Bling Brits Advised To Consider Insurance

Bling Brits Advised To Consider Insurance
With the nation's wrists, fingers, necks and ears gleaming
with jewellery, consumers have been advised to make sure
that having bling does not blind them from protecting such
possessions.

Such is the assertion of Halifax Home Insurance in which a
study reveals that the typical British household contains
1,986 pounds worth of jewellery, with just over one in ten
(11 per cent) respondents owning rings, necklace, earrings
and other items with a combined value of more than 5,000
pounds. Overall, the country was indicated as having finery
to the total value of 52 billion pounds.

Research from the financial services firm also showed that
those living in Milton Keynes own the most expensive amount
of jewellery on average. People from the Buckinghamshire
town have possessions costing a typical 3,186 pounds,
compared to the 3,001 pounds in finery consumers in Preston
own. London, Glasgow, Stoke and Aberdeen were among the
rest of the top ten places in Britain with the costliest
jewellery collections.

For those looking for an effective way in which to fund the
purchase of an expensive piece of jewellery, taking out a
personal loan may be recommended.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager for Halifax Home
Insurance, said; "Our research shows that between us we
Brits own a staggering amount of jewellery and enjoy making
a statement by wearing valuable items when out and about.
However, it seems many people with expensive jewellery
collections may be selling themselves short by not getting
their articles valued fully and insured for the correct
amount."

"We would advise anyone wearing particularly valuable items
outside the home on a daily basis to make sure that they
are fully insured for loss, damage or theft when outside
their property," Mr Foulds added.

The study also showed that people in Northampton are most
likely to show off their jewellery collection. According to
Halifax, the average consumer in this area wears 469 pounds
worth of items everyday, with a total of 2,627 pounds kept
inside the typical property in the town. Meanwhile, people
living in Glasgow and Wrexham wear an average of 468 and
460 pounds worth of jewellery on a daily basis.

With significant numbers of consumers owning costly amounts
of jewellery, Halifax advised people to their particularly
expensive items valued. Of the five million Britons owning
more than 5,000 pounds of finery, more than a third were
indicated as never having gone to a jeweller to have such
items inspected. A further ten per cent were revealed to
not have done this for at least a decade. Meanwhile, just
over a quarter of respondents were revealed to have failed
to notify their insurance provider after getting their
jewellery valued. It was stated that having valuations on a
regular basis can help consumers make an accurate insurance
claim based on the current worth of their jewellery. Those
looking to file a claim were also advised to keep
photographs of their items.

People looking to buy an expensive piece of jewellery,
whether it is a designer watch or pearl earrings, might
wish to consider getting a personal loan. By getting a
low-cost loan, it may be possible that borrowers can
purchase an item quickly and are left with an affordable
level of repayment. The additional monetary assistance
which a loan provides could also help people to take out
comprehensive insurance policy.

Getting a loan for the purposes of buy a ring in addition
to obtaining sufficient insurance might be recommended to
those looking to get married. A recent study by Abbey
Insurance indicated that 42 per cent of people purchasing
engagement rings do not have adequate cover, with 15 per
cent unsure whether or not they have insurance for such an
item of jewellery.

----------------------------------------------------
Abbi Rouse writes for All About Loans where visitors can
apply online for cheap loans. We also specialise in bad
credit loans, and debt consolidation. Vist Today:
http://www.allaboutloans.co.uk

Money Saving Ways to Remove Stress from Buying Insurance

Money Saving Ways to Remove Stress from Buying Insurance
Health insurance. Life insurance. Car insurance. Of the
three, health insurance creates the highest anxiety, simply
because health care costs continue to rise at the fastest
rate in U.S. history. But you can take the stress out of
buying insurance with these eight money-saving tips.

1. Do your homework. Balance your need to purchase adequate
health care insurance with the need to purchase life
insurance, home insurance and other insurance policies. The
greatest majority of Americans cannot afford adequate
insurance coverage, period. But creating a plan that
includes saving for insurance coverage is less stressful
than giving up.

2. Comparison shop. You can buy a stronger insurance policy
or get insurance you don't already have by cutting down the
cost of your current insurance. Comparison shop. Go to
unbiased resources such as the magazine Consumer Reports
(www.consumerreports.org), which accepts no advertisements
to avoid conflicts of interest when rating. Make it a habit
to revisit your coverage once a year.

3. Think "group coverage." If you are self-employed or
working for an organization that does not provide
insurance, consult professional organizations in your field
to learn if "group" self-insurance is available that can
offer lower rates than individual-only policies.

4. Know if an insurance provider can deliver what is
promised before you become a customer. A.M. Best provides
free access to its Insurer Ratings Directory at its Web
site at www.ambest.com. You can also contact the attorney
general's office in your state for additional resources. Do
a "google.com" search, too, for the latest news and reports
on the reputation of insurance companies.

5. Don't make mistakes on your insurance application. If
you make a mistake or leave out any information (especially
on many of today's health policies that will void your
policy over the smallest mistakes or omissions), you risk
being declared ineligible. When you need your insurance is
when some insurers will go over your policy word by word
searching for any mistakes. So don't make mistakes.

6. Never pay for insurance in cash. You need a paper trail
to prove you have coverage and have made your payments in a
timely fashion. Keep your records in a safe place.

7. Do your homework before saying yes to supplemental
insurance. Don't pay for supplemental insurance you don't
need. Also ask yourself: Is this policy really just a
company that provides discounts that you can negotiate
yourself or find by comparison shopping?

8. If you are over the age of 50. If you are 50 or older,
or approaching that age, consider joining the American
Association of Retired Persons (www.aarp.org). The richest
corporations have powerful lobbyists to win tax breaks and
cost savings from Congress every year. The AARP combines
its large membership voice to equal the lobbying clout of
many top corporate interests.

Today's environment makes buying health insurance, life
insurance, and car insurance somewhat of an anxiety-laden
task. We hope our tips help to lower your stress level.

----------------------------------------------------
Ruth Klein is an award-winning business owner, best-selling
author and marketing and time management consultant whose
clients range from solo entrepreneurs to the Fortune 500.
Sign up to receive Ruth's 7 Part Mini-Course on Branding
and Productivity. http://tinyurl.com/25tqo5

Finding Good Investment Property

Finding Good Investment Property
As investors grow tired of the ups and downs of the stock
market, they begin to consider the concept of property
investing as a better alternative. While not all people are
cut out to be landlords, those who do may find that rental
properties are great for building their long term wealth.
But first, you need to know how to find good investment
property.

Making the decision to purchase rental property is easy.
What's going to be a bit complicated is finding a
profitable rental property. This normally takes time,
connections and lots of research.

Here are the things you need to know to get yourself
established:

1. Set up your time horizon.

Before buying a property, you should have a concrete idea
of how long you want to own it. If you're targeting a
longer term investment, you will likely need to invest in
repairs, improvements and maintenance.

However, if you're planning to own a property for a short
time, you'll probably want to skip making key improvements.
That is, if you are sure that you can earn back the costs
you incurred at a higher sale price.

2. Expand your network.

Landlords who have had more experience are knowledgeable
when it comes to finding properties. They usually: check
out repossessions, run ads in newspapers, or work with
estate agents. To gain contacts, many landlords suggest
that investors join a local property owner's organization.

Another way is to get in touch with landlords directly to
see if they are selling their properties. You can also call
the numbers posted on rental ads in the newspapers. If
you're willing, you can also comb neighborhoods with your
eyes on the "for rent" signs.

3. Make sure your finances are robust.

If you have good credit, low credit card and consumer debt,
it is more likely that you can get yourself a loan at a
decent rate. When you buy rental property, a lender will
require that you make bigger down payments and pay higher
interest rates compared to a loan on your own home. This is
because there is a higher percentage of investment property
owners that default compared to homeowners.

A lot of landlords also suggest that there should be a
sufficient amount of cash reserve at hand even after buying
a property. This will be useful in times of vacancy and
whenever there are unexpected repairs to be done. You
should also make sure that you can save enough for your
retirement needs and other life goals before you invest in
rental property.

While not all property markets are the same, the key is to
ensure that the rental income will include expenses, such
as mortgage payments on the property, maintenance and
repairs, vacancy rate, taxes and insurance. If you want to
get a better estimate of your costs you should get a
detailed inspection before you buy any property.

If you want more sources on various real estate issues you
can take a look at real estate forums such as the property
tycoons forum. These resources will offer you valuable
information and insights you need to help you get solidly
ensconced in the rental industry.

----------------------------------------------------
Parmdeep Vadesha is a property investment expert and
founder of the largest community of property entrepreneurs
on the web who buy below market value properties from
distressed homeowners facing repossession, divorce and
bankruptcy. He writes a monthly newsletter for over 70,000
property investors worldwide -
http://www.Property-System.com

Top 10 Myths About Debt Consolidation ... and The Truth You Must Know Now

Top 10 Myths About Debt Consolidation ... and The Truth You Must Know Now
If you are a cash-strapped person facing mounting debt, you
may have heard the term debt consolidation thrown around.
You may have even considered it. But what you don't know is
that you might not understand it.

Of all the financial plans available for people dealing
with overwhelming debt, debt consolidation is probably the
most valuable and the least understood. In fact, you may
already believe some of these common myths about debt
consolidation. Find out the truth!

Myth #1 Debt consolidation is the same or similar to debt
management, debt settlement, and bankruptcy.

Truth Debt consolidation is nothing like those other
programs. In fact, it's not really a program (you can do it
yourself if you want to) but more of a strategy.

In debt consolidation, you lump all of your debts together
and repackage them. Debt settlement and debt management
typically involve dealing with a company or counselor and
the object is to reduce the amount you owe. Bankruptcy is a
legal proceeding that involves a date with a judge.

Myth #2 Debt consolidation reduces your debt.

Truth No, it doesn't. If you owe a total of $80,000 on
several credit cards and loans and you consolidate that
debt, you still owe $80,000.

Debt consolidation does not re-negotiate, settle, write
off, or reduce any of your debt. What possible advantage is
re-organizing your debt like that?

If you have high-interest debts, repackaging them into a
more advantageous large loan reduces your interest. This
means you can either pay less a month or (even better) pay
the same amount but get the debt paid off sooner.

Myth #3 Debt consolidation will hurt my credit score.

Truth Done properly, debt consolidation will not impact
your credit score or credit report negatively. In fact,
debt consolidation may even improve your credit score!
That's because you'll be paying off a bunch of smaller
loans and any time a loan is paid in full, that helps your
credit score.

Myth #4 Debt consolidation requires getting help from an
outside agency or a lawyer.

Truth While there are companies that specialize in debt
consolidation programs, you do not have to use them to
consolidate your debt.

Of course, if you want to consolidate your debt on your
own, you have to know a bit about how to do it and what the
options are. But it can definitely be a do-it-yourself
project for people good with money (or who are willing to
learn enough to get good with money).

Debt consolidation is also not necessarily visible to
outsiders. Your bank, the credit bureau, and other parties
may not even be aware that you have consolidated debt.

Myth #5 Debt consolidation is something for financial
losers and lightweights, not for people who know how to
manage money.

Truth This is the most far-out myth about debt
consolidation. Debt consolidation is a principle that is
used in business and by the super-wealthy all of the time.
It is a way of organizing and structuring your debts in a
way that is most advantageous to you.

Myth #6 Debt consolidation is just robbing Peter to pay
Paul; you're just getting more debt!

Truth Debt consolidation is indeed a way for you to pay off
one debt by getting another debt. But not all debts are
equal.

Let's say you owe $10,000 and it's in a loan that requires
you to pay 22% interest. Now let's say I could go to my
credit union and work out an arrangement to borrow $10,000
at 12% interest. Both debts are for $10,000 but the one at
12% interest is much more favorable to me. I won't have to
pay as much per month or, if I make the biggest payments I
can, I can pay it off sooner.

Myth #7 Debt consolidation requires you to be a homeowner.

Truth There is a grain of truth to this, in that owning a
home definitely offers an advantage to anyone who wants to
consolidate debt. (It doesn't matter if your home is paid
for or not, but you do need some home equity.) However, you
can consolidate debt without owning a home, too.

Myth #8 Debt consolidation will make it harder for me to
get future loans.

Truth In most cases, it is unlikely that anyone but a
forensic accountant could figure out that you consolidated
your debt (unless you go through a debt consolidation
company—that might leave a paper trail).

If you borrow money in one loan and then take out another,
more advantageous loan to pay off the first one, you're
more likely to leave a paper trail of somebody who pays off
debt responsibly. It is more likely to make you a desirable
creditor.

Myth #9 People who consolidate debt just wind up digging
themselves in deeper in debt!

Truth It is absolutely possible to consolidate your debt
and then keep spending and get yourself in a big mess.
That's why you need good information and a plan to pay off
your existing debt, manage your finances now, and start
planning for your financial future.

There is no reason that debt consolidation cannot work to
get you out of debt for good, but you have to have a plan.

Myth #10 Debt consolidation will allow me to write off some
of my debts and it will stop bill collectors from calling.

Truth Let's take these one at a time.

Unlike bankruptcy, debt consolidation will not allow you to
write off any of your debt—not a penny of it.
Whatever you owed as a debt before debt consolidation is
the amount you'll owe after debt consolidation.

The advantage is just that you structure it in a more
favorable loan. You do not get existing debts cancelled or
decreased! Now it's true you can work that out in other
debt management solutions (debt settlement lets you reduce
debt, bankruptcy will let you write some debt off) but they
come at a very high price. Both of these approaches will
have a negative impact on your credit score, will make it
hard for you to get future loans, and stay on your record
for quite a while. Bankruptcy, in particular, is an extreme
solution that involves an actual court proceeding and a
judge who has the authority to make certain decisions about
your financial situation (including forcing you to sell
some items to pay off debts).

Debt consolidation can only stop bill collectors
indirectly. Here's how: let's say you have six debts and
you're getting calls all of the time. If you consolidate
your six debts into one large debt consolidation loan at
more favorable terms, you'll pay off all of those debts.
Bye-bye, bill collectors!

However, if you don't pay off your new debt consolidaiton
loan on time, the bill collectors will start calling again.

----------------------------------------------------
For straight talk about debt consolidation and whether or
not it's right for you, zip over to
http://www.MyDebtConsolidationAnswers.com . To grab a free
report about your personal financial style, visit
http://www.debt-consolidation-diva.com .

Save Money: Affordable Auto Insurance

Save Money: Affordable Auto Insurance
If you're shopping for affordable auto insurance and
looking to save money, there are many variables to
consider. The price of auto insurance varies depending on
the car you drive, your driving record, and the insurance
company you choose. This guide has information to help you
choose the best auto insurance policy for your goals.

Shop Around

It's easy to shop around and get price quotes from various
companies now that most of this information is online.
Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org) suggests
drivers get at least three price quotes. You can get an
online auto insurance quote from an insurance Web site or
call them directly. Sometimes, your state insurance
department has charts to compare auto insurance
(http://www.iii.org/media/companies/state_org/insur_departme
nts). Be sure to compare quotes from different types of
insurance companies. For example, some companies sell
policies through their own agents, while others sell
through independent agents who offer policies from various
insurance companies. Sometimes policies are sold directly
online or by phone. Depending on the sales method, prices
may vary.

Remember, though, you shouldn't shop by price alone. Make
sure the company as a whole satisfies you. Do they answer
your questions and handle claims effectively and fairly?
Talk with friends, family, and co-workers, or check
consumer magazines. State insurance departments also
provide consumer complaint ratios for various companies.

Ask for Higher Deductible

A higher deductible can lower the price of your auto
insurance considerably. According to www.iii.org,
"Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce
your collision coverage and comprehensive coverage premium
by 15 to 30 percent. Going to a $1,000 deductible can save
you 40 percent or more." These are substantial savings;
however, you need the deductible on hand in case something
happens to your vehicle.

Compare Insurance Costs Before Buying Car

The price of auto insurance depends greatly on the type of
car you drive. Factors include the sticker price, costs for
repair, overall safety record and the likelihood of theft.
Often insurers offer discounts to drivers who take measures
to reduce the risk of injuries or theft.

Purchase Home and Auto Insurance from Same Provider

If you buy two or more types of insurance from one insurer,
you will often receive a multi-policy discount. You may
also pay a lower price if you insure more than one vehicle
with the same insurance company. Often, long-time customers
are offered reduced premiums.

Take Advantage of Low-mileage and Safe-driver Discounts

Some motorists receive a low-mileage discount from their
insurers for driving a lower than average number of miles
per year. These discounts also often apply to drivers who
carpool. And, if you're a safe driver, and you have not had
any accidents or moving violations in a number of years,
many companies will reward you with a safe-driver discount.
If you've recently taken a defensive driving course, you
may also receive a price reduction.

To save money on, business auto insurance is something to
ask about. You may be eligible for insurance through your
employer, or through professional or business groups and
other associations you are involved in. You should also
closely monitor your credit rating because your credit may
affect the price you pay for insurance. No matter what,
always shop around and compare prices. This is the most
effective way to save money on auto insurance!

----------------------------------------------------
Ryan Patterson is president of US Insurance Online, based
in Austin, TX. He graduated in 2000 from the University of
Texas with a combined business and computer science degree,
and started US Insurance Online in May of 2005 with fellow
entrepreneur Jim Waltrip. Visit
http://www.USInsuranceOnline.com for help shopping for
insurance and for free insurance quotes.

Why You Should Monitor and Maintain Your Credit Score

Why You Should Monitor and Maintain Your Credit Score
Monitoring and maintaining your credit score on a regular
basis in this time of an uncertain economy is a must and
not something you should do after being denied credit.

As part of your overall financial and budgeting fitness
plan you should check your credit score to see if there are
any areas that can be improved or cleaned up to maintain or
increase it.

Many of these areas take very little effort to check. The
time consuming part is the waiting for a response if there
is something that is disputed. The longer period of time
that negative information stays on your credit reports the
longer it affects your score, so checking it often and
taking action as soon as possible will help you to maintain
your score at a high level for longer period of time.

Your credit history will therefore look more favorable and
that will make any future financial transactions easier and
more beneficial for you.

You can get a free credit report from each of the major
credit bureaus once a year and you should take advantage of
that opportunity to check your information. Even someone
who maintains good financial and budgeting plan can be
affected by outside factors such as identity theft and
errors made by the credit bureaus. Another way you can
obtain your credit report for free is if you have been
denied credit by anyone.

Errors or other incorrect information on your credit report
needs to be addressed as soon as possible since they can
become bigger problems the longer they are left unchanged.

It is much easier to maintain a good credit score and
credit report than to repair a damaged done.

Depending on the different types of credit that you use,
you will find that your credit score is very dynamic and
can change on a monthly basis and in some cases on a daily
basis.

Subscribing to a monitoring service can keep you informed
of any changes and will allow you to make the changes
necessary to keep your score as high as possible.

Any effort you put into maintaining a clean credit report
and a high credit score will be paid back to you many times
over with reduced interest rates and lower payments on
loans.

You will find over time that keeping your score high is
relatively simple process and the more you work at it the
easier it becomes. Unplanned events can happen anytime in
life and even the best of financial planners can be faced
with money problems at different times throughout their
life.

Monitoring and maintaining your credit reports and credit
scores will make make these times a lot easier to manage.

----------------------------------------------------
Ron Barrett is the author of 15 Proven Credit Strategies;
How to Get the Credit That You Deserve, a detailed guide on
how to monitor, repair and maintain your personal credit
report and credit scores. In the guide, found at
http://www.provencreditstrategies.com , he provides methods
that he personally used to clean up his credit report and
raise his credit scores from the low 500's to the upper
600's and explains how you can easily do that too.

Put Your House To Work For You With A Home Equity Loan Or Home Equity Line Of Credit

Put Your House To Work For You With A Home Equity Loan Or Home Equity Line Of Credit
Sometimes it may feel that your every spare minute is spent
working around the house. Yardwork, cleaning, home
improvement. It all adds up. In fact, it all adds up in a
different way as well - home equity.

Here, we'll focus on two of the three ways (the other being
cash-out refinancing) to tap into the equity you've built
up: home equity loans and home equity lines of credit. Just
read on to learn more.

What are the differences between a traditional home equity
loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC)? What are the
advantages/disadvantages of each?

If you're a homeowner, you can borrow against the value of
your house through either a home equity loan (often called
a loan) or a home equity line of credit (often called a
HELOC or a line). A traditional home equity loan is a
closed-end second mortgage with a fixed term, fixed
interest rate and fixed monthly payment (although
adjustable rate home equity loans are also available). With
a home equity loan, all the money is disbursed in a lump
sum up front at the time of closing. A HELOC is a credit
line with as little as zero drawn up front, usually with an
adjustable rate and payment. Essentially, a HELOC is like a
credit card in that you can use what you need and can repay
all or the minimum payment each month.

Depending on the borrower, which is the right loan to
pursue?

Generally, a HELOC is a good choice to meet ongoing cash
needs, such as college tuition payments or medical bills.
Those who are self employed, paid by commission or rely on
a year-end bonus will also enjoy the flexibility of the
credit line provided by a HELOC. Basically, a HELOC is like
a checking account or a credit card, and can be paid down
and drawn out again repeatedly. Conversely, a home equity
loan is more suitable when you need money for a specific,
one-time purpose, such as buying a car or a major
renovation. It is also more appropriate for someone on a
fixed income that needs the consistency of a monthly
payment.

Which is easier to qualify for/obtain? Have lending
restrictions on either type of loan become stricter? Why?

The ability to qualify for both home equity loans and home
equity lines of credit are essentially the same. In today's
market, guidelines are fairly tight with most lenders
requiring a credit score higher than 680, and a combined
loan-to-value ratio of the first and second mortgages in
the 80-90% range. Homeowners with high credit scores -
above 720 - will qualify for the best rates. When exploring
your options, homeowners should also consider a cash-out
refinance which will generally offer a lower overall
interest rate on both loans and have easier qualification
guidelines.

Under what conditions should you avoid a HELOC? Under what
conditions should you avoid a traditional home equity loan?

If you're on a fixed income budget and require a stable,
consistent monthly payment, a home equity loan will be a
better choice. HELOCs are better suited for folks who need
flexibility in their monthly cash flow, or just want to
have an emergency line of credit for unexpected expenses.
In either case, a qualified loan consultant can help a
homeowner understand the tradeoffs of each loan type, and
the advantages and disadvantages of having two loans
compared to a single larger loan.

Is now a good time to even consider one of these loans,
considering the state of the lending market and real estate
market? Is it better to perhaps wait until the subprime
mess is further resolved or rates/terms improve for
borrowers?

There is really no reason to wait. The present low
long-term interest rates are very attractive rates in any
market. The impact of the sub-prime credit crunch has been
for lenders to tighten the guidelines and make these loans
harder to qualify for. Again, a qualified loan consultant
can quickly explain your options based on your individual
situation.

How have home equity loans and HELOCs changed over the
years? Have these products improved or become more
complicated?

Banks have made HELOCs easier to get in recent years and
have offered incentives such as no closing costs and
introductory teaser rates for the most creditworthy
homeowners. The ability to access your HELOC via credit
card also greatly increases the flexibility of this loan.

Where is the best place to apply for a home equity loan or
HELOC - a traditional bank/lender? A mortgage lender?

Banks, mortgage banks and other direct lenders will be the
best choice. Some lenders have attempted to offer
self-service HELOCs on their websites with limited consumer
acceptance.

The Important Points To Remember.

If you are thinking about a home equity loan or a HELOC,
you should apply as soon as possible. The national trend
toward declining home values means you will qualify for
less money today than you might have a year ago. Speak to a
qualified loan officer who can explain several different
options, and make sure you never agree to a pre-payment
penalty.

----------------------------------------------------
In business nearly 20 years, Refinance.com is one of the
country's largest home mortgage lenders. Through its
diverse range of lending options - including FHA mortgages
- the company has assisted thousands of clients in reaching
their home refinancing goals. Founded in 1989,
Refinance.com is based in New York City with offices in
Syosset, NY, Boca Raton, FL, and Northville, MI. More
information is available at http://www.refinance.com .