Is It Possible To Earn A Good Income From Your Hobby?

Out free time is precious to us. Spending this well earned time doing the things we love the most is priceless but imagine your working day was filled with focusing on your hobbies , interest and passions.

Many of us see our hobbies as just what they are, a past-time, a great interest in a particular subject that gives us enjoyment and pleasure. We spend hours and hours creating, building and collecting whether it is scrap booking, woodwork or art and crafts not realising that we really could be producing the foundations of a business.

If you think about how much you have learned over the years, how much effort and cash you have injected into your hobby, it could be the equivalent of an degree and years of work experience. You don’t even notice the effort because you enjoy your subject matter so much. Believe it or not there are many people using their hobbies and what they have produced as a source of income and in some cases a full-time business.

This idea is a dream come true for most but it is extremely possible, given the tenacity for hard work and persistence there is no reason why you can’t turn your hobby into your career.

The internet has really opened up a whole new world of business opportunities. This is a good start to begin your business adventure. If you create tangible products such as art paintings or sculpture or you have collected screeds of stamps, some of which quite rare, or postcards you can set up shop at eBay and sell your wares.

Even if your attributes are more of a service in nature, this too can be monetized. There are always people willing to buy and the more skilled you are the more you could make.

If you do not want to go down the eBay route you can set up your own website and sell your goods. The site does not have to be expertly designed, all singing all dancing but easy on the eye with simple sometimes being the best.

Selling on the internet is not everyone’s cup of tea. If this applies to you, try looking out for trading fares where there are many others with a particular interest in your area, this is great for getting targeted customers and getting yourself known as a supplier in this field.

There are many free or inexpensive methods for advertising yourself, such as classified ads in the newspaper and online. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to promote your business and name wherever you can.

You may want to progress or digress with what your business entails. Rather than just selling your products, you could also sell the supplies necessary to create the product. When you are truly passionate about your hobby, anything associated with it is part and parcel of your passion and allows for your business to grow.

There is nothing more satisfying than being able to live off the proceeds of what you love doing the most. And there is no reason why you shouldn’t given the years of education on the subject and nights spent lovingly building on your hobby. You are an expert on the subject so put it to use and let the wealth flow in.

Student Health Insurance: What’s Covered and What’s Not

Before you try to purchase a student health insurance plan, the very first thing that you should do is read on the medical coverage that it offers. Why? This is because student health insurance can differ from one insurance company to another. And what you would like to do is purchase a plan that will give you the most out of your money. But for student health insurance plans that are offered directly by the university, you may not have any choice because universities usually have a single insurance provider. What you can choose to do is purchase the plan provided for by the university itself or you can get a separate and private student health insurance plan of your own.

But either way, what you need to check is the coverage of the insurance that you wish to purchase. Also be aware that there are certain benefits that should be automatically covered in a college student health insurance plan. The coverage for student health insurance is also regulated by state rules, which in turn will also differ from one state to another.

College student insurance usually provides the following general services:
– Doctor visitations
– Hospitalization (which includes hospital room fees)
– Free nursing services
– Chemotherapy
– Laboratory services
– Simple surgical procedures – done at the outpatient department
– Some selected prescription drugs
– Ambulance use

Aside from the detailed coverage of your student health insurance plan, you can also go out of your way to ask your insurance provider if the provide a specific health service that would apply to your current health situation. Some conditions that are not covered by a student health insurance policy would be health problems that already exist before the insurance was purchased. Rehabilitation, dental and eye services, cosmetic and maternity services and some specific surgeries (such as weight loss surgeries, transsexual surgeries, etc.) are also excluded from the insurance coverage. So just to play safe, call them up or read all you can about the coverage of your plan. Aside from the number of services, there are also limitations as to how often you can use the offered services in a year and a limitation to the amount of health services as well.

So in order for you to make sure that you can get the most out of your student health insurance, read the coverage and the limitations of the plan for you to be able to decide to purchase it or find a better one.

And after you have found and purchased the student health insurance that fits your needs, take advantage of the benefits as best as you can. As the old cliché goes, “prevention is always better than cure”. Visit your physician as often as your student health insurance plan allows you to; take advantage of free immunizations and laboratory check-ups to help you maintain your health as best as possible. Never compromise your health because your academic success and your whole future may depend on it so be sure to get a student health insurance.

Is It Possible To Get A Great Deal On A Cruise Line Vacation?

Many people overlook the idea of a cruise holiday seeing them as an unaffordable luxury only for wealthy pensioners. Back in the day, cruise ships were an elusive vacation with only a handful of ships to choose from. The facilities on board were limited but the prices still astronomical.

This type of vacation gradually became more prevalent with demand rising and in time prices were reduced to accommodate a wider variety of budgets. Bigger, more luxurious boats were built and competing companies included more and more benefits and special offers rendering the cruise a somewhat affordable vacation. This being said, there are some offers more agreeable than others and it pays to do some prior homework before booking.

There are many ways to research and compare prices for a cruise. Some individuals like to book directly from the company online, however you can acquire a very reasonable deal from your local travel agent or with other online travel businesses. Always look out for special deals, they are becoming more and more frequent for many journeys and destinations.

Unlike a standard vacation and the potential last-minute deals, it is more cost-effective to book your cruise vacation early with the possibility of saving up to forty per cent. This applies to any form of booking arrangement. However, there is an option to make big savings by become a stand-by passenger where you would be informed of your place around 3 weeks before departure. If you don’t mind the possibility of not getting away and making the saving, this is an exceptional money saver. If you pay for the cruise in full when booking you can also save money.

It is tempting to go all out with your cruise and demand a cabin with a window or even a balcony but this could really rack up the bill. If your cruise is lengthy with sunny weather you will hardly be spending your time in the cabin. Save money and opt for a budget room and enjoy the facilities and scenery on deck, you can use the savings to heighten your spending budget or simply avoid returning home to a lean bank account.

There are so many types of cruises running throughout the year. Try travelling off-peak for the best way to save money and enjoy a less crowded environment. For a Caribbean cruise, off-peak would be in December and January, you can ask at your local travel agency for a list of off-peak times for availability. You will often find that the facilities on board are also reduced in price at these times.

If you are a serial cruiser, then you can enjoy discount prices. It is possible to book your next vacation while you cruise and as a loyal customer, you can make use of the special offers and savings. Everyone is happy, the cruise agent makes a commission and you save money on your next trip.

An extremely efficient method of cruising for both company and customer is the repositioning cruise. The ship must be moved to another location for the sailing season and making use of this trip for holiday-makers is a practical and efficient use of fuel and resources. This vacation will be spent largely at sea but for the huge discount you will receive, can make it very attractive.

Always be on the look-out for any discounts you may be entitled to. Those over the age of 55 can take advantage of seniors 55 plus, if you belong to establishments such as the AARP or the AAA, discounts are also available. There are also savings to be made if you are travelling in a large group, look out for bulk booking deals for big savings.

In most cases the cruise vacation is all inclusive, so once you are on board you can relax in the knowledge that everything is taken care of from the food and accommodation down to the drinks and entertainment. This fully comprehensive style vacation allows you to focus on the holiday itself without worrying how much your next meal will cost or what entertainment is available. Whether you are travelling to sunny climes or the north pole, this unique experience will have to running back for more.

Make Mortgage Lenders Compete And Get The Best For Your Money

Taking your first step on the property ladder should be a well researched and informed one. This step will pave your future finances whether it is easy payable monthly instalments and a great investment or a nightmare that is that is costing you deep in the pocket.

When approaching a mortgage lender remember that hey are only too happy to do business with you and will also be willing to negotiate. It is a good idea to inform them that you are comparing prices and will take the best offer, they not only expect this but appreciate your honesty so they can strike up a potential deal.

Every little saving helps so if you can create a kind of bargaining situation you could end up with a very nice rate. The mortgage lender might be prepared to knock that tiny bit off the rate but it translates into huge savings over the years.

The more you know about the mortgage process the better deal you can obtain helping you save money. Learn everything there is to know about the subject and show that you mean business. There are 2 main types of loan being the Government and Conventional loans. Read up on them and select the most appropriate loan for you.

You will need to be in possession of your credit report. It is worth bearing in mind that these report often contain errors which could potentially cost you more for your loan and even be rejected from getting the loan completely. Carefully check through the report for errors and have them corrected.

Prior to your meeting with the mortgage lender run through your plans for the next few years and how that will impact on your payments. How much can you realistically pay per month? Do you have a suitably and steady income to maintain the payments and can you afford the down payment? Another important aspect that will have to be answered as accurately as possible is whether you intend to stay in the house for the foreseeable future or if you intend to move within a few years. In this case you should be asking about the assumability of the loan.

Keep an eye on mortgage rates and their oscillations, the more you know about figures and trends the more educated a choice you can make, resources for tracking rates include the Treasury Market. Some lenders may be offering seemingly better rates than others but may be more costly in other ways such as additional fees. Keep every variable in mind and test the waters, it doesn’t hurt to let a lender know about a fellow lender’s rates to let the haggling commence.

Once you have decided on a particular lender and are happy with all of the factors involved, request a temporary contract stating the agreed upon rates to guard against any changes being made due to increased interest rates. That is not to say all lenders will try to cooperate and keep the verbal agreement, however, it can pay to err on the side of caution.

Taking on a mortgage should not be entered lightly, there are many aspect that need prior examination. so that you come out with the optimum mortgage and give you the best possible start in life.

Auto Finance

If you’ve decided it’s time to buy a new vehicle, there are some things you’ll need to prepare for and research prior to visiting the car lot. If you already own a vehicle, it may be time to refinance for a lower rate if you’ve had considerable improvement in your credit score, rates are lower and you need some extra cash.

Keeping track of your credit score with all three reporting agencies gives you a good idea of any inaccurate information contained in them and where you stand at all times. Debt management and wealth management both require this important habit.

TransUnion, Experian and Equifax are the three agencies you need to request a report from. Recent legislation allows for you to receive one free report from each every year, and this is a great way to examine them and ensure the information contained within is correct.

If there are any outstanding loans, collection accounts or invalid accounts on your reports, you’ll need to dispute them with the corresponding agency. Next, develop a debt management plan to pay down any existing loans as quickly as possible.

These actions will greatly increase your credit score, which is what will determine whether you are granted an auto loan and at what rate. Lower interest rates mean that you will be able to pay your car loan off sooner, and monthly payments will be much lower.

Next, determine how much you can invest as a down payment. Ten to twenty percent of the sale price is best, and will also help to qualify you for a lower interest rate. This will help you determine your budget, which you must stay within when it’s time to start shopping.

Some dealers and specials will also offer 0% interest for a specified period of time to qualified buyers; the secret is to pay the loan off before this period ends. If you don’t, interest will be due from the day you received the loan; this isn’t very beneficial to your long-term credit or debt management program.

You’ll also need to consider the sales tax, licensing fees, and insurance premiums. Most dealers will offer special financing deals on new cars, but the extra fees associated with them are much higher than a vehicle that is only one or two years old.

When you start test driving cars and think you have the field narrowed down to a few choices, call your insurance agent for quotes. You may find that there are drastic differences between the models, and will help you to make your decision.

As part of your personal debt management program, it’s important to ensure you are living well below your means. In addition, you should never pay more than is absolutely necessary for your new form of transportation.

Remember that car dealers make commissions, and sticker prices are never non-negotiable. Most dealers would rather make a deal at your price than lose a sale completely, so don’t be afraid to haggle or make an offer on the vehicle of your choice.

Whether you are looking for auto refinance loans, bad credit car financing or bankruptcy auto loans, there are companies that can help you. Even if you have a poor credit score, you can still get a car loan to buy a car that you want.

Considerations When Bankruptcy Seems Like the Only Option

Bankruptcy seems like a great way to relieve you and your family from the burden created by debt – late fees, penalties, medical bills and credit cards. However, there are some long-lasting effects that need to be considered and ensure you’re prepared to deal with before filing.

Many mistakenly believe that filing bankruptcy is quite easy. Although a popular option for debt handling, you must know that you will be required to meet with creditors and their representatives to justify your filing status.

This means that your personal financial records and history will be accessed and shared with others. In addition, your creditors will have the option of objecting to your claims, leaving a bankruptcy judge to determine which debts to include in the bankruptcy.

Long-term effects on your credit and everyday life will also need to be addressed. Though some debts will be totally eliminated or frozen, other creditors may close your accounts or credit lines with them when they see you have filed.

Filing bankruptcy may also not be a great option if you plan on buying a home or needing to apply for new credit in the near future. This is because the bankruptcy records will remain on your credit for at least the next seven to ten years, and will significantly lower your credit score.

You may also be required to forfeit items and property of value outside of your primary residence and automobile. This means that vacation homes, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, boats and jewelry may be turned over to your creditors that are included in the bankruptcy. This allows them to sell the items of value to try to recoup some of the losses in connection with your debt to them.

Some debts are not even able to be included in a bankruptcy. Student loans and back taxes not older than three years are just a couple of examples.

Filing is also not free. You will incur court and legal fees, not to mention time and energy spent away from work.

Taking all this in to consideration, you may still determine that bankruptcy is the only option for you. It will relieve you of harassing and bothersome collection efforts, garnishments and foreclosures.

It is still possible to rebuild a positive credit rating after filing bankruptcy, though you will need to be extremely strict and justify every one of your expenses in the future. Depending on which type of bankruptcy you file, you may be able to start saving more of your money for a rainy day, or start paying down your unsecured debts. Either one of these actions will develop healthy debt handling habits for your future well-being.

Bankruptcy requires careful consideration, and anyone in the position of possibly choosing this action should seek professional legal counsel. It is always well worth the effort to make a phone call to a non-profit debt counseling agency to see if it is in fact possible to pay back your creditors and still avoid this black mark on your credit.

Creating a Budget and Sticking To It Increases Your Discretionary Income

Creating a budget sounds like quite an easy task that even your eight-year-old could perform, but many don’t ever implement one because it does require some organization, math skills and discipline.

Budgets are the number one tool that everyone can use to keep expenses in check, track debt payoff plans, and save for that new house or car. When unexpected expenses come up, you’ll know exactly how much you can afford and where the funds will come from as well.

If translating your income and expenses is simply too difficult to do on your own, find a professional or close friend with experience performing this task. You’ll need to itemize monthly income sources and expenses, as well as account for some of the unexpected surprises that inevitably arise on occasion.

Spreadsheets are the easiest ways to outline these items, but you can also write them down by hand to at least start the process and have a plan to follow. When using a spreadsheet, such as Excel or Google Docs & Spreadsheets, use one column for income and one for expenses. You’ll also need to figure an added 10% for unexpected expenses that may arise at any time.

You must first track your expenses for at least a couple of weeks before performing this task. This includes not only set bills like your mortgage and insurance, but everyday expenses like your morning coffee or lunch. If you pay cash for everything, you’ll have to record these by hand. If you always use a credit or debit card to pay for expenses, simply print off your most recent statement and itemize the expenses shown.

Next, create a “what-if” scenario to see how your income will greatly increase by paying down your debt. This will provide a constant reminder and source of motivation to keep sending extra money every month and sticking to your debt consolidation or debt reduction plan.

Subtract all of your credit card and auto loan interest, as well as 25% of any unnecessary or impulse purchases. The total of these three amounts will show you how much in unavoidable fees you’re paying each month. If this amount is higher than 10% of your monthly expenses, you need to address the problem and eliminate some of them.

Now create a budget that eliminates all of your debt payments except for your mortgage. How much does your net income increase? This is what can be accomplished by simply paying off your debt sooner!

An ideal way to pay down your debt is to stop spending on the impulse and unnecessary purchases each month, and applying this amount to your outstanding debt principal balances. Your amount owed and minimum payments will greatly decrease (though the minimum should only be utilized when things are tight and it’s absolutely necessary), and you’ll be on the way to a much higher net income. Many find that doing this one thing allows them to live at a much higher standard on even the most modest income.

How to Determine if Debt Consolidation is for You

Credit Card Debt	$ Select One01 – 2,4992,500 – 4,9995,000 – 7,4997,500 – 9,99910,000 – 12,49912,500 – 14,99915,000 – 19,99920,000 – 29,99930,000 – 39,99940,000 – 49,99950000+
Other Unsecured Debt	$ Select One01 – 2,4992,500 – 4,9995,000 – 7,4997,500 – 9,99910,000 – 12,49912,500 – 14,99915,000 – 19,99920,000 – 29,99930,000 – 39,99940,000 – 49,99950000+
Number of Creditors	Select One234+
Status of Bill Payments	Select OneUp to DateAbout to Fall Behind1 Month Behind2 or More Months Behind
I want to	Select OneEliminate My DebtConsolidate My DebtSeek Advice
Own a Home?	Yes  No

Most of us fall upon hard times at one point or another in our lives, and the vicious cycle of revolving debt that seems too large to ever pay off is no exception. Before you know it, late fees and penalties make your outstanding balances grow exponentially, and you feel as though there is nowhere to turn.

Consumers are increasingly turning to debt consolidation services to help get hold of their debt and outstanding balances. These companies are ideal for several situations that may be leading to bankruptcy, but some consumers find they can produce the same results themselves. Debt consolidation and credit counseling companies provide a valuable service that includes both pros and cons to consider carefully before using.

Debt consolidation programs may include taking out a debt consolidation loan that is unsecured or secured (such as with your home). Credit counseling companies may settle your debt for less than is actually owed, or negotiate lower interest rates and monthly payments to make them more affordable for you and easier to pay off in a shorter amount of time.

These options make paying debt off much easier, as you make only one payment to one creditor on a monthly or weekly basis. You may also be able to have that payment automatically deducted from your paycheck. If you have a debt consolidation loan, your credit report will show the original creditors as being paid off. Credit counseling companies disperse payments to all creditors included in the agreement, and your credit report will show that you are enrolled in a credit counseling payment plan.

Different types of plans will create different results when it comes to the total monthly payments due, interest paid on the debts, or the total debt balances owed. Ideally, you want all three of these to happen, though it is highly unlikely. Most programs can negotiate lower interest rates and monthly payments, but the original balances will not decrease.

Creditors are more likely to agree to changing terms of a loan or credit card debt because lower payments become more affordable to you, and are more likely to be paid. Be careful, though – even one late payment can eliminate any and all agreements, putting you right back where you started!

Becoming debt-free is the goal with any debt consolidation or credit counseling program, so ensure that lowering your payments will not increase the life of your payoff period. This is what will happen if only your payment and not the interest rate is lowered.

Also remember that some companies will charge a small fee, typically paid monthly, to negotiate these terms for you. You may have the option to do it yourself, however.

Start by calling all of your creditors, and explain your current situation and the reasons you have fallen behind. Ask if there are any special programs which you qualify for; most creditors can lower your interest rates and payments for long enough to make it feasible and able to be paid completely off. This option will not have any negative effect on your credit report if the companies agree to report your account as paid up-to-date.

Information Contained in Your Credit Report Can Help You Become Debt-Free

Some people tend to get a little queasy when mentioning their credit score and report; this is especially true if they are aware of negative information contained in it. However, everyone should have knowledge of what is in their report as part of a long-standing debt management program.

TransUnion, Equifax and Experian are the three credit reporting agencies used by creditors, and each may contain different information that may or may not be accurate. Each year, you should request your free copy from these agencies to closely examine the information within them.

Your reports will contain information about nearly every account, credit card, auto loan or home loan you have held in the past. Collections, liens, student loans and owed taxes may also be included.

When you first receive your credit reports, you need to go through them with a fine-toothed comb to ensure all information is correct. You’ll want to look at the payment history recorded, current balances/overdue amounts, and keep an eye out for accounts you were not aware of.

Accounts filed on your report that are not yours are the first indication of identity theft, and need to be dealt with immediately. This is why it’s a good idea to monitor your credit reports on a regular basis. Identity theft can ruin your credit score, cause you to owe debt that is not yours, and keep you from getting much-needed loans in the future.

You will also notice that your address and other personal identifying information will be included on the reports. Any incorrect information in this area may lend clues to mistakes on your report as well.

Making a list of all incorrect information on your report is the first step to creating a personal debt management program. You should immediately submit a written dispute for each incorrect piece of information on your reports, and send them to each corresponding agency. If this information is not validated by the debtor within a 30-day period, the agency is required to remove it from your credit report.

Next, in order to significantly raise your credit score, you’ll want to create a personal debt management solution by highlighting collections, judgments, liens and current credit card debt and other debt. Start by contacting the collection agencies and ask for a settlement on the old debt.

After old unpaid debts are eliminated, determine how much in extra funds you will be able to apply toward outstanding credit cards and loans. Unsecured debts should be paid down or off before seeking additional credit lines from your bank or other financial institution.

Put this extra amount of money toward the highest interest rate loan or credit card first, until it is paid off; then, move to the next highest rate. Any creditors reporting your history as late should be addressed immediately as well.

Understanding your credit report and maintaining awareness of what creditors report is the first step in creating any personal debt management program. You must be aware of what’s included in your reports before pursuing additional credit for any purchase; this allows for the best possible rate and terms available.

Your credit score ratings are very essential – and you need to check your credit report to make sure that the information in it is correct. You can get all three credit reports and get free credit score online – so your credit rating score is only a click away.

Low-Interest Credit Cards Can Be a Useful Debt Management Tool

Credit card debt is one of the most daunting things that could be a part of your life. You probably still find a ton of low-interest credit card offers in your mailbox on a regular basis, and may be considering taking one out to transfer balances or use for everyday purchases.

The secret to credit cards is that they must always be used as a tool for convenience; they should never be used to buy things that you can not pay cash for – only for items that make it impossible to pay for with cash such as online purchases.

Credit card companies will issue you a certain line of credit that may tempt you to use and max it out to buy everything your little heart desires. However, many don’t realize this will lead to 10, 20, sometimes 30 years of payments to the company that issued your card!

If you currently have credit card debt that you are trying to pay off, a low-interest credit card can be used as part of your personal debt management or debt consolidation plan. If you can not qualify for a debt consolidation loan, or have not reached agreeable terms with your current creditors, switching balances to a lower-interest card could save you thousands in interest fees while you pay the debt off.

When considering an offer, remember to read the fine print. Does the low interest rate expire in a few months and automatically increase, or does it stay in effect for the life of the account? Also, ask if the low rate will apply to transferred balances.

If the rate will expire, ensure it is far enough down the road for you to pay off the balances you will transfer. Any good debt consolidation program requires advanced thought and foresight into these little details!

After applying for the low-interest card and transferring your current credit card debt, CUT UP THE CARD and never use it for anything, period. If you think you may need to use it in an emergency situation because you don’t have a savings account, you can freeze the card to prevent impulse purchases and use in the future.

After you pay off your existing debt, it’s time to start rebuilding your credit and work on improving that credit score. Use your low-interest credit card for small, everyday purchases like your coffee, gas or groceries. Then, when you receive your monthly bill, PAY IT OFF. No ifs, ands or buts, you must pay off the balance immediately. Otherwise, you’re opening the door to the vicious cycle you just worked so diligently to get out of!

Also remember that the amount of your monthly payment toward your debt consolidation plan will greatly affect the cost of your credit. Paying only the minimum payments will likely not save you much at all. You must increase the monthly payments drastically to see those balances disappear and begin saving your own money!

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