Archive forNovember, 2009

Realistic weight loss goals and motivation tips

In this day and age it is difficult for the average dieter to keep goals in perspective. Everywhere you turn there is a new amazing miracle pill, strict food plan, or fitness contraption that takes our minds off the goal and replaces it with false instant gratification desires. Everyone is different and there is not a universal solution to the ever growing waist line of people everywhere.

If you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off you need to change your entire mindset on what losing weight means to you. Wipe away all the pictures in your mind of the amazing new weight loss breakthrough that will drop 20 pounds in a month. Forget about any instant gratification option on the market and take control of your own weight loss.

Now that all of the crazy weight loss tips are out of your mind you can think clearly and make the best decision for your lifestyle.

First you need to set realistic goals. Understand the fact that you will not lose 20 pounds over the next month. You did not gain it that fast so you certainly will not lose it that fast. Figure out what your ultimate goal weight is. For example your current weight is 190 pounds and you would eventually like to be 140 pounds. There you have it. Your ultimate goal is to lose 50 pounds. Set the date for 6 months out.

Now that you have your long term goal set, make it fun and break it down in to segments. Keep your goals set a little low so when you beat your short term goal it boosts your motivation. Reward yourself with a manicure or a trip to the day spa. Really, you deserve it. You set a goal and you met the goal head on.

You have your goals set, so let’s get you motivated. Here a couple of my favorite motivation tips that many of my clients follow and have expressed how well they have worked for them.

Motivation Tip 1: In order to keep your focus on your desire to lose weight make a list of all the reasons why you want to lose weight. Keep it is plain sight, tape it to your mirror in your bathroom and read them each morning when you wake up.

Motivation Tip 2: Take a picture of yourself in a swimsuit or something that will show your body better. Each month on the same date take another picture in the same outfit. Doing this will make you feel great seeing how baggy the outfits gets each month, keep the pictures close by so you can look at them. Best place is to post them on your bathroom mirror.

In conclusion, to be successful in your weight loss journey, you need to have realistic goals and useful motivational tools to get you started. Use this as a guideline to planning your own personal success.

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Top 10 Car Insurance Tips for Young Drivers

The top 10 car insurance tips for young drivers can take the mystery out of the entire process of buying car insurance for the first time. There are so many companies and variable that can affect the outcome.

If a young inexperienced driver were to ask you about buying car insurance, what advice would you give? Now you can point them to the top 10 car insurance tips for young drivers…by the way, most are good tips for any aged driver!

1. Ask your friends and neighbors, those who seem wise, what insurance companies they go with and why. Insurance companies rate each location differently, so it helps to talk to people right in your area.

2. Get as many quotes as you can – the algorithms the insurance companies use to set prices differ from company to company for all drivers, but are most variable for young drivers.

3. See if they offer driver discounts for good grades or drivers’ education, or other similar course completion. Also inquire about savings from bundling your car insurance with your parents’ vehicle and homeowners’ insurance policies.

4. Don’t just accept the first quote that a company offers you.

5. Call three or four different agencies and get comparison quotes based on the same coverage. Be sure that each policy has the same deductibles and that they are ones that you are comfortable with. The lower the deductible the higher the premium will be.

6. Check the reputation of both the agent and the company they represent. The policy is no good if they don’t cover you when you need them.

7. Be aware that your credit rating and previous accident history will influence the amount of your insurance premium.

8. Make sure you have the coverage you are required by law to have in your state.

9. Get the “full tort” option. Even though it costs more, if you are ever in an accident, it allows you do get much more money in benefits.

10. Ask about payment terms, as some insurance plans will save you a little money if you pay quarterly or every six months or year instead of once a month. Most will also offer a small savings by setting up an automatic payment directly from your checking account.

This advice basically boils down to: Be an Informed Consumer.  Shop around, ask questions and don’t be intimidated by the process. Once you have settled on an insurance provider don’t fall into the trap of acting like you are married to that provider.

Insurance companies have a tendency to start out with low rates, but each policy renewal thereafter results in a subtle raise in your premium. Look for it and don’t settle.  Check with at least 2 other companies to see if they will beat your current premium. Just make sure when you do this that the benefits are identical.

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Zero Down Mortgage – Tips On Getting Approved

Zero down home financing is about getting rid of the obstacle of closing costs. You can trade in your rent payment for a house payment without paying thousands at closing. Before you start enjoying the benefits of home ownership, make sure you follow these tips to get approved for the best rates.

Check Your Credit Report

Annually checking your credit report is a good idea, especially if you are applying for new credit. Make sure that all your information is correct. If there are mistakes, get them fixed. Otherwise, you could be paying thousands in interest charges.

While looking at your accounts, keep your debt to a minimum. A high debt to income ratio can disqualify your for a zero down loan. Also make sure the debt you do have is spread over multiple accounts rather than maxing out one account.

Increase Your Cash Reserves

Cash reserves settle lender’s nerves. So you might consider liquidating stocks or other assets when applying for a mortgage. At a minimum, lenders like to see at least two month’s worth of payments as liquid assets. You do have the option of reinvesting those funds after the loan has been completed.

Look For The Right Lender

Not all lenders will look at your application in the same way. Each company has their own lending criteria. So start your search by requesting loan estimates from several financial institutions. You can start with a mortgage broker site or go directly to the lender.

There are several definitions of zero down home financing. It could mean no down payment or a rolled in closing costs. There are even home loans with no closing costs. Check loan quotes and their fine print to find the financing that best meets your financial goals.

Always Other Options

There are other options to avoid a down payment. One option is to get two mortgages to finance your home’s purchase. The other option is to put money down, but then turn around and take out a home equity loan. This option usually helps you avoid paying PMI.

Don’t rush into any mortgage. Research the numbers and choose what works best for you and your budget.

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Auto Finance Tips

Most people do not have enough saved to pay a new car in full. Statistics say about 70% of all new car purchases are financed. So financing an automobile by taking out an auto loan to buy or lease the car it a good option for many. This involves getting a credit check. Financing your car needs as much research and homework as choosing the car you want. You can also get financing through the dealer or from the auto manufacturer. It’s possible that dealer/manufacturer financing will cost you more, but it isn’t always the case.

You must determine your financial situation to know how much you can spend and what you can afford. You don’t want to get stuck making a bloated car payment that will leave you eating hot dogs for three years. Then decide what car you want that fit into your price range.

Look at interest rates. Comparison shopping is required to save you money to get the lowest possible interest rate, as it will help you pay less in the long run. Interest rates on new cars are lower than on dentless used vehicles. And, in general, new cars can be financed over longer terms than used ones. This equation can make a new car cheaper than a used one in many cases.

Many car buyers focus on getting the lowest possible down payment. If a car dealer gives you a low down payment, the money you are saving has to be made back. Car dealers will find ways to lower your down payment, and as a result will find ways to compensate for their generosity. By deferring the down payment “savings,” with interest, you’ll end up paying more in the long run.

What’s the actual interest rate I’m going to pay? Do I have to make a down payment? The APR (annual percentage rate) is the best way to know the exact figure of interest rate you are paying. It is the actual interest rate you pay annually on the unpaid balance of the loan. The rate you are offered will to a large extent depend on your credit score, a number that dealers get from your credit report. And now answer of another question, Most of companies are not requiring down payment but some of them do require a down payment.

If your application is approved this information will be provided by the lender before you sign any documents. Is this deal contingent on getting subsequent approval of the financing from a third party? Some dealers will offer you finance with low interest rate initially then call a day or two later to say they couldn’t get you financed at the rate they quoted, but they have found a lender who will cover the loan at a higher payment. Don’t fall for this. Always shop around for good interest rates based on your current credit score before going for dealer rates.

Make sure you know who the person is financing to you and that the deal is sealed before leaving the lot. If there’s any question, tell the dealer you’ll come back and get the car when everything is settled. Always know your numbers. Be sure that you know just how much you are paying, when, how and what for! Read and make sure every word of every document you sign or initial.

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Property Finance Tips and Advice

So many people wants to start investing in property but dont know where to start. Experienced buyers will tell you that you should contact financial institutions and let them handle your property finance for you. That is very true. You should use other peoples money to finance your property.
Investors also advise new comers not to put all their money in one single property. The ideal is to have a number of properties so that the risk youre taking is reduced. Obviously not everyone can start investing in more than one property. Therefore you have to take that first step and buy your first piece of real estate. Remember that you must do your homework on which property to buy. Buying something that everyone else has is a bad decision.
These days mortgage houses and other financial institutions offer property finance of up to 90% of the total value. Property financing has become a dynamic business where investors and lenders have to keep up with laws and credit bureaus. While you are able to get finance of up to 90% you still need to convince the lender that you will be able to cover the monthly payments.
The benefits of property finance are by far better than financing it yourself. This fact can be easily illustrated with an example. Lets say the value of the property is R1000 000. You can either use your pension money or money you saved to pay the property in cash which will cost you R1000 000 out of your pocket. Or you can put down a deposit of lets say R100 000 and get property finance of R900 000. After one year you sell your property for R1400 000 which is market related because you did your homework when you bought the property. You paid R9000 per month on your mortgage. After the one year your total cost will be R208 000 (R100 000 + R108 000). R400 000 minus R208 000 = R192 000 profit. Without property financing your return on investment would have been 40% but because you financed your property your return on investment is 200%. That is how investors get rich.
Lenders that finance property up to 90% will either give you a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan. These financial institutions have to make sure youre able to make your monthly obligations and that is why they verify your personal information such as your source of income, asset value, savings, market value of the property youre financing etc. The interest rate which you will get depends on all of these factors.
When you choose a financial institution that will finance your investment property or personal property make sure that you are familiar with the terms of the agreement. You need to know exactly how much youll me paying each much and if there are clauses such as prepayment penalties etc.
The point is this. You should let other people finance your property. Property financing will be the key to financial freedom in your investing career. Do your homework when deciding which property to buy even if it takes you a year to find the perfect one. Its not like youre going to buy a house every month anyway. Well, at least not when youre starting out.

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