Monday, June 17, 2013

Things Successful People Do on a Weekend

Success is determined by one's self. It could be satisfaction with your wealth, milestones achieved at a young age, or solid relationships with loved ones. However, more often than not, the world equates success to a high ranking position in your career at a young age.

I have not thought of myself as successful, but as age and experience creeps on, i became gradually proud of my life journey.

My conservative Asian parents reckons i play too much and sometimes nag at me. Their belief is "slog when young and reap the fruits at retirement".

Other than the fact that, you could possibly not live Forbes recently published an article of the 14 Things Successful People Do on a Weekend, and it further affirms my belief that my playfulness is what gives me my edge professionally.

After all, the whole point of the week is the weekend.

It is what you do on the weekend, that fuels you during the week. I never found the first five days after a weekend hard. Well, other than the fact that i have been very blessed with jobs that i love going to.

Partying or drinking excessively is something i do not do on a weekend. Getting wasted is wasting the weekend, even if socializing is listed as one of the 14 things.

I have a weekend routine. I start off my weekend with exercise. Even if it means waking up at 7am to catch the 8.30am yoga class. The best Tweets come to my head when i'm in the cobra or one legged standing pose.
On certain weekends, i do something a little more special like doing an adventure course, going out on a boat or visiting somewhere special. Being active and outdoors is an opportunity to disconnect, to pry myself away from the addictive finger swiping.
There are also days when i just want to stay home because i had been out socializing on the weekdays. On such weekends, i indulge in my passion. Blogging. This is also the reason why i didn't want to go into hardcore monetizing my blog or blog full-time. This is a hobby i keep, for me to do whenever i want and however i want. Some of my best blog posts are written on a Friday! While cinemas are a bad weekend idea because you're losing precious outdoor time, there are Saturdays where i like to veg out in front of a big screen with a movie that doesn't require much thinking. Now that I've relocated temporary to Europe, weekends staying in mean trying out new recipes.

I do plenty of weekend getaways as well. While many of my colleagues complain about the office being far from the city center back in Singapore, i took advantage of it being near the airport. Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh and even Malaysia are the usual suspects. That attitude didn't change, in fact increased its frequency now that i'm in Europe. I wasted no time in spending my weekends in Budapest, Florence and just last weekend Lake Como.
In fact, making future plans on a weekend is also an effective way of preparing for the work week. Being able to plan ahead makes me focused in achieving goals. It also makes me a more responsible worker. I am now planning for my next weekend getaway in Milan :)

My other ritual on a weekend is attending church. The 2 hours spent allows me to reflect, appreciate and be more introspective about larger issues.

How are your weekends like?

WEEKENDS....

Monday, June 10, 2013

visa credit card for students

Student Visa Cards - The Good and Bad

Student Visa Cards
One thing that many college students intuitively know is certainly that having a charge card is without a doubt one of the essentials of life. Not specifically to splurge on things they do not require, but to build a strong credit ranking so that when it comes time to make a serious buy, they'll always be in great standing. One can find student credit cards that may ease a young man or woman into the credit economy and also let him or her demonstrate just how responsible they can be with a credit card.
The majority of young people have their own personal bank account. It may well be one that their parents established for them when they were a young child, or it might be a little something they've opened up on their very own using the money they have earned at a part-time position. In either case, the bank will probably be the right spot to start when searching for student Visa cards. The bank will probably discuss the readily available possibilities with the individual and see which of the student Visa cards best suits their economic circumstances.
In quite a few scenarios a bank or credit card company may necessitate that the young person have a parent cosign their application. That is considering that student charge cards are normally the very first kind of credit a university student is going to be responsible for. Because they've got absolutely no record of either a favorable or negative credit history, the companies providing the student Visa cards will need another person to bear the debt in the event the student does not meet their obligation. In the event that the student can work out an arrangement with their father and mother, they will normally take on the position as cosigner.

If this isn't required the student may possibly pay a higher rate of interest. Generally the rate that an person with student Visa cards will be expected to pay is on par with a classic bank card. If the student doesn't have established credit history and no cosigner is required, the onus to pay falls directly on their shoulders. These forms of student Visa cards unquestionably do succeed towards building the person's credit rating, but they are a little more costly.
Unfortunately some students unwittingly fall into deep credit card debt as a result of bank cards. Numerous companies mail out student credit card application forms to university students. They anticipate the college students to reply simply because they tempt all of them by using a really low initial interest rate. When a student struggling over a tight spending budget sees this they're likely to apply and receive a few. At the time they do not consider the long term ramifications of getting a lot of student charge cards and carrying that volume of debt. Therefore it is smart for him or her to remember that whatever they put on the card, each and every penny plus even more must be paid back. Graduating with a mountain of already accumulated credit card debt isn't a great way to start your adult life
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Perrone


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Many people have been victimized in credit repair scams, but that is not to say there are no legitimate businesses out there that can help you. If you would like to get your credit back on track, this article is very helpful in letting you know what to look out for when choosing a credit repair company.

People who are trying to repair their credit by looking for credit repair services should be wary of credit repair scams. There are a number of companies who claim to offer free advice from credit experts while they are overcharging you greatly for information you can get freely on your own.

Pay off your credit card in full every month if you can. Make it a point to not run up too much credit card debt by paying it in full. Your creditors will see you are responsible if you make a payment in full every month, which can improve your credit.

It is important to remember that repairing your credit history is very similar to losing weight. Like weight loss, it takes a lot of time and effort and there are no quick fixes. Just like you have to resist the temptation of high-calorie foods to lose weight, you must resist using credit cards when trying to repair your credit.

Always pay your bills on time. The way you pay your bills accounts for almost one-third of your credit score. If you make a payment late it stays on your credit report and will affect your score for a whole 7 years. If you haven't been paying your bills on time, start now.

If you're looking to repair your credit, get rid of all your credit cards except one. Transferring the balance to a single card will mean you'll only need to keep track of a single bill and interest rate. Focus on paying the minimum on this card every month and then add a little extra to help bring the principle down.

You should know you are eligible to receive your credit report for free each year from all three of the major credit reporting bureaus. You should be sure to take advantage of this and check all three of them. This way you will know what is negative on your credit report.

If you are trying to improve a damaged credit score while under a considerable debt burden, consider contacting your creditors and having them lower your credit limits. There are two effects to lowering your credit limit. First, it prevents you from continuing to run up debt. Second, it improves your image as a responsible and trustworthy user of credit.

As this article discussed, credit repair is a legitimate business that has its share of good and bad companies. Knowing who to trust and what to look out for can help guide you in the proper direction of credit repair. Apply the knowledge and advice from this article and you will be able to spot credit repair specialists who are legitimately trying to help.

Credit cards are almost a necessity of modern life, but the easy credit that they offer can get many people in trouble. Knowing how to use credit cards responsibly is a key part of your financial education. The tips in this article will help make sure that you do not abuse your credit cards.

Every time you decide to apply for a new credit card, your credit report is checked and an "inquiry" is made. This stays on your credit report for up to two years and too many inquiries, brings your credit score down. Therefore, before you start wildly applying for different cards, research the market first and choose a few select options.

Be wary of introductory deals on credit cards. Many credit cards providers will offer new customers credit cards, that have low interest rates, and high credit limits in order to get them to sign up. Unfortunately, these same providers usually increase the interest rate on their credit cards after a customer has owned a card for a few months, and built up some debt.

Do not go over your spending limit. Even if your card has one, there can be scenarios due to electronic reporting delays and the like where you can actually go over your limit. Given the fees and charges for going over your spending limit, some credit card companies make it easy for you to do so. Do not assume they are putting a hard ceiling in to protect you.

If you are getting rid of an old credit card, cut up the credit card through the account number. This is especially important, if you are cutting up an expired card and your replacement card has the same account number. As an added security step, consider throwing away the pieces in different trash bags, so that thieves can't piece the card back together as easily.

If you feel that the interest rate that you are paying on your card is too high, you can call your credit card company and ask them to lower it. Many people do not know this and the credit card companies are not going to openly tell people that they may receive lower rates by request.

There are so many cards available that you should avoid signing up with any company that charges you a monthly fee just for having the card. This will end up being very costly and might end up making you owe much more money to the company, than you can comfortably afford.

Choose one bill to put on your credit card and use your credit card for that bill every month, then pay off the card at the end of the month. That way, you make sure you're using the card regularly and responsibly and your credit score will continually go up.

Having access to credit makes it much easier to manage your finances, but as you have seen, you need to do so with care. It is all too easy to over-extend yourself with your credit cards. Keep the tips you have learned from this article in mind, so that you can be a responsible credit card user.

Auto insurance is one of the most important tools any driver can have. Auto insurance protects drivers in the case of auto collisions by providing them with coverage for medical bills and car costs. However, before purchasing auto insurance, there are some things you should know. Read the following article for advice on auto insurance.

Call your auto insurance company and ask for a comprehensive list of all of the discounts they offer. Go down the list and determine if you are getting as many of them as you can. For example, you might be able to save a significant amount by taking a free defensive driving course or by reporting a co-habiting partner.

Do not settle for the first auto insurance company that you find. You may be missing out on special discounts or rewards. For instance, some insurance companies offer discounted premiums for accident-free drivers, or for people of certain professions. Some even give discounts to college students who maintain good grades.

Scrap rebates for instant promotions to grab more customers. Rebates are a hassle for both you and your customer, so avoid the process in between and offer your customer the discount up front. You will earn your customer's loyalty quicker and ensure that they purchase from you in the future.

Don't pick an insurance just because it is cheaper. Each insurance company provides different types of plans with varying levels of coverage. One company may offer a plan for $100 less, but it may just have liability coverage. Most states require protection against damage to another person's car, but not for your own.

Make sure you update your auto insurance policy if you get married, divorced or otherwise change your family situation. In many cases, your auto insurance price may change. Saving money is important in today's economy so you do not want to pay more than you have to, or keep your ex-spouse on your policy.

If you don't commute and just use your car to run errands and take care of minor business, you may be able to get a "pleasure driving" rate, which is much less than the rate you would pay if you were commuting to work every day. The reason for this is that you are less likely to have an accident if you don't drive very much!

When you are shopping for car insurance be sure to calculate all of the costs before taking the policy. You may be paying higher premiums for less coverage if you do not take the time to find out exactly what it is that you are paying for. Keep the deductibles in mind as you are calculating the cost.

When considering auto insurance for a young driver, keep in mind the type of car in relation to the type of insurance you are buying. If the car itself is not worth that much money, pay special attention to the extras on the claim, as well as the deductible amount. Most providers will work with you, based on your choices.

In conclusion, auto insurance is an important tool for all drivers. It protects drivers in auto accidents by covering costs. There are many things to remember when purchasing auto insurance, and if you remember the advice in the article above, then you should be able to select auto insurance that will protect you.

It's becoming harder and harder to manage your money today, with that being said it becomes even harder to repair your credit once it declines. If you're facing this problem then you're in the right place. This article is here to help you form strategies of success towards repairing your credit.

One neat trick for dealing with credit bureaus when you are repairing your credit is to hand-write all of your correspondence with the bureau. The credit bureaus are eager to categorize your letters and route them to automated responses. This process is a lot easier if you send them printed material. Hand-written letters are far more likely to receive individual attention.

If a person is having trouble managing their spending on credit cards and it is damaging their credit or making it difficult to repair credit then that person should consider canceling the cards as soon as they pay off the balance. Canceling a credit card is a sure fire way to limit spending on it.

When looking for a credit repair company to help you with your financial problems, avoid any who promise you an entirely new, clean credit report! These are illegal and can not only ruin your credit for the rest of your life, but also put you in jail as you will be the person blamed for it.

Part of a successful credit repair effort is diligent record-keeping. All correspondence involving a credit dispute - both incoming and outgoing - should be saved for reference. Repairing a serious credit problem can be a very complex process. The debtor needs to be ready to refresh his or her memory on issues that may not have been discussed in several months.

Check your credit report from all three major credit reporting agencies once a year. This is a great opportunity to check your report for problems or bad information. If you notice a problem on your report then you have the opportunity to fix it. This also gives you an idea of how a prospective lender would view you when pulling your credit report.

In order to repair your credit you're going to have to make a lot of cut backs. What you want to do is limit yourself from going out so much as eating out costs a lot more than eating in. Try your best to stock up on food when you see deals at stores, this can help you save some extra money you can use towards getting out of debt and fixing your credit.

A great tip for improving your credit rating is to use your credit card for your everyday purchases, such as food and gasoline. However, you must ensure that you do not spend too much so that you are able to pay off this balance every month. By doing this, you will show the credit card companies that you are a reliable borrower, which will in turn increase your credit rating.

Now that you have some ideas of ways you can go about repairing your credit, you're going to be wanting to implement those strategies as much as you can whenever possible. The best way to see progress soon is to start those strategies today. The sooner you try to repair your credit, the sooner it's going to happen.

Credit cards can help you to manage your finances, as long as you use them appropriately. However, it can be devastating to your financial management if you misuse them. For this reason, you may have shied away from getting a credit card in the first place. However, you don't need to do this, you just need to learn how to use credit cards properly. Read on for some tips to help you with your credit card use.

Check your credit report regularly. By law, you are allowed to check your credit score once a year from the three major credit agencies. This may be often enough, if you use credit sparingly and always pay on time. You may want to spend the extra money, and check more often if you carry a lot of credit card debt.

Be sure to check the activity on your credit card regularly, to make sure that there are no suspicious charges being made on it. If someone has stolen your information and is using your card without your permission, you want to catch this as soon as possible. If you see suspicious activity, contact your credit card company right away.

Try your best to stay within 30 percent of the credit limit that is set on your card. Part of your credit score is made up of assessing the amount of debt that you have. By staying far under your limit, you will help your rating and make sure it does not start to dip.

You should ask the people at your bank if you can have an extra checkbook register, so that you can keep track of all of the purchases that you make with your credit card. Many people lose track and they assume their monthly statements are right and there is a huge chance that there may have been errors.

Don't pay any fees upfront when you are getting a credit card. The legitimate card issuers will not ask for any money up front, unless you're getting a secured credit card. When you are applying for a secured card, be sure to find out how the deposit is going to be used.

An important aspect of smart credit card usage is to pay the entire outstanding balance, each and every month, whenever possible. By keeping your usage percentage low, you will help keep your overall credit score high, as well as, keep a substantial amount of available credit open for use in case of emergencies.

Never apply for more credit cards than you actually need. It's true that you need a few credit cards to help build your credit, but there is a point at which the amount of credit cards you have is actually detrimental to your credit score. Be mindful to find that happy medium.

Using your credit cards wisely is not something that you should be scared about. Using a credit card wisely can help raise your credit score, so there's no need to stay away from them entirely. Make an effort to use the advice shared here with you. You can do your credit history a favor by using your cards wisely.

So today, after 2 weeks of totally staying at home (oops, I went out with hubby yesterday for a Pizza date for 2 hours only) I got a day off today for about 5 hours. And yes, I was able to test my pump's mobility by pumping and storing it in my cooler bag. It's so great. The Medela Freestyle really lives up to its standard.

My younger sister-in-law (SIL) is getting married on Monday and my eldest sister-in-law decided to throw a surprise party for her-- together with the groom. We went to Posh Nails McKinley Hill and everything was prepared for a "Sparty". They rented the whole place for 3 hours today. We had lots of exciting activities in store with my SIL's best friends participation, too.

The theme is Blue and Yellow (their wedding's motif) and the place is cozy and nice. The surprise party did not turn out to be as surprising to the bride anymore. She saw our car on the parking lot, but what surprised her is her besties appearance.

I had what they call Posh Spoiling: (from Posh Nails Services website). We can avail any service up to 600++ Pesos.
For people who have a little more time to treat their hands and feet to a little piece of heaven. 
  • HANDS
  •  - soak, spa, scrub, manicure or pedicure, massage (10 min.)
  • FEET
  •  - soak, spa, scrub, manicure or pedicure, massage (10 min.)
We all had a great time today. My hubby got the other service for Foot spa :)
My SIL's hubby, the Groom, the Bride, my BIL and my MIL (mother-in-law) having their ManiPedi sessions.

My nails! :D Pink and I'm loving them

Friday, June 7, 2013

Reasons people apply for personal loans


There are as many reasons people apply for personal loans as there are loans available. In this article, we’ll explore the top five reasons from providing relief when household bills begin to mount-up, to funding a new car, or a special holiday. Personal loans allow people to get on top of their finances. And with judicious investments, a personal loan can even lead to the ultimate goals of financial freedom.

1. Convenience

Whether loans are used by a student who needs to pay for study-materials or a householder just looking for a top-up, they are a convenient way to fill the gap when funds are low. A loan that takes the pressure off when a large bill is due means that planning a budget can be done with confidence. It can make all the difference to organising the household finances, and can be an excellent resource when an emergency occurs. With a fixed rate of interest, always knowing the exact monthly payment rate can be a big relief. Extended repayment periods allow lower commitments, so helping with that all important cash-flow.

2. Consolidate Debts

Having numerous debts and differing due-dates for payment can be a strain on the most organised of household budgets. Maybe there are just too many outgoings to different debtors; for instance, the credit cards, the store cards, and the overdrafts that are proving difficult to keep on top of. A single, personal loan is a great way to take control of finances. With all those debts paid off and rolled into a consolidating loan, there’s just one payment to take care of instead of multiple ones.

3. Travel Loans

With world travel available to everyone now that flights and ship-cruises are at incredibly low prices, personal loans to cover cost is more appealing than ever before. Many travellers will borrow funds for a once-in–a-lifetime special trip. When that’s paid off, often surprisingly quickly with the right loan, the intrepid traveller has the opportunity to do it all over again.

4. Home Bridging Finance & Improvement

A little-discussed reason for personal lending is the home bridging-loan. This type of lending is usually very short-term. It’s a great way to cover a deposit on a property for instance, while your bank organizes the purchase funds. Another type of lending, loans for home improvement are proving popular with renovators. Television and online social media services have fueled the interest in this product. With longer terms available, these loans are a good fit for those who need funds for materials and contractors.

5. Investing

Personal loans are increasingly applied by investors to achieve long-term financial goals. For a modest sum, investing in a diversified portfolio of Fortune-500 stocks is available to even the least savvy investor. For sophisticated borrowers, loans are available for the more volatile investment products such as share-trading, foreign exchange transactions, and stock options. What better reason for a personal loan than one which leads to freedom of lifestyle?

Applying for a loan is relatively straightforward as online facilities make the process quick and easy. A pre-approval can be made within minutes after being subject to fulfilling certain criteria. Once they have all the documentation, funds can be credited within hours. These are all potent reasons for making an application now.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

My Home Spa

Being away from the convenience of Singapore means i CANNOT INDULGE IN MY MONTHLY SPA AND FACIALS! That, is tough. Here, a manicure starts from SGD 150!! So I came prepared.
The change in climate in the initial weeks have made me breakout, peel and develop dandruff. The breakout was salvaged by Porcelain Face Spa's Balance Essence. It really is a skin and ego saver, removing pimples without medication! It even hydrates my skin. 
 
I was spoilt rotten by Phytho Hair Spa and Hairscience back home. Here, i maintain my hair spa with Silkpro Treatment Conditioner and Hair Tonic Concentrate. Silkpro has a new range with ingredients that seem to be pretty natural, chemical free. Do you know the one thing that Singaporean men fear the most? It is the loss of hair. NUMBER ONE FEAR.
 
It freaks me out whenever i comb or wash my hair. I drop alot of hair, so i googled and results say dropping 80 strands a day is normal. Especially if you have long hair, it is heavy (thus more hair fall) and it looks like alot in your hand because it is long. I confess, I have collected them in a day and counted them one strand by one strand. It is not severe hair loss (phew!).
 
But prevention can always start! The new Silkpro Hairvolution promotes balancing, strengthening and protecting the scalp to prevent hair loss.
 
My home spa also consist of Kneipp body scrub for the body and for the face, i love Khiel's microbeads facial scrub. You only need a 5 cent coin dollop. It is so fine, and it feels so good.
 
But first, i throughly remove any residue on my face with Porcelain Face Spa's make-up remover. I didn't know this before, but even if you do not have make-up on your face, you need to use one to throughly cleanse your face because sunblock can clog pores. Not Biore's Aqua UV though.
 
I then lay in a hot tub, with Porcelain Face Spa's Hydrocare paper mask on. Made from a bio-cellulose fabric that the salon launched in 2010 after research and lab work, it contours my face, while working to fight the signs of dryness and dehydration with ingredients like Sodium hyaluronate, lychee seed extract and fig fruit extract. It also has Vitamin E content that provides antioxidant protection and helps further nourish my skin.
Usually these paper masks always have an excess of mask serum in the pack. I either use it on my neck or i store it in a small container and use it for the next couple of days.

This is how i conduct my home spa, complete with lighting a scented candel and eating a scoop of ice-cream while my hair and face is being treated sitting in a bath tub!

 

Month in Snapshots

This was meant to be an April's post but only got around to uploading the pictures now.
 
Went out on a yatch with friends,
Weddings are good reunions for everybody. These were my Australain study mates, school times are always the best years (except polytechnic, where i found most classmates pretentious). The bride and groom's love story was a bittersweet one. Boy liked girl, girl wasn't sure. Both dated other people, but ended up with each other after 4 years. It's pretty romantic that they ended up together, despite the path not being a direct one.
 
Dining at Ocean Restaurant was worthwhile, the vain manta rays kept doing a dance right in front of us! With limited seating, make reservations at least 2 weeks in advance.
Ben & Jerry's appointed me as a moolet,
and then i had a series of farewells.
 
My last meal was chilli crab
Reading with disbelief, lol
I got cupcakes customized, it was meant to be a hand coming out from a grave to say 'i'm just temporary gone'. It was expensive, about 7 per peice but it was fun. My morbid humour.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Visa Card Rewards

Visa Card Rewards - What Are They?

visa card rewards
Visa offers its clients many different Visa card rewards. Depending upon the card that you choose, the rewards tend to fluctuate. Still, in every case, these reward programs tend to be very popular. Why? While some card companies don't live up to their rewards, Visa isn't one of them.
This is why Visa is one of the most popular credit card companies out there. If you need a rewards card, you might want to consider one of the cards that Visa has to offer. Below you will find some of the major rewards that Visa offers its clients.
What kind of Visa card rewards do you want? You can select from airline rewards, hotel points, travel rewards, cash back, gift cards, and even cards that will support a charity of your choice. So, the question really is: what kind of reward do you want?
Once you figure out what kind of rewards will benefit your lifestyle, then you can decide upon the right card for you. While Visa tends to be a great company, there are some things to think about before you decide upon any one card.
As with any other credit card, it is important to figure out whether or not you can actually benefit from Visa card rewards. If you don't use credit cards very often, then these rewards programs might not be worth your time. If you happen to charge everything from the car payments to the mortgage, then try and decide what kind of reward you want the most.

Also, look to see what card will offer you the best "bang for your buck." Lastly, be sure that you are offered a great interest rate. No card is worth obtaining if you are going to pay a lot of interest.
Are Visa card rewards right for you? Well, that all depends upon the type of consumer that you are. Take the time to review all that Visa has to offer its clients. You might find the one card that you have been looking for your whole life.
Or, you might find that you really aren't a great rewards candidate. When it comes to credit cards, it's always a great idea to shop around, research, and find the one card that really suits your needs the best. Are you in line for some great rewards? Find out by shopping around for the best card out there . . .
Want to learn more about Credit Cards? Be sure to visit the author's website where you will find lots of FREE INFORMATION about Credit Cards - Click Here!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Damos


Interesting Eye Care Tips


I have noticed quite many bloggers have very bad eye bags and dark eye rings. Must be due to the late night photo shopping and looking at the iphone at night in bed.
The skin surrounding your eyes is one of the most sensitive areas of the body and hence, needs to be given special attention. This tender area, which is ten times more thinner than the rest of your skin, is often exposed to an array of problems like puffy eyes, dark circles, wrinkles, loss of eyelashes and fine lines. Having a beautiful face but with wrinkles around the eye can make a person look old.
Thus, to maintain a youthful appearance, eye skin care is an absolute must. Thankfully, nowadays, there are a wide range of beauty treatments and products which can effectively treat the skin around the eyes. Then there are the various home remedies that can be used to cure puffy eyes and other problems without any side effects.
Drinking plenty of water and digging on fruits and vegetables is the key to healthy skin and will go a long way if you want to take care of your eye skin. Read on to find out how to get rid of baggy eyes and dark circles, secrets of healthy and beautiful eyes and much more.

Getting dark circles and baggy eyes has now become a common problem and haunts both old and middle-aged people and even youngsters these days. Stress, late working hours, faulty diet, etc can be blamed for causing puffy eyes and dark circles. However, it can be easily sorted out if you follow few precautionary measures and take effective steps. Read further to know how to curb the problem.

  • Mash a tomato well into a paste. Add a pinch of turmeric powder and lemon juice and apply this mixture underneath the eyes. After a period of ten minutes, wash your face with water. Do this regularly to ward off the dark circles.
  • Take a few drops of almond oil and massage it gently under your eyes for ten minutes to treat dark circles.
  • Take a bowl of ice cold water and dip two cotton wool balls in it. Now, take them out and squeeze out the excess liquid. Next, place the cotton balls on your eyes until they become warm.
  • Cut a cucumber into thick slices and place a slice over each eye. Lie down for ten to fifteen minutes and relax with your eyes closed. By doing this, not only your eyes get rejuvenated but it also aids in getting rid of tired and puffy eyes.
  • Another way to cool your eyes is to apply chilled tea bags or by wrapping an ice cube in a soft cloth and then placing it over your eyes.

  • Drink plenty of water to keep your eyes well-moisturized and sparkling.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol as it causes redness in the eyes.
  • To add a glamorous touch to your eyes and make them look attractive, use eye lash curlers. Many beauty stores today sell ordinary metal eye lash curlers at reasonable prices.
  • Avoid junk and salty foods as they cause water retention, which in turn makes the skin near the eyes bloated.
  • Wear glares to protect your eyes from the harmful ultraviolet rays. Buy branded sun glasses as cheap ones are harmful.
  • Every morning, splash your eyes with generous amounts of water to keep it cool and clean.
  • Gorge on foods that are rich in vitamin A and C such as mangoes, oranges, spinach, fish, pumpkins, tomato, capsicum, cabbage, and the like.
  • Constant glaring at computers or TV can damage your eyes so take few minutes break from time to time.
  • Avoid reading in dim light or working in front of the computer system for long hours as this will lead to dark circles and baggy eyes.
  • Taking adequate rest and sleeping for at least seven to eight hours is a must to keep your eyes glowing.

The above is a repost from Porcelain's Face Spa's blog.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Tips, How income garnishment works?

You’ve just gotten your check, and you discover that a good portion of it is missing. You see the words garnishment written on it, or maybe you have heard one of your co-workers talking about a wage garnishment that they are suffering through. You may be wondering what exactly a wage garnishment is, and what it entitles? A wage garnishment is when a creditor obtains a legal judgment that allows them to take a portion of your income to satisfy a debt.

*How does a garnishment happen, and how much of income will be taken?

First, you must owe an outstanding debt to a company or other agency. After having tried other means of collection such as letters and/or phone calls have failed, the company decides to take you to court in order to collect their money.  During court proceedings, you are given an opportunity to respond to the judgment and present any evidence that might explain your laps in bill payment. You are also given a chance to attempt to reach a settlement with the creditor. If no settlement is reached, a judgment in favor of the creditor will be granted, and the garnishment will proceed.

Once a garnishment is granted, they are entitled to a portion of your income. Just how much of your income can the creditor take? Federal law allows up to 25 percent of a person’s income can be garnished providing that you meet a certain amount of earnings.

*Government agencies

Government agencies like the State Tax Commission, Internal Revenue Service, or Child Support agencies do not have to go through the same court procedures in order to secure a wage garnishment like other creditors. All they have to do is notify you of the impeding garnishment. Only government agencies can garnish a person’s wages without going through court.

*Can a garnishment be stopped?

Yes, a garnishment can be stopped. If you do not meet the income requirements, a garnishment cannot be taken out. You can also work out an arrangement with the creditor and have a garnishment stopped. Another way that you can have a garnishment stopped is to file for bankruptcy. Although bankruptcy may sound like a wonderful idea, it can adversely affect your credit.

*Exceptions

There are some exceptions to garnishment. Some states do not allow garnishments, and there are also some accounts that cannot be garnished. Those accounts have exempt status such as Social Security or SSI.

A garnishment can take a big, painful bite out of your paycheck, and it can help ruin your credit. Wage garnishments should be avoided if at all possible. Try to work out an arrangement with your creditors before a court judgment against you is obtained.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Insurance Accounting Basics


Okay, One peculiar aspect of the insurance industry is the great lapse of time between the revenues on the one hand and the related expenses on the other--in other words, between the receipt of premiums from policyholders and the payment of claims. This gap makes actuarial estrimates (of the expected longevity of the insured, for example, in the case of life insurance) a crucial factor in determining the profitability, even the solvency, of a firm.

Loss and Loss Adjustments

At the heart of the insurance industry are two accounting transactions unique to that market: paying claims on the one hand, and increasing or decreasing claims reserves on the other. Both transactions combine to make up "incurred losses." The net change in reserves over an accounting period, plus paid claims, equals the incurred losses.

There are also recoverables, or cash offsets, such as salvage and subrogation, that are recorded as negative paid losses.

For example, an insurance company may reserve a "right of subrogation" after a loss. The company will pay the insured its claim and then step into the position of its insured as a possible plaintiff against a third party who may have caused the damage.

Reinsurance
Insurance companies often contract out a portion of their risk by entering into their own contracts with reinsurance companies. The accounting procedures for reinsurance are, as a report from the London School of Economics put it in 1996, a "mirror image of the accounting for the direct insurance."

The Standard Setters
The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), in London, produces the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the standards accepted by most of the financial accounting world outside of the United States. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), in Norwalk, Connecticut, is its counterpart for accountants within the U.S.

The two bodies are engaged in a joint project, developing what they call a "measurement approach" to insurance. This addresses the time gap between revenue and expense by requiring a present value assessment of a given contract, with three elements: the explicit probability-weighted average of future cash flows expected to arise given insurer fulfillment of the contract; the effect of the time value of money; and the elimination of gains from the mere inception of the contract.

The Discount Rate
The provision for the effect of the time value of money that will be allowed in the emerging standards is also known as the discount rate.

This rate, the two boards have agreed, "shall reflect the characteristics of the contracts, rather than the characteristics of assets actually held to back the contracts, unless the contracts share those characteristics."

Specifically, if the insurance contract-related cash flows do not themselves reflect the productivity of specific assets, then the discount rate will simply be the risk-free rate with an adjustment for illiquidity. On the other hand, if the productivity of specific contract-backing assets does play a part in determining the cash flow, the discount rate will be adjusted to reflect as much.

Tips, Accounting for Insurance Policies


Insurance claims are operating expenses. Accordingly, an insurance company's senior leaders ensure that policyholder claims are valid and complete. They also ensure that claim accounting procedures are adequate in the short term and long term.

Claim Defined
A claim is a document in which a policyholder requests reimbursement for expenses incurred after an adverse event. The event must be covered in the insurance policy.

Claim Recording by the Insurer
To record a new claim, an accountant at the insurance company debits the policyholder claim account and credits the claim payable account.

Claim Recording by the Policyholder
The policyholder filing a claim debits the claim receivable account and credits the repair expense account.

Claim Payment by the Insurer
To record a claim payment, the insurance firm's accountant debits the claim payable account (to bring it back to zero) and credits the cash account. In insurance accounting parlance, crediting an asset, such as cash, means reducing its balance.

Claim Payment Receipt by the Policyholder
To record a claim payment receipt, the policyholder debits the cash account and credits the claim receivable account. In insurance accounting terminology, debiting an asset means increasing its balance.

Saturday, June 1, 2013


Whether you need life insurance depends on your family circumstances and your personal financial status. No pat answer covers every individual situation. Evaluating the family financial condition as objectively as possible can help you determine if you need life insurance. An honest in-depth assessment of what life would be like for your family without you, both now and in the future, is a good place to start in gathering information to make the decision.

Look at the Larger Picture
Looking at present circumstances helps determine if you need life insurance. If you have a hefty mortgage and your spouse or partner would be liable for the remainder without your income to rely on, this consideration should factor into your decision. Other debts, such as auto loans, student loans and credit card balances, need to be taken into account as well. Whether your family depends on your income for day-to-day living expenses is another factor. In addition, current resources play a significant role in determining if you need life insurance. Assets to consider are balances in emergency savings, investments and retirement accounts. You should also calculate how long these funds would last if contributions stopped today.

Analyze Your Daily Expenses
Awareness of where your money is spent on a day-to-day basis makes it easier to determine your dependents' future needs. A list of your present expenses shows where your family's income goes. Looking back over the past two years of monthly expenses provides an even broader view. Checkbook registers and filed copies of monthly bills offer insight into regular and expected expenses, and unusual and one-time payments. Your consideration here is whether your survivors could pay all these expenses and maintain their lifestyle if your income were suddenly gone with no possibility for replacing it. Life insurance can fill in that gap.

Peer Into the Future
Analyzing potential future expenses is important in determining if you need life insurance. Consider where the money will come from if you have children who will require financial help with college. Another factor is whether you wish to protect your assets and how much you want to leave for your children and grandchildren. Immediate expenses your family would incur in the event of your early death include funeral expenses and, in some jurisdictions and situations, estate taxes. In addition, you might be leaving your survivors with unpaid medical bills.

Doing Without Life Insurance
Not everyone needs life insurance. Perhaps your mortgage is paid and you have no outstanding personal loans. If your children are grown and college is behind them, or you have no children at all, your need for life insurance may be greatly diminished. You might be without a spouse or partner, or your spouse or partner does not depend on your income to meet living expenses. If your savings and investments will leave a comfortable income for your survivors in addition to covering funeral expenses and any medical bills left behind, then life insurance may be an extraneous expense.