May 19, 2012
Although you may not want to think about the state of your finances, there is no getting away from the fact that money is an essential part of everyday life. This article is full of tips that will help you get your finances under control.
Be sure to include your post tax income. For starters, include all after-tax money that you get each month from your salary, alimony, child support, rental income, or other sources. Make sure your expenses are less than your income on a monthly basis. A great way to consolidate many bills into a smaller payment is by getting personal loans and these loans are typically desired because they offer a much lower rate of interest. You can imagine how much money you will save by consolidating higher interest loans into a personal loan with a lower rate.
To make this process effective, you should compose a detailed listing of your expenditures. You need to also include quarterly and yearly payments. Some of these expenses may be home improvement and repair costs, or car maintenance and registration payments. You need to also write down other, smaller things that you pay for daily or weekly, such as child care or grocery shopping. You should make sure that your list is as comprehensive as possible to ensure you have a true picture of what you spend.
There are always things you can eliminate from any budget. One easy thing you can do is bring coffee from home instead of stopping for expensive lattes on the way to work. Seek out anything similar to this that you can get rid of without difficulty prior to putting together a lasting financial plan.
See what improvements you can make to help you lower your utility bills. Windows can be a weak link in your homes armor by letting out heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. Make sure your windows are properly insulated. An on-demand hot water tank is a good way to reduce spending. Have a plumber come out and fix any leaky pipes you have to help lower your monthly water bill. Be sure to run your dishwasher only when it is full, so you can make the best use of it.
If you can, purchase new energy efficient appliances. These energy-saving appliances help you save on your utilities. Also, when you are not using something, unplug it. You can save both money and energy by doing this.
Some home improvements pay for themselves over time with the reduction in utility expenses. For example, replacing your roof and installing new insulation prevents you from losing energy for both heating and cooling because of insufficient structural materials.
Try to save money by being careful with appliances. Even though you are spending money to repair or replace items, you will see a savings in the long run.
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April 29, 2012
The PayScale Index says national wage growth is back where it was at the end of 2008. Heres what one economist says that means for the recession.
Economic recovery can no longer be considered sluggish, PayScales lead economist told CNBCs US Business News Blog.
She went on to say that for the first time in a few years, people can feel confident about where the economy is headed.
Do you agree?
What the numbers say
The PayScale Index, which tracks the changes in wages of US workers, says national wage growth jumped 1.4% in the first quarter of 2012 over the same period last year.
Thats the highest wage growth has been since the fourth quarter of 2008.
Wage growth has been on an upward trend since the second quarter of 2011 when it was at 0.2%. It hit its lowest point in the fourth quarter of 2009 at -1.4%.
Rankings
According to PayScale, a global online compensation data firm, jobs in the energy sector are experiencing the best wage growth.
PayScale measures the quarterly change in total cash compensation of full-time employees in 15 private industries throughout the 20 largest metropolitan areas.
The wage growth breakdown by industry:
- Mining, oil and gas exploration 4.9%
- Utilities 3.9%
- Transportation, warehousing and storage 2.2%
- Manufacturing 1.9%
- Construction 1.8%
- Healthcare and social assistance 1.5%
- Information, media and telecommunications 1.5%
- Retail 1.5%
- Tie wholesale trade 1.5%
- Finance and insurance 1.4%
- Professional, scientific and tech services 1.4%
- Business operation support services 1.2%
- Arts, entertainment and recreation 0.7%
- Real estate and rental services 0.5%
- Food services and accommodation 0.2%
The wage growth breakdown by metropolitan area:
- Seattle 3.2%
- Houston 2.7%
- Philadelphia 1.8%
- St. Louis 1.7%
- Dallas 1.5%
- Washington, DC 1.5%
- Chicago 1.4%
- Atlanta 1.3%
- Boston 1.2%
- New York 1.1%
- Los Angeles 1.1%
- San Francisco 1.0%
- Minneapolis 1.0%
- San Diego 1.0%
- Detroit 0.5%
- Tampa 0.5%
- Miami 0.3%
- Riverside (0.3%)
- Phoenix (0.5%)
- Baltimore (0.7%)
Info: To view the methodology used for The PayScale Index, click here. For a wage breakdown by job category, click here, and for a breakdown by company size, click here.
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April 6, 2012
Dropbox, LivingSocial and Craigslist are among the worldâs most valuable start-ups, according to Business Insiderâs Digital 100 of 2011, which also identifies new additions to the list.
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For the last four years, US business news site Business Insider has compiled a list of the worldâs most valuable digital start-ups, more recently known as the Digital 100.
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Not surprisingly, Facebook tops the list for 2011, with a valuation of $80 billion, up from $25 billion last year and $6.5 billion the year prior.
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Facebook is followed by social game developer Zynga, daily deals site Groupon, Chinese online retail giant 360Buy, and micro blogging network Twitter.
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Rounding out the top 10 are web-based file hosting service Dropbox, Wikipedia, invite-only online retailer Vente PrivÃe, group buying site LivingSocial and online classifieds site Craigslist.
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Newcomers include accommodation site Airbnb, Angry Birds maker Rovio and mobile payments provider Square. Here are five others you may not have heard of:
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1. Jawbone
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Based in San Francisco, Jawbone is the creator of Bluetooth headsets, noise-eliminating technology, JAMBOX, wireless speakers and speakerphones.
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It also created THOUGHTS, a free mobile service that allows users to utilise their voice in a new way.
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In July, Jawbone raised $70 million for a total of $170 million raised to date. According to the Wall Street Journal, the valuation of that round was $1.5 billion.
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2. Trulia
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Based in San Francisco, Trulia is one of the largest and fastest growing online real estate companies in the US.
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Trulia is close to Zillowâs audience metrics, while doubling revenue year over year.With Zillow valued at $1 billion or more, Business Insider estimates Truliaâs valuation at $700 million.
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3. Mind Candy
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Mind Candy is a London-based social network offering online games for children.
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Itâs most famous for Moshi Monsters â virtual creatures that Mind Candy users can adopt and buy virtual goods for.
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Spark Capital sold half its Mind Candy stake in June for 15 times more than its initial investment seven years prior. The deal valued the company at a reported $200 million.
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4. Vostu
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Vostu is an online gaming company that is big in Brazil, which is where it is based. It has 42 million users.
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Vostu raised $30 million at the end of last year at what Business Insider estimates was a $300 million post-money valuation.
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While the company has grown significantly since then, a lawsuit with Zynga is a potential risk for Vostu. Itâs estimated Vostu will do about $50 million of revenue this year.
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5. Warby Parker
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Based in New York, Warby Parker was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective â to create boutique-quality, classically-crafted eyewear at a revolutionary price point.
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In July last year, Warby Parker received $1.5 million in seed funding, followed by $12 million in Series A funding in September, at an estimated valuation of $100-200 million.
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April 4, 2012
The government of Trinidad and Tobago intends to increase our foreign debt by US$500 million or approximately TT$3.15 billion by floating bonds on the international capital market.
This will increase our foreign debt profile by 33 per cent.
The bonds are expected to be sold by the end of September.
The government has given no explanation as to what it intends to do with the proceeds of the bond sale.
Even worse: the Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran revealed the governments intention, not in the Parliament, not at an after-Cabinet media conference, not even in Trinidad and Tobago.
Our goodly minister made this momentous announcement in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he went to attend a meeting of the Inter American Development Bank.
He did so in an interview with Bloomberg News, the US business news channel. What contempt for the very people who have to bear the burden of paying back this debt! But what do you expect from politicians who view us not as citizens but as so much election fodder.
Gerry Kangalee
La Romaine
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March 29, 2012
Berkeley Prep softball ace Jenny Weissman, currently Hillsborough Countys strikeout leader, has committed to Washington University, a Division III program in St. Louis.
Buccaneers coach Al Bowman reported that Weissman, 6-5 with a 1.85 ERA entering Mondays game against Carrollwood Day, had settled on the academically renowned school. Washington is ranked 14th on the US Business News annual national college survey for 2012.
Jenny was very selective in this process, determined to meet her academic goals first, Bowman said in a news release.
Weissman has amassed 131 strikeouts in 64.1 innings this season, collecting double-digit strikeout totals in seven contests. As a junior, she finished 10-10 with a 0.73 ERA, totaling 188 strikeouts in 115.1 innings.
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March 14, 2012
The string of sovereign debt downgrades in recent months could be just the beginning. The US, Europe–even Germany–could face further ratings cuts over the next three years, according to a lengthy analysis this week by Citigroup.
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March 6, 2011
The South African National Defence Force is deployed in Cape Town this afternoon to take part in the annual Opening of Parliament this evening. Speaker Max Sisulu says the military and police will provide a mounted escort, while the route that the President takes will be lined by personnel from the various Services.
The National Ceremonial Guard will provide a Guard of Honour and conduct a national salute along with the SA Military Health Service Band while the Cape Field Artillery, a Reserve Force regiment, will fire a 21-round gun salute. Four Pilatus PC7 MkII aircraft will conduct a simultaneous salute flight.
The opening ceremonies are to be followed by President Jacob Zuma delivering his third State of the Nation Address to the people of South Africa tonight at 7pm. Bloomberg, the US business news service, reports Zuma may unveil measures to tackle unemployment, considered by many as South Africas top challenge. “Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs are going to be at the top of the state-of-the-nation speech agenda,” Gwede Mantashe, secretary- general of the ruling African National Congress, told reporters in Johannesburg on Tuesday. “Employment creation has suffered a setback because of the economic meltdown.”
The unemployment rate stood at 24% for the final three months of last year. When those who are too discouraged to seek work are taken into account, the figure rises to 35.8%, according to Stats SA, the state statistics office. Zuma pledged to make job creation a top priority on taking office in May 2009. His failure to deliver on those promises may cost the ANC votes in local government elections that must be held by mid-year. Zuma may announce the date for the vote today.
Pic: The SAMHS band parades
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February 15, 2011
Rumoured Apple iPhone 5 may include Oyster card-style contactless payment, claims man in the know.
The new Apple iPhone 5 may let you pay for everything from takeaway coffees to train tickets simply by wirelessly swiping the smartphone against an electronic reader.
Richard Doherty, director of consulting firm Envisioneering Group, claims to know that Apple is working on embedding contactless payment technology – also known as Near Field Communication – into its next generation of iPhone.
Apple is considering starting a mobile payment service as early as mid-2011, Doherty told US business news website Bloomberg, citing engineers working on hardware for Apple.
Although Apple hasnt confirmed plans to make an iPhone 5, which would replace the existing iPhone 4, the rumoured fifth generation iPhone is expected to be announced later this year.
Read our guide to contactless payment technology.
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February 12, 2011
NEW YORK – Clashes between supporters of the embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and his opponents roiled US stock markets early Wednesday, as traders worried about rising instability in the region.
Those who were sanguine about Egypt and the contagion risk must re-think their positions, said David Kotok of Cumberland Advisors. We are seeing the contagion signs in Jordan, Yemen and other countries.
The blue-chip Dow fell 0.16 percent (18.85 points) to 12,020.86 in early trades, after closing Tuesday above 12,000 points for the first time since June 2008.
The broader SP 500 index fell 0.33 percent (4.37 points) to 1,303.22, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq index sank 0.24 percent (6.56 points) to 2,744.63.
Egypt, which sits astride the strategically vital Suez Canal and at the center of the oil-rich Middle East.
US business news channels have broken away from their normal coverage from stock exchange floors in New York and Chicago to broadcast live pictures of the clashes, adding to the sense of uncertainty.
We expect more violence, said Kotok, we do not know how this will turn out. We do not have an estimate of the eventual spread. We do not know how much economic damage will be witnessed in global markets and in the incipient global economic recovery.
The turmoil in Egypt overshadowed data released Wednesday morning which showed private businesses in the United States added 187,000 jobs in January, starting the year with gains across major industries.
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February 11, 2011
GO Vita Batemans Bay, the main stockist of Power Balance bands, has removed the controversial product from their shelves pending new packaging.
In December, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) ordered Power Balance Australia to refund all customers who felt misled by Power Balance’s claimed benefits of the bands on their packaging and website that they improve balance, strength and flexibility, and work positively with the body’s natural energy field.
As there was no scientific evidence to support the claims, Power Balance was ruled to be in breach of the Trade Practices Act.
Go Vita is considering whether or not to resume selling the bands when they are repackaged.
The ACCC’s ruling has not necessarily changed Go Vita proprietor Bev Dunne’s mind about the bands.
“We go on the results and feedback from our customers,” she said.
“We’ve sold lots and lots of them, and despite them having a money-back guarantee we have had very few returned.”
Ms Dunne said that customers had reported many benefits from the bands.
“We have had customers report that their travel sickness has been cured by their band,” she said.
“This is just one of those products that people have difficulty getting their heads around.”
Power Balance Australia is apologetic for the unsubstantiated claims it made about its product but isn’t conceding defeat in the battle of the bands.
“The statements we made through advertising and online were made without a clear understanding of the level of proof required to substantiate them, and we now know we were at fault,” company spokeswoman Jaselyn O’Sullivan said.
“We apologise to the public and our customers. We based our claims of the number of testimonials from customers who have tried and like what Power Balance does for them.
“We continue to receive testimonials from customers outlining how Power Balance has benefited them personally, which is why we continue to stand behind our product.”
Due to their sales success, US business news service CNBC named Power Balance bands the Sports Product Of The Year for 2010.
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