Category: Finance

Are you suffering from quarantine boredom? Are you wondering if there’s a way to earn money at home?

Since COVID-19 entered the world, remote work has become more important than ever. And it’s a great way to use your time productively when there aren’t many places to go.

Here’s how you can earn extra money without getting out of your pajamas.

1. Sell Your Unwanted Items

You might be surprised at all the ways you can sell old items online, especially if they’re still in good condition. Sites like eBay, Gumtree, and Craigslist are great places to turn trash into treasure.

Laptops and tablets are always a hot commodity if they’re in good working order. CDs and vintage games are also in demand, especially during the holidays.

You may also be able to sell your old clothes this way. If you’ve got a few items that you rarely wear, they could be priceless to someone else. Just make sure they’re washed, ironed, and neatly folded.

Consignment shops are another great way to get a few dollars for gently used clothing and accessories. They might offer you upfront payments or the potential for profit sharing. If your store profit shares, your clothes will be tagged with an account number and you’ll get a portion of the profits after your items get purchased.

Look around for a specialty consignment shop that sells the types of items you tend to purchase. After a while, you’ll get a feel for the types of items that sell and start to make more profitable decisions.

2. Start Your Own Website

These days, you can start your own website with nothing more than a domain name, website hosting service, and website platform such as WordPress.

A good topic for your website could be a subject you have expertise in that you could inform your readers about. You can also provide services such as fashion advice, counseling, or self-help.

Affiliate marketing is a popular way to monetize your site. In these cases, you’ll have links to affiliate businesses on your site. And you’ll get a revenue share every time someone clicks on the link to set up an account.

You can also make money by selling a product or service that people want, such as an e-course. Other website entrepreneurs have paid members or sponsors who pay to post ads or product reviews.

Make sure you do your research before launching your site. Make sure that you choose a topic you have expertise and knowledge in. And you’ll want to be certain your ready to keep learning about the topic as your site becomes more popular.

3. Become an Online Tutor

Online tutors can make ten to nineteen pounds per hour. All you need is a working computer with a camera and expertise in a particular area. 

Of course, a degree in a field you’ll be tutoring in will be particularly helpful. Yet many of today’s students need extra help with their schoolwork due to less time spent in the classroom.

Offer to tutor the children of some people you know for a low rate if you’re looking for a way to start. As you begin to develop a good reputation, you can start to charge more and organise your schedule to suit your needs and comfort. Social media is also a great way to advertise your services to local neighborhoods.

4. Get Paid to Write Reviews

There are lots of websites out there that will pay you to write reviews of restaurants, movies, or products. You’ll also be earning a little free entertainment. 

Make sure that all of the reviews you turn out are of high quality. Check your grammar and spelling so you’ll continue to get work as a paid reviewer.

The best part about reviewing products and services is that there’s some flexibility with your schedule. You can visit local establishments or test various products after work or before your children wake up in the morning. 

5. Work As a Customer Service Agent

Believe it or not, there are plenty of companies out there that will pay a decent hourly wage for individuals to work at home in customer service, especially around Christmas.

Unlike other remote options, work-from-home customer service agents earn a steady hourly wage. If you’re a good listener with important interpersonal skills, such as patience and empathy, remote customer service could be a great way to keep your bank account happy.

The Best Way to Earn Money at Home

Quarantining has required many of us to rethink the way we pay the bills. Working remotely is a wonderful way to turn your extra time into a profitable opportunity.

Side hustles are also an excellent opportunity for you to require new skills and experiences that can be valuable in the future. You can also begin developing a new network of contacts that may be important for your future professional development.

During a time when many are suffering from anxiety and depression, a profitable side business can give you a productive escape from negative thoughts and feelings. You’ll develop confidence and peace of mind, as well as the freedom to create a work-life balance that is optimal for your personal well-being. 

Get to Work!

When you’re ready to earn money at home, there is a myriad of opportunities you can take advantage of. With a little research and a willingness to keep trying, you’ll discover an enterprise that suits your personality in no time.

Don’t stop getting smart about your financial opportunities now. For more information on personal finance, read our blog today. 

Day trading is often billed as a lucrative way to make fast and easy money from the comfort of your home. The average day trader makes about $80,000 a year. The best part about day trading is that you don’t necessarily have to be a financial wizard to be successful. Becoming a day trader is easy. Becoming a successful day trader is a much harder process. 

But what is day trading and how can you stand to benefit from it? This useful guide has all the information you need to decide if day trading is right for you and your lifestyle.

Day Trading

Day trading is a type of investment strategy. It can be used when trading stocks, cryptocurrency, securities, bonds, and commodities. It can also be applied to any other form of speculative marketplace.

Day trading involves purchasing an asset and selling the asset on the same day before the markets close. Day trading is a short term investment strategy. It also limits the amount of risk an investor has in the long term.

It does this by preventing discrepancies that can occur between an asset’s closing price at the end of a trading day, and its opening price at the start of the next day. There are many different strategies and styles of day trading.

What Makes a Successful Day Trader?

Many potential investors are lured into the day trading world with the promise of easy money. These investors find out the hard way that day trading is no cakewalk. As a result, they sometimes lose everything.

To be a successful day trader you need to be willing to invest enormous amounts of time and capital. You also need to be able to read the marketplace and have some background financial knowledge.

If you start your journey as a day trader you can expect long hours, little leave time from work, and a gruelling self-learning process that many can’t stomach. You need to have good risk management strategies and marketplace awareness as well.

While day trading, your success or failure rides solely on you and your trading strategies. If you fail, there is no one else to blame. If you are successful, however, you alone get all the glory.

Cash Is King

Having sufficient investment capital is one of the most important things for day trading. When you first start you can expect to sustain heavy losses as you figure out the nuances of navigating the marketplace.

The old saying “it takes money to make money” applies here. To be successful, it is crucial that you have a buffer of cash to withstand any initial losses. Many veteran traders will tell you that the day trading world is extremely volatile.

Sometimes you can expect to lose money on multiple trades in a row before turning a profit on a big one and recovering all of your losses. If you don’t have sufficient capital to act as a cushion, you could lose everything.

Heading into the world of day trading without a sufficient bankroll is like heading into a marathon with no shoes. You might somehow pull it off and win against all odds, but chances are you will end up bloodied and broken on the side of the road.

Knowledge Is Power

A successful day trader needs to be familiar with all of the aspects of how the marketplace functions. This includes understanding all the mundane basics such as trading hours and holidays.

It also includes being able to grasp the bigger picture such as how massive geopolitical events can influence market behaviour and how small innovations or new technologies can send ripples throughout the financial world.

As a day trader, you need to be at the forefront of the economic knowledge-base. This means keeping up with any emerging trends or cutting edge technology before everyone else is aware of them.

Staying ahead of the curve is not easy, but it is well rewarded. You also need to have a broad understanding of multiple different types of marketplaces. Understanding investment banking, securities, conventional stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are all examples of things a day trader should be well versed in.

Develop and Implement a Strategy

Without a plan, you are simply flying by the seat of your pants. At this point, you might as well just take your money down to the closest casino, spin the wheel, and see what happens.

You need to develop a successful entry and exit strategy. This includes setting indicators and benchmarks for success or failure. You also need to be able to assess how well your plan is working and recalibrate it if necessary.

A successful investment strategy is what separates the wealthy from the penniless in the world of day trading. Many traders spend decades developing a good strategy. Some never get it right and end up washing-out as a result.

Warren Buffet is often credited with being one of the top financial investors in history. His strategy was simple and centred around investing in index funds. While this strategy is not applicable to day-trading, his thought process is.

The simplest solution is usually the best. The more complicated your strategy, the more can go wrong.

Start Small

Just because you have access to a large pool of capital, or have sufficient background knowledge of investment and the marketplace doesn’t mean you should be reckless. When implementing a new strategy, tread lightly. 

If it works, you can always repeat it with a bigger chunk of change on the line after you have already secured some returns as a buffer. By not going “all in” you save yourself the financial ruin that comes with making too aggressive of an initial investment.

Attain Your Financial Destiny

Day trading is not for everyone, but those that are successful will tell you that there are few better ways to earn a living. Being your own boss and taking your financial destiny into your own hands is an empowering experience! 

Just make sure to have adequate capital and financial knowledge before trying your hand at day trading to avoid crashing and burning as a total failure. 

If you want to become a day trader you first need a wide financial knowledge base. Start informing yourself today with the host of financial information available on our blog to better prepare yourself for the long economic road ahead!

 A Financial Advice Market Review survey found that 1 in 10 adults in the UK sought financial advice within a 12 month period.

We’ve harped on before about why everyone needs a financial advisor, but how do you go about choosing financial advisors?

What you need in a financial advisor will vary depending on your individual circumstances. That being said, there are seven simple rules to follow to find the best financial advisor for you.

1. Know What You Need

You’ve decided you need a financial advisor, but what services do you require from them?

Are you looking to invest wisely, to plan for retirement, or do you need advice on taxes? 

Financial advisors offer a wide array of financial services, from investment management through to business finance plans. Only you know exactly the advice you need, but be clear on this before you even begin looking for a financial advisor. The normal financial advisor services are:

• Debt Management
• Budgeting
• Health and long term care planning
• Estate planning
• Retirement
• Inheritance
• Tax planning
• Investments

Whether you need specific advice on one aspect of your finances or a variety of services, the financial advisor you choose should be able to cover all these areas. Additionally, if you know you’re looking for long-term advice, keep this in mind when choosing. 

2. Financial Advising Experience

Frustratingly, nearly anyone can call themselves some kind of financial advisor. It may come under a different heading such as a financial coach or planner, but these titles come with minimum qualifications. 

Due to this, it’s important to really know your potential advisor’s experience and qualifications. This ensures your money and assets are in the best hands possible. 

A good financial advisor’s website should have their qualifications, education, and experience listed. Review all of these things to figure out whether their knowledge will help your unique needs. 

Not all qualifications are equal. In particular, depending on your location, the qualifications to ensure your advisor has are:

• The Certified Financial Planner Designation
• Certified Public Accountant
• Enrolled Agent
• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Accredited Financial Counsellor

3. Comparing Advisor Fees

It should go without saying that you should do research into different fees for any service. This is never more pertinent advice than with financial advisors.

This is because financial advisors get paid in a few different ways, and sometimes this can be at odds with your best financial interests. For example, if your advisor is getting paid on a fee-only basis regardless of their advice, they have less incentive to grow your wealth. Whereas if they were paid on a commission and fee basis, they have more incentive to invest wisely to increase their commission. 

Typically, a financial advisor will be paid one of three ways:

• Fee-only
• Commission
• Fee-based (a mix of both)

You need to figure out what would work best for your individual circumstances.

4. Transparency

While we’re talking fees, it’s time to talk about transparency. Long gone are the days of the elusive and mysterious investment elite. If your financial advisor isn’t being upfront, ditch them.

A good financial advisor will be transparent about all fees to be charged. You should have this in writing, and they should be happy to give it to you.

Not only transparency about fees but also plans. You should be clear on what plans your financial advisor will make, as well as how regularly you can expect updates, reports, and meetings. 

5. References and Reviews

Even now, word of mouth might still be one of the best ways to find a financial advisor. But if you don’t happen to know anyone, the internet is a great substitute.

As well as checking qualifications and education, you should check reviews. On their site, on Trustpilot, and on Google. 

6. Performance reporting

As we mentioned briefly, you want regular reports on your assets and wealth. But it also needs to be in a digestible format. That is to say, you don’t want an array of random charts and figures you can’t actually understand.

You need clear, concise reports on performance, transactions, and holdings. You can choose how regularly you want to receive these. Whether it’s monthly, quarterly, or bi-annually, your financial advisor should be happy to provide them. 

As we live in a digital world, many of these offerings may be in online services. You should know what financial planning software is in use and whether you will have access to it.

7. Talk to Your Advisor 

Before signing up for anything, talk to your advisor in depth. If they’re part of a firm, know exactly who will be running your account and who you’ll be dealing with. Get to know them.

Ensure you get an initial meeting – whether by phone or in-person – and know exactly how often you’ll be speaking to them. Is it once a month or once a quarter? Will they regularly be contacting you with updates?

This is particularly important if you’re looking at long-term financial advice. Your life will change due to work, relationships, children, and so on. You need to have regular contact with your financial advisor to take these changes into account and amend your plan accordingly. 

Choosing Financial Advisors

Using our tips above, you should be able to find a reliable and trustworthy financial advisor to manage your assets. Make sure to take your time choosing financial advisors, and avoid any cheap pressure tactics from firms. 

For more financial advice, make sure to see our financial section to keep you up to date with the latest news.

Plenty of people feel out of their depth when it comes to money management. Whether you’re looking at pensions, insurance, mortgages, or savings and investment products, there are so many options available and it can be overwhelming. Recent research has shown that up to one-third of people in the UK don’t have a pension. It’s really critical to plan for the future and many people could benefit from professional financial advice. The benefits of a financial adviser include bespoke advice on defining your financial goals, building wealth, and planning for the future.

Read on to find out more about the value of good financial advice. 

7 Benefits of a Financial Adviser 

A good financial adviser will begin the process of working with you by undertaking a fact-finding exercise. They will find out more information about your circumstances and goals and any financial products you already have.

One of the most important things is to assess your risk appetite. How much are you prepared to lose in the investment market? Once all of this is established, they will go on to recommend financial products that are suitable and affordable for your current circumstances.  

Let’s look in a little more detail about the specialist advice available from financial advisers.  

1. Product Recommendations and Protection 

If you take financial advice before buying a specific product, you should end up with a product that meets your personal needs and is most suitable for your circumstances. Using an adviser may also give you access to a range of products that you may not have been able to access on your own.

You also have protection if something goes wrong. If your adviser gives unsuitable advice or has not acted in your best interests, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman. 

2. Objective, Expert Advice 

Lack of objectivity can be a major issue in investment decisions. A professional adviser will make their decisions based on analysis and objective decision-making, without emotion or panic. An experienced professional will know when to hold their nerve if the market looks a little shaky, enabling sound long-term decisions.

Financial advisers are full-time professionals with many years’ experience. No matter how hard you try, it’s hard to keep up-to-date on all the latest developments in taxation, investment opportunities, and market developments. You should be able to rely on your financial adviser to give you the most well-informed advice. 

3. Savings Advice

Let’s look at some of the areas where financial advisers can add value to your decision-making process. In terms of savings advice, it’s easy to get general guidance on what your savings options are. Financial advisers will go further and offer advice on particular products.

A financial adviser would take you through specific options of savings accounts, ISAs and investment opportunities, and recommend one that suits your personal circumstances best. 

4. Investment Advice 

It’s important to note that some financial advisers are independent and offer a full range of products from the market. Others offer a more restricted service and only have a limited range of products or providers. 

Investment products are harder to understand than cash savings products, and taking advice can ensure that you’re aware of all the options available to you. If you have limited time to undertake research, or you lack the skills and knowledge to make the best decisions when it comes to investing, then financial advice in this area is a good idea. 

5. Long-Term Financial Planning 

A key part of getting your personal finances in order is ensuring that you plan for the future. Pensions are long-term investments and it’s important to understand the funds you’re investing in and any associated risks. 

A financial adviser can help you to make decisions about personal pension products or boost your existing pension. If you’re considering combining different pension pots, it’s important to get expert advice so that you are fully informed on how each product works and what plan is most suitable for your long-term financial security. 

6. General Money Management Advice 

A good financial planner can also help you with general finance tips. This could include how much you need to save in your emergency fund and what your long-term savings target should be. They can also help with budgeting tips – what do you need to do differently to improve your financial circumstances? 

Financial advisers can offer banking advice to make sure that your current bank is offering the services you require. This could include looking at bank charges including overdraft fees, the availability of digital and face-to-face services and any additional services offered with your bank account. 

Financial advisers can also help to identify any changes you could make to improve your tax situation. This includes long-term tax and estate management planning, as well as any tax implications from investments. 

7. Peace of Mind 

Possibly the greatest benefit of using a financial adviser is that it gives you peace of mind. You can relax, knowing that your money is in a safe place and that your financial adviser will help you to deal with any challenges which may arise. 

You can also feel secure in the knowledge that, should your life circumstances change, your financial adviser ill be able to help you navigate through the transition. This will reduce stress and help you to continue on your path towards financial freedom.

Choosing a Financial Adviser 

If you’re now sold on the benefits of a financial adviser, the next step is to choose one. You need to ensure that you fully understand their fee structure. Some charge by the hour, while others charge a flat fee for a specific product or take a commission on products that you buy through them.

You should also ensure that the financial adviser you use is fully qualified and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. This means that they meet the required standards and also that you have some protection if you’re unhappy with the service provided.

Staying Informed 

Even with the benefits of a financial adviser to help you make financial decisions, it’s a good idea to try to stay as well-informed as possible about what’s going on in the finance world.

For all the latest news and views on investments, banking, and finance, be sure to check out our blog.

Overspending on a holiday is a very easy trap to fall into. The excitement of being in a new place, seeing sights, and eating new food can quickly total up. However, you can do all of these things without going over your budget. By implementing a few ideas, you can make sure your holiday is not ruined by money and cash worries. Below, we discuss our tips for holiday budgeting. 

Be Flexible

When booking transport and accommodation, you can save a lot of money if you are able to be flexible. Flights and train tickets can drop drastically if you can shift around days and times. Trains are much cheaper if you travel off-peak and book well in advance. 

Try to utilize price comparison sites. They can get you the best deals on flights and accommodation and often have offers available. 

Luggage

Luggage can really add money to a flight, particularly when flying with budget airlines. Most of their prices are advertised without hold luggage and strict hand luggage restrictions apply.

Use this to your advantage by only booking the number of cases needed. If you and your partner can fit the children’s clothes in two cases, then you can save money on expensive hold luggage places.

If you are traveling somewhere for a longer period of time, it can be cheaper to send clothing via post than book extra hold luggage. Look at parcel comparison sites using the dimensions and weight of your package and send them to your destination.

Plan for ATM Withdrawals

When withdrawing money from abroad, prices can vary drastically. There are three factors to consider; ATM fee, bank fee, and exchange rate.

The ATM fee is the money charged by the ATM operator for the use of their machine. These fees can vary from free services to extortionate prices. Ask locals in the area which are the free ATM machines and use them. 

You should also check the bank exchange rates from your currency to the local currency. Most bank ATM machines will have fairly reasonable exchange rates, but independent ATM operators can charge high fees.

Next, consider the charge that your own bank makes for taking money out abroad. To minimize a loss on all counts, always keep ATM withdrawals to a minimum, withdrawing as much money as you possibly can to maximize your loss.  

Holiday Budgeting

Before the holiday starts, count up the money you have saved. Deduct any money for transport or hotels, then divide the rest by the number of days you will be away. You now have a daily budget for your trip. 

If you do not spend all of your holiday budget in one day, then carry it over to the next. However, try not to exceed your budget on any given day as it can be hard to make up the losses. You may want to also have a separate budget for buying gifts and souvenirs that runs for the whole trip. 

Budget for Time

Arrange your personal finances around your times. For example, you may be spending one day on a flight which will cost you far less than a day in a city. For every day like this, carry your daily budget over to the next.

If you find yourself spending more money than you planned, slow the trip down a little. Instead of going out every day, spend a few days by the pool. You may decide to cook in an apartment instead of going out for expensive meals or eat food from a street vendor. 

Pay Using Card

When paying by card in a shop or bar, always choose to pay in local currency. Paying in your own currency usually has a higher rate with conversions fees, so you will end up being charged more. When using a credit card, the rate will be set by Visa or Mastercard and will likely be much lower. 

Research Local Deals

Before you travel to a destination, do some research online for local deals and offers. These may be in the form of discount coupons for trips and sights, or for meals and food. 

Many restaurants have excellent tourist meals for visitors. You can save a lot of money, eating at very high-end restaurants in this way. Check local review sites for great places to eat then check their website to see what they offer. 

Create Your Own Tours

Arranged tours and guides are very useful. But they can also be very expensive. Save money by planning your own itinerary. 

If you are the adventuring type, get online, and utilize public transport. You may even hire a car or bicycle to go and see the sights. The joy of this is that you see a lot more of the destination and often find shops, food, and sights you would not have been exposed to before. 

Some city breaks even offer free walking tours. They are organized by knowledgeable guides who ask for a contribution at the end. You simply pay what you think they deserve and have worked for. 

Some destinations also offer combined travel and discount cards. They allow you access to transport and discount at major attractions and eateries. Family tickets can save you an awful lot of money in the long run. 

Coming Home

When you return, exchange any large amounts of leftover currency at ane exchange. For medium amounts, it may worth be worth the effort so it could be better to just spend them at the airport on your way home. 

If you are looking for more advice on holiday budgeting or general money management, then make a visit to our blog a regular stop. Whether it is personal or business finance advice, we can help you organized your money starting today!