace and how to best run your business. Learn something new every week and you’ll be richer for it. Tell me you’re willing to learn – go on, we’re so close to the end of the list.
   
   
9. Delegation: You cannot do it all on your own. In the beginning it may be just you running yourself ragged, but as your business grows there comes a point where you have to delegate to others. Not to do so could seriously hinder your chances of becoming a successful entrepreneur, but many people find it difficult to let go of total control at this stage. Are you a control freak? By the way, the correct answer to let you move on this time is NO. I just thought I’d do something different here.
   
   
10. Street smarts: Becoming a successful entrepreneur has more to do with street smarts than traditional measures of intelligence. You do not need to be intellectual or have gone to the right schools, and you certainly don’t need a degree to achieve your own business goals. (While it’s an excellent opportunity to round your knowledge and character and have lots of fun, many of the world’s wealthiest people never went to University.) Do you have the street smarts to be inventive, to find all the information you’ll need to succeed and to challenge established norms? If you can say YES, congratulations – you have made it to the end of my list.

Original Post :- Click Here

Finding the perfect name for your baby ?

Choosing the perfect name for your baby is definitely very important. It is perhaps one of the first big and most important decisions a parent will have. The name of your child will last a lifetime. Of course it is not always something that is easy to do. Sometimes it can be an exciting decision, while others find it to be pretty frustrating as well. There are definitely some mistakes that you can avoid and some tips that can make the process easier and more enjoyable. Here is a look at some of the do’s and don’ts of picking out the perfect baby name, as well as some tips to help you out as well.

Naming Your Baby - Do’s of Picking the right Baby Name

Trying to figure out what to name your baby? Well, here are some things to DO when you are going through the process of trying to find the perfect baby name.

- DO come up with a list of names you really like. Come up with a separate list with your partner. Then use your two lists to come up with a list of 5-10 names that you both agree on. Think about the list or even keep it until your baby is born. There may be something along the way that helps you to settle on one of those names on the list.

- DO consider a name that is meaningful. Names from history, family names, and names of people that you admire are great choices. It often provides a child with a sense of direction as well.

- DO take a variety of names into consideration. Take the time to explore various names that are out there. This way you are not limited to a few names that come to your mind.

- DO make it a fun time with your partner. Remember, you don’t have to do this all in one night. Don’t allow it to become a heated debate. You want to make this a great memory instead of one that is stressful.

Don’ts of Choosing a Baby Name

Of course while there are definitely some things to do when choosing a baby name, there are some other things that you DON’T want to do. Here are a few Don’ts that you definitely need to remember.

- DON’T use a name of someone you don’t care for. The last thing you want is to associate your baby with a name of someone you can’t stand. Even if the name is beautiful, don’t do this to your child.

- DON’T make the baby name difficult to pronounce or write. No child wants a name that is a tongue twister to pronounce. So, keep it simple and something that will be fairly easy for your child to pronounce and write.

- DON’T get friends and family members involved in your decision. This will only make everything a whole lot more complicated. Just keep it between you and your partner. After all, it’s already complicated enough with just the two of you.

- DON’T wait until the delivery to decide to voice your opinion on the names you’ve considered. The last thing you want to do is be going through this in the delivery room. When the baby is born, they are going to ask what you are naming the baby. It’s best to be prepared long before the delivery occurs.

Important Tips to Remember when Naming Your Baby

Now that you’ve seen some of the do’s and don’ts of choosing baby names, here are some top tips. They’ll help you out as you go through your search for the perfect name for your new little one.

- Tip #1 - Start Your Search Early - One important tip is to start your search for a baby name early on. More than likely you’ll both change your mind several times before you come up with the perfect name. So, it’s definitely a great idea to make sure that you allow yourself plenty of time to come up with the right one. This will make it much easier for you.

- Tip #2 - The Internet Can Be Helpful - The internet can be helpful to you when you are trying to find the perfect baby name. You’ll find many great sites that offer many names to check out. The more names you think about, the more options you have. This will help you to get a good idea of the types of names that you really like and enjoy. So, check online for some top baby naming resources.

- Tip #3 - Stay Away from Trendy Names - When you are choosing your baby’s name, it’s a good idea to stay away from trendy names. You don’t want a name that is just based on a current trend. You want something that will be beautiful forever. So, don’t just choose a name because it’s the vogue name to use. Classic names may be a better choice for your baby.

- Tip #4 - Consider Getting Original - You may even want to consider getting original with the name for your baby. You don’t have to go with a name that already exists. You can actually make up the baby name on your own. Consider combining a couple names that you like to come up with a unique and beautiful name. Just make sure you don’t come up with a name that your child will spend their life being teased about. No kid wants to be the joke of the playground because of their name.

Finally, one last tip that personally helped us. Have more than one name ready. No matter how much you may plan, one of those backup names may just prove to match your new baby perfectly when you see her/him for the first time!

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Tips to write Killer resume !

I came across this cool article on "tips for writing killer resume" on very interesting blog
www.thesimpledollar.com

Over the last month, I’ve helped three different readers polish their resumes as they look to make a major career shift. In each case, I noticed several problems crop up over and over again. These problems weren’t ones that would sink the person, but they did prevent that person from standing out from the crowd, and adding the problems together ended with a forgettable resume.

Here are ten things I would always do when writing a resume, regardless of the conventional wisdom about resumes.

1. One page only, period.
This often bothers some people. “I have tons of good things to write about,” they think, so they fill up their resume with six pages of good stuff with just a sprinkling of great stuff in there. Hot tip: it’s not the “good” stuff that will get you the job. The only stuff you want on your resume is the cream of the crop, and that cream will fit on one page. If it doesn’t, you’re not cutting out enough merely “good” stuff.

To read the full article click here !