Financial Education Needed 'More Than Ever'

Financial Education Needed 'More Than Ever'
More needs to be done to improve the nation's financial
knowledge, it has been suggested.

According to Alastair Mathews, director of policy at the
Personal Finance Education Group (Pfeg), education on
monetary topics, ranging from UK personal loans and savings
accounts to budgeting and mortgages, should be delivered
over the entire duration of time that a child spends at
school. Mr Mathews reported that, "like with a lot of
learning", teaching about money should play a role in each
of the four main stages of compulsory education and be
tailored towards the specific age of the recipient.

The director stated that financial education needs to start
with young children "because attitude formation starts
quite early and, even though this is very basic - about the
use of money and keeping it safe and saving it - it all
helps to set the attitudes in the right direction". As
pupils get older, Mr Mathews reported that such guidance
should become more detailed, so that by the time they reach
the 14 to 16-year-old age bracket they already have a
certain level of awareness about fiscal matters not only
from school but also from family members and their friends.
In turn this can help them to foster a more responsible
attitude to loans, overdrafts and other financial products
and so avoid developing unmanageable money problems in
later life.

He said: "Our approach to this is to emphasise the need for
financial education. Young people, more than ever, need a
foundation of financial education while they are still at
school. We think that basic financial education should be a
core and assured part of the national curriculum."

In addition, Mr Mathews asserted that levels of debt could
be on track to fall as "there is bound to be an increase in
caution" on the part of money lenders in terms of issuing
credit. He added that borrowers are also likely to take
steps to reduce their indebtedness, whether through a
consolidation loan or otherwise, as they realise that they
are struggling to manage their money.

The Pfeg director also reported that the nation's attitude
towards finances has changed over the last few decades as
Britain has "almost officially built debt in to the system
now". Instead of the traditional mindset of saving up money
over a period of time to fund a purchase, he claimed that
more people are looking towards various forms of "easy
credit", such as a quick loan, to help them to buy
something.

If such guidance on finance was implemented into the
national curriculum, it could well be possible that more
Britons will be able to manage personal loan payments in
later life. Earlier this month, Wendy van den Hende, chief
executive of the Pfeg, reported that although a lot of
children are interested in money they need to receive
relevant teaching to help them become financially sensible
with personal loans and other economic products when they
reach adulthood. She pointed to research from the group
indicating that about two-thirds of teenagers have a lack
of understanding when it comes to loans, savings and other
financial matters.

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Abbi Rouse writes for All About Loans where visitors can
apply online for cheap UK loans. We also specialise in
poor credit loans, and cheap consolidation loans. Visit
today http://www.allaboutloans.co.uk/

Buying French Property Think Loire Valley

Buying French Property Think Loire Valley
Buying property in France is still a desire by many
overseas property buyers this is despite the rise of
cheaper markets such as Bulgaria. The French way of life,
countryside and low property prices puts France on the map
for international property buyers. The UK overseas buyer
has traditionally been the middle classes seeking
retirement however recent evidence now suggests a change.
First time buyers unable to afford UK house prices are now
heading to France. Many see this as a way of getting on the
property ladder whilst still living and working in the UK.

France is a vast country and the first thing a buyer needs
to do is identify which region they favour. One region that
is becoming increasingly popular is the Loire Valley Region.

Covering much of two French regions and a number of
departments, the Loire River has several large cities along
its banks and not far from it. For centuries, the Loire was
one of the major highways of France, transporting goods and
people from the heartland of the country to the coast and
beyond. Although it is not the transportation route it once
was, the valley still holds a distinct place within the
country. The major part of the Loire valley runs through
the Centre region and westward through the Pays de la Loire
region to the ocean. The principle economic activities are
tourism focused on the chateaux and historic sites,
agriculture ' particularly vineyards and wines ' and light
to medium industry.

The Loire River is the longest river in France, beginning
in the southeast part of the country not far from the Alps.
It runs northward and then westward to the Atlantic Ocean.
The area that is commonly called the Loire Valley is
located along the central and western stretches of the
river, from Nevers to Orleans, then through Tours, Angers
and Nantes before emptying in the ocean. This is the part
of the river that has hundreds of the most famous and
spectacular chateaux in the world, as well as many other
historical and cultural sites and wineries.

The Loire Valley has enough major cities, countryside and
small towns to give just about anyone what they want for
real estate. Land, apartments, condominiums, country houses
and inexpensive places to spend a few nights a month or
year are all available here. Being such a popular area with
many well known historical areas and wineries, much of the
property is not cheap, though. Housing can be found in
cities such as Nantes, Le Mans and Tours, as well as the
many small towns in the country. Getting something along
the river will be more expensive, as the climate makes it
great wine country and the land comes at a premium.

----------------------------------------------------
Expert Author Nicholas Marr is the CEO of overseas property
portal

http://www.homesgofast.com and has a passion for
his subject. His views are formed from his numerous
relationships with real estate agents who are experts in
their own regions.http://www.frenchhomes4sale.com/

Young Money Rebel

Young Money Rebel
6 tips to afford life now and retiring young.

A Money Rebel defined.

Young (adjective yung) - being in an early period of life
or growth.

Money (adjective muhn-ee) - legal tender.

Rebel (noun reb-uhl) ' a person that exhibits independence
in thought and action.

The need to be a young money rebel.

The latest reports show that the average person today is in
poor financial shape. They may not be going bankrupt or
having their home foreclosed on just yet; however during
these uncertain economic times with rising oil prices and
the problems in the credit market many people are barely
getting by.

Unfortunately many people are living paycheck to paycheck,
are experiencing the stress associated with debt and are
often struggling to get out of grim financial
circumstances. Most of these same people share a similar
goal ' to experience financial freedom - but fall into the
traps plaguing so many people as shown in the examples
below.

-62% of graduates expect to have a student loan debt
averaging $27,236 ($101 billion nationally) and requiring
7.9 years to pay off. (Student Monitor)

-The American public has been spending more money than it
has earned after taxes since April 2005. (U.S. Commerce
Department)

-Some 40 percent of Americans are counting on the lottery,
sweepstakes, getting married, or an inheritance to fund
their retirement. (Were Not In Kansas Anymore)

-Household debt in 2007 is at record high levels relative
to disposable income. (Federal Reserve)

-Polls show that students (ages 15-21) feel unprepared to
face the complex world of the 21st Century (American Dream
Education Campaign)

Young money rebels avoid those traps.

Young money rebels, on the other hand, are able to avoid
debt traps, have money saved and are able to experience the
feeling of financial security at a young age. They have
money to live life to the fullest now while building
long-term wealth so they can retire young.

A young money rebel does not follow the norms society sets
when it comes to the handling of money and their personal
finances. They have a working budget, keep their spending
in check, are knowledgeable about personal finance, and
follow a consist investment plan.

A young money rebel understands that by investing at an
early age they have a huge advantage. Young money rebels
have compounding interest working in their favor. With
compounding interest the earlier you start investing, the
greater potential growth of your money. That is why
investing just $100 a month starting at age 18, and earning
the S&P 500 average return, will make you a millionaire
well before retirement age.

Young money rebels achieve financial freedom.

Anyone looking to achieve financial freedom should become a
young money rebel. This will give you more free time, the
ability to live the lifestyle of your dreams and avoid the
stress associated with living like most people do ' with
financial worries and stress.

Today it is more important than ever you do achieve
financial freedom. The large reduction in pension plans
and the uncertainty of social security means that young
adults today will need to be prepared to self fund their
own retirement. You will need to save and invest your own
money because the programs benefiting our parents will not
be around when we retire.

How to become a young money rebel.

There are simple steps you can take to fully enjoying life
by securing your financial future at a young age. Below
are six steps that will get you on the path to becoming a
young money rebel.

1) Educate yourself. Most schools do not teach practical
money skills so it is up to you. The good news is that
there are plenty of resources available for people looking
to take charge of their finances. Set aside 30 minute a
night to learning everything you can about personal
finances and you will be able to afford what you want now
while securing your financial future.

2) Financial goals. What motivates you? Is it a big home
steps away from the beach, a year off to travel the world
or is it just having enough free time to spend with loved
ones? It is your choice how you want to live life; so take
some time to think about it. You may not know exactly what
you want but you probably will have a general idea. So
write down financial goals that will encourage you to
achieve your dreams.

3) Team. Building a team of trusted advisors will be an
important part in achieving success as a young money rebel.
Your team should include a trusted tax advisor, financial
mentor, and personal growth coaches.

4) Financial plan. Develop a step-by-step financial plan so
you can achieve your life goals. Write down how much you
are going to save each month, where you will invest your
money and your desired results.

5) Saving. A savings plan is the backbone to your financial
success; so start immediately. Talk to your bank about
automating your savings plan so every time you deposit
money a portion of that is automatically transferred to
your savings account.

6) Investing consistency. A consistent investing plan will
lead to long-term wealth and financial freedom. Just like
your savings plan you can automate your investments so they
are made automatically for every month. It takes an hour
to set up then all you have to do is check your statements
from time to time.

By learning simple, practical money skills you will have
taken the first step to becoming a young money rebel and
enjoying life free from the financial worries that plague
so many people.

----------------------------------------------------
Vince Shorb, the leading young adult financial literacy
expert, prepares young adults for the financial real world.
His course 'Financially Free by 30' is the first
interactive, multi-media curriculum designed specifically
for high school and college-age clients. Get your free copy
of his latest book and instructional videos at
http://www.FreeBy30.com .