There is no doubt that debt may make people feel like they are being swept away by a tide of unfavorable money, but there are ways they can change their experience with debt and, more specifically, with loans. Individuals can take control of their obligations and move toward a stronger financial future by considering alternatives, such as refinancing a vehicle loan through a trusted platform like RateGenius. However, people should ask themselves, “Should they refinance their car?” and then they must examine more closely what refinancing entails in actuality and its benefits for a vehicle credit.
Read on to know if restructuring your vehicle loan is an intelligent choice for you.
What Does an Auto Loan Refinance Mean?
When a lender agrees to issue new credits to a customer with conditions that are ideally advantageous to the customer, whether that be a lower interest rate, lower repayments, or some other incentive as a consequence of new positive development in the customer’s finances, that is referred to as refinancing. Refinances often occur when interest rates have changed or when a consumer’s credit has improved and they are now eligible for better lending terms.
Benefits:
A person’s specific scenario will determine how a refinanced vehicle loan affects them. Hence, as they go through the advantages of refinancing a vehicle credit, they should be mindful of keeping their budget and way of life in order.
Avoid Paying Additional Interest: Refinancing any form of loan is frequently done by customers to benefit from cheaper interest rates. You might be able to acquire lending with a lower interest rate if your creditworthiness has improved or if national interest rates have decreased. As a result, you save money and should be able to pay off your debt more quickly.
Debt Consolidation: The option to combine debt is another benefit borrowers enjoy when refinancing an auto loan. In essence, debt consolidation implies that you would have one obligation to worry about in place of several monthly lending installments. Some people find that this structure’s simplicity makes it easier to make monthly installments and maintain their finances.
Reduced Loan Terms: You could consider repaying your credit quickly if you want to close the debt. Depending on your lending arrangement, you might make additional payments to reduce your obligation with refinancing, but ensure there are no early repayment charges.
Easier to Manage Installments: Refinancing could help folks decrease their monthly installments if they’re having trouble with their vehicle lending payments.
Remember that your credit’s term will extend if you reduce your monthly repayments.
Final Thoughts:
Should your car be refinanced? It depends. Before deciding if refinancing is worthwhile, you should consider how the possible benefits and drawbacks will affect your financial profile.
Use platforms like RateGenius to evaluate your refinancing possibilities and the lenders who would offer the lowest rate or repayment.
These platforms incorporate your credit score, loan information, and other pertinent elements of your financial history to assist you in making wise and sound financial decisions and strengthen your connection with money management.
If you are serious about instilling growth in your business, you need to prioritise not only hiring the right kind of talent but also keeping it for as long as practically possible. After all, attempting to fill a gap left by the departure of a gifted employee can be a hassle.
Here are several reliable strategies for attracting and keeping workers…
Fostering a strong employee brand can also reduce your employee turnover by 28%.
Look up applicants on social media
Chances are that at least some of the people applying for jobs with your company will have a presence on social media — in which case, you could peruse the candidates’ social media profiles before deciding who exactly to offer an interview.
Nonetheless, you should be careful not to run the legal risk of unconscious bias or discrimination slipping into your selection process.
Look for a personality that would suit the job
Once you have gained a meaningful insight into a candidate’s personality, see if the job would be appropriate for it.
For example, if the job is that of a nurse or social worker, it would naturally be ideal for the successful applicant to be someone who shows empathy in abundance.
Offer an enticing package of employee benefits
This can be a reliable method of attracting applicants from many different backgrounds, since a wide-ranging selection of employee benefits can have a similarly wide appeal.
So, what benefits could you go for? One good option would be group life insurance, where money would be paid to the family of an employee if they pass away when in your employment. However, you might want to mix things up with some quirkier perks, too.
The HR knowledge advisor adds that giving employees a degree of control over when and where they work helps to “increase employee satisfaction, which leads to retention”.
Provide opportunities for education and promotion
Once someone has joined your company, you can expect them to have ideas for how they might progress within it. So, when you want to fill a senior position, it could be particularly beneficial for you to promote from within.
That way, the promoted employee will feel valued as well as crucial to the company’s success.
Solicit feedback from your workers
It would bode well for you to keep your personnel informed about what is happening at the organisation — and seek their thoughts on what direction the business should take.
Dooney explains: “Employers may want to conduct stay interviews with employees to help understand any concerns an employee may have, and come up with ways to address those concerns.”
The class “Personal Finance for Young Adults” usually isn’t part of a high school curriculum – an unfortunate oversight that leaves many young people clueless about how to manage their money, apply for credit, and stay out of debt. Now that you’re in college, it’s likely that you’re in charge of your financial affairs more so than when you lived at home and mainly functioned in the realm of your parents’ economic universe. Indeed, you have more freedom to decide where and how to spend money.
But with that freedom comes the responsibility to spend money wisely. That’s what it’s like when you’re on your own – you get to decide. And you also get to experience the consequences of your choices, both good and bad. Soaring tuition costs coupled with financial unpreparedness spell a recipe for financial setbacks. Accordingly, it is crucial to understand basic financial tips for students and other core lessons about money.
9 Practical Financial Literacy Tips for College Students
While you may be forgiven for being nose-deep in your books, it’s time to reflect on how you manage your money. Do you have a budget? Or are you spending it on the go? Remember that the younger you are, the more time your savings and investments will grow – the sooner you start, the better. Here are some practical, real-world financial tips for college students you can take advantage of to reinforce your saving and spending habits.
Create A Budget
Carefree high school students frequently spend whatever is in their bank account, living off their parents’ generosity or the spoils of a part-time job. Once that student moves to college, a budget becomes indispensable. Making a monthly or semester budget is the first step toward staying on top of your finances. Budgeting gives you a big-picture view of your money, so you can make informed spending and saving decisions. Start by identifying your income for the semester or year, including paychecks if you have a job, loans, grants, and family contributions. Accounting for your inflows gives you an idea of how much to spend each month. Thereafter, plan for essential needs like transport and food. In whatever is left, you can save a fixed percentage and spend on other expenses like trips or simple pleasures. Remember to stick to your budget because straying from your financial blueprint defeats its purpose and risks pushing you into debt.
Practice Self-control
One simple but effective financial tip for college students is always paying with cash, not credit. You’re lucky if your parents taught you self-control. If not, understand that the sooner you learn the essential life skill of delaying gratification, the sooner you’ll keep your personal finances in order and as a habit. Put your money for everyday purchases on a debit card instead of a credit card. A debit card attracts no additional fees when making transactions, unlike a credit card with a high-interest charge. Use credit cards only for emergencies.
Track Your Spending
Write down every purchase you make or use a budget app. Create a routine that includes a regular accounting of your finances. Simply tracking what you spend can help you notice patterns and understand where your money is going. It also enables you to identify if you need to make a change. This financial self-knowledge will make your life calmer and allow you to focus on more important matters like your grades.
Exploit Student Discounts
College students should become masters in exploring ways their educational status can save them money. Restaurants, local venues, vendors, and services near college campuses often offer student discounts that can save you big money. What’s more, you should learn the value of hunting down great deals by looking for bargains. Being discount-obsessed is also an excellent financial tip for high school students since many companies offer discounts in the form of student memberships.
Use Cheap Essay Writing Services
It’s essential to make time for fun and relaxation even as you juggle academic work, family obligations, and social life. Sometimes students feel zapped from energy because they have too much on their plate and end up buying expensive college essays online. Luckily, you can use cheap but reliable and trustable professional essay writing help without breaking the bank.Custom Writings is a college paper writing service that offers affordable academic writing help from scratch for students in the USA and worldwide. Their writers deliver subject-savvy, content-rich custom college essays and research papers that help students fulfill their educational goals without blowing holes in their budgets. More free time, better grades, and financial wellness are three key benefits you get from using their services.
Set Financial Limits
Imposing financial limits for necessary items is another way to curb impulse buying. Setting a spending limit doesn’t necessarily prevent you from making impulse purchases but helps you pause and assess whether the new iPhone is necessary. By setting a relatively low limit, say $100 per month, you get a wiggle room without having carte blanche when it comes to spending power. Add the non-essential money into your student’s proposed budget, separate from basic expenditures on food and gas.
Avoid Full-price Textbooks
Ah, the textbook – the budget breaker for college students everywhere. While it’s true that some professors change and update texts practically every year, the vast majority use the same textbooks each academic year. Students shouldn’t have to shell out hundreds to shop for books before class. As a student, you can exploit many ways to save money on college textbooks, such as shopping for second-hand books from Amazon. You can also rent a book online or borrow local libraries. This financial wellness tip helps you recoup some of the cash spent on buying books.
Get A Job
Of course, college should be fun. The freedom of being on your own is something to be savored, and the social aspects of college are nearly as vital as classes. But if you can, adding a part-time job to the equation can significantly boost your income. Many college jobs have flexible schedules built to accommodate students. So, find a job that fits your workload without spreading yourself too thin. That extra cash can make a huge difference in managing a budget.
Collaborate with Roommates
Having roommates in college is pretty much a necessity. So, if you’re doing college solo, you have set yourself up for a much more expensive ride. Undoubtedly, living with roommates can be a challenge, but saving on housing can make it worthwhile. It’s crucial to go beyond having roommates to cut down on housing costs.
The Bottom Line
Your financial decisions during college have a lifelong impact, which is why it’s important to have financial literacy. You don’t need an MBA in Finance or even specialized training to become an expert at managing your personal finances. Following these basic financial tips for students can lead you to financial security, which forms the cradle for building the rest of your dreams. Remember, these ideas are not just for college students but also practical financial tips for high school students.
Your financial future depends entirely on several habits that may not seem to have anything to do with money or finances. Getting the right information from online tools like Velocity trader reviews is one way but are there other ways? The answer is yes. The journey to financial freedom can be shorter and less arduous if you adapt these six habits.
Remain Poised
Like many aspects of life, it is important to remain agile and poised through all aspects of financial situations, good or bad. Losing composure often leads people down a financial rabbit hole chasing high-profit, low-risk investment ghosts that leave them financially drained. Practice keeping a level head through tough times by learning and experimenting with low-cost situations.
Consistency
No habit will significantly impact your life unless you consciously and consistently implement it. It takes about a month to get acclimated to a new habit and start enjoying yourself. The first few days are always the hardest. Encourage yourself to stick to new habits, make bad habits hard to physically achieve, and implement visual reminders to keep yourself on track. In time, your efforts will pay off by being reflected in your bank account.
Use the Best Trading Tools
Trading tools are especially useful if you are looking to invest, which is a crucial habit to initiate in search of a brighter financial future. Tools like Velocity trader reviews give you an upper hand in making crucial financial decisions. Numerous financial tracking tools on the internet help you make the right financial decision for future gain. Make use of these free tools and any other that may require regular subscription fees but add actual value to your life.
Knowledge is Power
If you are determined to make a true difference in your financial journey, you will take measures to increase your knowledge base about money. It is common knowledge that schools do not teach us about money management, so it is important to enlighten yourself using free data littered across the internet. So instead of spending your lunch break scrolling through a social media app, grab a pen and paper and get learning.
Plan for Everything
Monthly or annual budgets and goals will save you a lot of financial chaos and turmoil. Making shopping lists is also a great way to plan for each aspect of your spending. The key to planning is using measurable and timed goals to create plans, so everything falls perfectly in place when the time comes. Planning may also involve identifying areas where the opportunity to save arises.
Discipline
Setting financial goals and making budgets are useless if you have difficulty sticking to the plan. Discipline is a habit that will put you in the top 5% of any crowd. Most people find it difficult to stay disciplined because of external forces, so it is important to forge your focus skills. Always keep your focus fixed on what needs to get done at the moment. One small at a time is the way to go.
The Takeaway
Your financial freedom is entirely in your hands, affecting you and your future generations. Don’t get left behind; take matters into your hands, start practicing these habits, and give yourself a financial leg up.
“Quit rates have been steadily increasing over the past 10 years,” US-based professor of management Kristie McAlpine recently told the BBC, underlining why the much-publicised ‘Great Resignation’ evidently did not start with the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are suggestions that the trauma of the COVID crisis led many people to look again at what they wanted to get from their work.
“We were going through a time where we lost millions of people,” McAlpine, of Rutgers University School of Business — Camden, recalled to the BBC. “It’s hard to imagine how that can all occur and not kind of force us to think about what’s important to us.”
In this light, the 300% figure — as revealed in research by the HR firm Cydney’s Creative Solutions — should not overly surprise.
However, many people have remained active in hunting for jobs, with the Cydney’s findings also including a particularly recent 40% increase in online searches for ‘jobs’ over just a six-month period.
Why have resignations continued at a staggering rate in 2022?
In January 2022, 29% of UK workers reported that a job change was something they were considering for that year. For many US workers, however, this prospect became more than just a consideration — as, in March 2022, 4.5 million of them actually did quit.
One big reason why could have been a widespread yearning for more flexibility in working practices. Cydney’s has found many of its clients claiming that hybrid work models have brought them numerous benefits — including reduced commuting time and higher productivity.
However, another factor could be an emerging focus on wellness — for both employers and employees. Many Cydney’s clients have started offering their staff heightened support packages ranging from team wellness activities to counselling sessions.
What could employers do to combat the Great Resignation?
Cydney’s Creative Solutions founder and CEO Camile Duria has urged business leaders to “reassess their existing HR resources and set out to bring them in line with the new expectations from workers.”
If you run a business, its office might not be particularly suited to workers’ post-pandemic priorities — especially if your company originally moved into this office before the pandemic.
Finding a cost-effective workplace like this could also free up money for your business to potentially spend on supporting its employees through the current economic turmoil.
New figures indicate that, worldwide, the increased cost of living is now a major concern for 29% of Generation Z workers as well as 36% of millennial workers. Therefore, the financial perks you offer to employees could hugely assist you in keeping them.
Unified communications is the new ‘big thing’ in business and IT, and for good reason. Moving all communications to the cloud is a brilliant way for companies to reduce costs and increase productivity within the workplace. If you want to know exactly how unified communications could help you to save money, keep reading.
No hardware is required
On-premises systems generally require a range of hardware like clunky phones on each desk to operate effectively, not to mention the storage space. As well as this, trained IT staff need to be hired which is very costly, and that’s without even going into the costs of maintenance and repairs. Unified communications eliminate all of these costs.
Increased productivity
When there are sufficient or adequate communication tools for employees to use, productivity wanes. Employee productivity is one of the most expensive resources and not one that companies can afford to waste.
With unified communication tools like Voice, Data and Mobile Services by Gamma, employees are able to work in a range of different locations. This will increase productivity because employees aren’t limited in their movements and can get more done outside of the office.
A reduction in downtime
One of the major benefits of cloud based unified communication systems is that it eliminates employees relying on their hardware as much. Instead of having to work at the mercy of your communication systems, the cloud provides a higher level of reliability and effectively fool proofs your systems.
There will be no more wasted time when disaster strikes, and hardware issues take you offline.
Increased employee retention
With the increase of remote and hybrid workers after the coronavirus pandemic, the satisfaction of employees has never been so significant. Companies now have more choice in who they hire, and remote employees have more freedom. Employees need the right tools to be able to do their work and unified communications delivers exactly what out of office employees need most – effective communication and mobility.
With on premises hardware, companies don’t have the flexibility they have with unified communications. The capacity is fixed so they will have to pay for the full use of systems, even when a lot of users aren’t actively using the system. In contrast, unified communications isn’t fixed so companies only have to pay for what they need at a given time.
Instead of paying for 100 possible seasonal workers, unified communications allows companies to scale up or down as needed so they don’t need to stick with anything that’s too expensive or struggle with not having enough capacity.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there are numerous ways that unified communication systems can save you and your company money. After all, more time working and less time messing with technology is the key to happier, healthier workforces. All that is left to do is try out, and see whether it works well for you.
Affirmative Investment Management (AIM) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by MetLife Investment Management.
(MIM), the asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET). The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval.
MIM is a global public fixed income, private capital and real estate investment manager that provides tailored investment solutions to public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments funds and other institutional clients. MIM has over 150 years of investment experience, with offices in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia comprising over 900 investment professionals and US$590.9 billion in assets under management, at 30 June 2022. AIM focuses on mobilising mainstream capital to address the major challenges the world faces. Its mission is to manage fixed income portfolios that generate positive environmental and social impact without compromising financial returns. As the ESG impact and transition bond markets continue to expand, the opportunity to offer investment solutions to meet client demand has broadened from impact into transition, and public into private debt and real estate finance. MIM provides AIM with additional depth and breadth of complementary investment capabilities and resources that allows us to build upon our industry leadership and expand our impact and transition investment solutions in the future.
MIM will integrate AIM’s investing experts, processes and research capabilities to drive excellence in sustainable investing, develop new investment solutions and enhance MIM’s fundamental research, underwriting and security selection processes.
“We are pleased to be able to join a world-class institutional investment firm in MIM and continue our mission to deliver mainstream financial returns along with positive environmental and social impact” said Stephen Fitzgerald, who co-founded AIM in 2014. “Upon integration with MIM’s investment teams, we believe that we will deliver differentiated impact and transition investment insights and solutions to our combined roster of global clients while continuing to support positive environmental and social change.”
“By combining AIM’s expertise with MIM’s longstanding commitment to sustainable investing, we will be even better positioned to provide more comprehensive insight and counsel to clients and consultants on the changing market dynamics related to ESG and impact considerations,” said Steven Goulart, president of MIM and executive vice president and chief investment officer for MetLife. “MIM will maintain its fundamental investment processes, while AIM brings us additional capabilities to go deeper for clients on evaluating sustainability and risk considerations across all of our core competencies in public fixed income, private fixed income and real estate.”
AIM remains committed to its existing clients in Australia, Europe, Japan and US to deliver mainstream bond market returns along with environmental and social impact. As part of MIM, AIM will continue in its ambition to deliver best in class ESG impact and transition investment solutions to existing and prospective clients.
About Affirmative Investment Management
Affirmative Investment Management (AIM) is a leading global environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) impact fixed income investment manager with deep capabilities in impact investing, verification, reporting and engagement. Established in 2014, AIM focuses on mobilising mainstream capital to address the major challenges the world faces. Its mission is to manage fixed income portfolios that generate positive environmental and social impact without compromising financial returns. AIM’s highly experienced team is solely focused on investing in, and expanding, the impact bond market with a rigorous approach to building impact bond portfolios and generating returns.
AIM has won numerous ESG and impact related industry awards, most recently Best Sustainability Reporting by a Fund Manager at the 2022 Environmental Finance Sustainable Investment Awards, Best ESG Investment Fund: Fixed Income at the 2022 ESG Investing Awards, Impact Asset Manager of the Year at the 2021 Australian Impact Investment Awards, and Impact Report of the Year (for investors) at the 2021 Environmental Finance Bond Awards. About MetLife Investment Management.
MetLife Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a global public fixed income, private capital, and real estate investment manager providing tailored investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. MetLife Investment Management provides public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, funds and other institutional clients with a range of bespoke investment and financing solutions that seek to meet a range of long-term investment objectives and risk-adjusted returns over time. MetLife Investment Management has over 150 years of investment experience and, as of June 30, 2022, had US$590.9 billion in total assets under management. About MetLife.
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates (“MetLife”), is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
As a business owner, you need to ensure that your products and services are high quality, that you’re marketing them correctly, and that your employees are productive and happy. However, one of the most important things you can do for your business is to protect your assets. Here are five simple ways to accomplish this:
Your business records could be lost forever in a fire, flood, or other disasters, so it’s crucial to have a data backup system at the top of your asset management strategies. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most popular is using cloud-based storage. This way, even if your physical records are destroyed, you’ll still have a digital copy that you can access from anywhere.
2. Get Insurance
Insuring your assets is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your business. Many types of insurance are available, so be sure to talk to your agent about the best coverage for your business. You may also consider getting liability insurance to protect yourself from lawsuits. In addition, insurance can help to offset the cost of repairs or replacement items. While the initial cost of premiums may seem like a burden, it is nothing compared to the financial losses that could occur in an accident or disaster.
3. Keep Good Records
This includes keeping track of your inventory, recording all transactions, and maintaining accurate financial statements. Good record keeping will help you track what you have and where it is, making it easier to recover if something goes wrong. It can also help you spot problems early on and make it easier to track down assets if they are lost or stolen.
Good record keeping can also help you avoid tax problems. Make sure you keep track of all your deductions so that you don’t end up overpaying on your taxes. You can do this by taking advantage of business accounting services from reputable providers like Pherrus Financial. These services can help you keep track of your expenses and avoid potential problems.
4. Invest in Security
Invest in security like security cameras, alarms, and even guards. If you have a lot of valuable equipment or inventory, investing in a robust security system is worth investing in. It will help deter thieves and give you peace of mind knowing that your things are safe. You can also use security measures to protect your data. Be sure to encrypt any sensitive information and keep it in a secure location. Only give access to people who need it, and change the passwords regularly.
5. Monitor Activity
Even if you have all the security measures, check in on your employees and monitor their activity regularly. Review your financial records and look for any red flags. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t be afraid to investigate further. In addition, it is also important to monitor activity online. Cybercrime is a growing threat, and businesses must take steps to protect themselves from attacks.
There are many different ways to protect your business assets. You can help safeguard your business against potential risks by taking some simple precautions.
Being one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide, France can easily win your heart over. If you’re reading this page, you belong to many foreigners who decided to invest in a vacation home or settle in France for longer after a visit. Statistically speaking, Americans belong to 3% of the foreign real estate buyers in the country of pastries, wine, and cheese, with the most popular location as French Alps, Paris, and Cote D’Azur. Yet Americans face many challenges when searching for real estate in Paris. Here are six main tips for you not to make common mistakes and survive in one of the most competitive markets in the world.
Figure out the legal part of the equation.
The first thing you should do – is research if your dream of owning a home in Paris is doable. Note that it’s a complicated process for Americans to get approved for a French mortgage, and the last thing you want to do is deal with the world-famous French bureaucracy. So before you send the “France houses for sale” request to Google, ensure your finances are all straight.
Visa-wise, Americans can stay in France as tourists for up to 90 days without a visa. If you’re planning to work, study, or stay in the country for a long time, you should obtain a long-term visa or a residence permit. Information on the visa requirements you can find on the France-Visas official website.
Another moment to remember is if you were hoping to rent your Parisian apartment whenever you’re back in the US, it wouldn’t be possible. Under newly-introduced French law, you can rent your property up to 120 dates per year only if it’s your first place of residence. Accordingly, the short-term or long-term rental is possible for the second home minimum of a year.
Choose the best-suited neighborhood.
In a large metropolitan city like Paris, the location is crucial. When you come for a vacation, you want to feel safe yet close enough to major activities, shopping areas, and restaurants. Each Parisien’s arrondissement has a vibrant info structure, cozy cafes, and pastry shops with fresh croissants. Just put on your comfiest shoes and walk around each arrondissement to see how the atmosphere and ambiance change day to night. Avoiding touristic areas will help you save some dollars and immerse you in the true Parisien lifestyle. As the apartment prices vary depending on the location, being more expensive doesn’t always mean a better deal. You will never go wrong with apartments in the top-rated neighborhoods, as even during the crisis, those places sell for big money.
Partner up with local and experienced real estate agents.
The best strategy for a successful buy is cooperating with a local agent. There is no such thing as a multi-listing in Paris, even though they have almost 4000 real estate agencies. Without multi-listing services, each agent has a limited database of housing they can provide you with. Take your time in choosing the realtor to hire. Consider their experience working in your budget frame and arrondissement you prefer, the number of annual closing, and most importantly, their communication skills. Verify the agent has good English and won’t have trouble understanding your requests.
Explain that you’re ready to pay the market price.
This tip might seem controversial at first. However, this is how you get most of the listings. Many buyers want to have a bargain and avoid paying for the overpriced property. Yet the agents won’t even bother sending you the links for showings if they see your “unrealistic” budget. With such a competitive market, your goal is to be taken seriously and get as many showings as possible. After seeing the place, you can still negotiate the price or expand the budget if you fall in love with the listing.
Prioritize your requirements.
Be realistic while setting your must-haves. Paris is famous for its impeccable architecture, yet it’s a different house-planning from the US. The bathrooms are usually smaller, but it’s common to have a cute window there. It’s rare to find a spacious kitchen with an island or even an elevator in the building. So put your American standards aside and make your requirements list based on non-negotiable needs:
a place for a washing machine and dryer;
amount of rooms for all family members;
location;
easy access to higher floors with elevator;
a view (it’s common for Parisian windows to face the wall, and no one wants to see that on their vacation).
For those who are not ready to sacrifice their comfort and would still want a spacious place to live, there are many listings in Ile-de-France. The outskirts of Paris are full of historical or modern houses, with big backyards and enough space to fit a big family. The little old towns with cozy atmospheres and local produce are only 20-30 min away by train or a car ride from the city center of Paris.
Remember the remodeling cost.
There is no benefit in buying a cheaper apartment to save up on location when the remodeling cost stays the same. In the long run, you’ll be paying more for repair work, redecorating, and labor, especially if you don’t have an elevator with six floors up. At the same time, a place that is a bit out of budget yet in the perfect state will require investment only in interior design.
The bottom line
Paris is a City of Love, and impossible not to fall in love with it! When apartment shopping in Paris, keep your mind open to get the best deal out there. The French vacation home is an achievable goal requiring a bit more work and flexibility. Yet, following all the tips and cooperating with the right agent will guarantee you to find a second home in the heart of France in no time.
Starting your entrepreneurial journey can be full of excitement but also full of uncertainty, especially if it’s your first business. Learning everything from market search to figuring out finance and logistics can get overwhelming sometimes. If you’re on your way to launching your first startup, we’re here to help. Here is the business advice for new entrepreneurs:
1. Make a Business Plan
As Tory Johnson said, a simple business plan is often the best approach in the beginning stages of developing your organization. Every startup needs to have a solid business plan before starting. This in-depth document details your business model, target audience, market segmentation, cost distribution, and pricing strategy. It also summarizes the core values and mission statement, setting clear objectives for the future of the business and holding you accountable for your goals.
The comprehensiveness of your business plan can vary depending on the nature of your business and the owner’s preferences. It can be as short as a one-page report or an entire document. No matter its length, a business plan will help you gain external finance as it can be used to get loans from banks or other financial institutions. A well-drafted plan can even help you create your pitch to potential investors and gain that investment for your business.
2. Networking
When your business is starting, your network can be your biggest asset. It would be best if you did not treat your competitor businesses or market leaders of your industry as adversaries but learn from them instead. They have years of industry experience and crucial knowledge of market trends. You should network with the team at your competitor’s business and learn from their experience to avoid making any mistakes in your entrepreneurial journey.
To establish your presence in the market, you should take the time to cultivate relationships with your customers. This will help you establish customer loyalty and get consistent orders for your product or service. Word of mouth referrals can help you gain more clients over time and is the most affordable marketing strategy for new businesses.
3. Learn About Finance
Finance is the lifeblood of every business. As a new business owner, learning about finance is essential to help sustain the cash flow in your business and protect your business from any monetary theft or fraud. It would help if you considered investing in books or online courses that can teach you fundamentals of financial sourcing, basic accounting like financial statements, cash flow charts, and differences between purchase order and invoice, as well as other core concepts. This knowledge will enable you to let your startup thrive financially.
Learning about finance will also help you gain your initial funding or startup capital through seed funding or investments. This can help you gain finance for starting out or even expanding your business in the future.
4. Hire Professionals
When your business is starting, hiring a professional to assist you with the business launch can ensure that the launch goes smoothly. Opening and operating a business is not an easy task, and professionals have years of experience on their hands to help guide you through the process. They are also aware of your industry’s federal and state regulations. This assistance can help your business become more compliant with the legal rules and help avoid any potential lawsuits in the future.
Endnote
Starting a business requires a great deal of effort. However, it can be easy if you have the right mentorship, a business plan, and your finances. There is no harm in seeking professional help to kickstart your new venture. This will help delegate your workload and ease off the work burden.
