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Forklifts Financing: The Benefits Of Leasing

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As anyone who works in manufacturing will testify, purchasing new equipment is by no means cheap. If we hone in on the topic of today’s article, forklifts financing, it starts to become even more obvious how costly it can be to fund such machinery.

This is where a more creative approach is required. Paying up-front for these tools is asking for trouble; it’s something that’s going to give your business some serious cash flow problems (unless you are one of the biggest companies in your field).

One of these creative options comes in the form of leasing. We will now take a look at some of the benefits of leasing forklifts, in a bid to save you and your business a lot of money for years to come.

The ability to conserve cash

The first benefit is probably the most obvious; the ability for your company to conserve cash. If you were to purchase a forklift outright, you would be paying tens of thousands, and potentially more in some cases, in cash. This is cash that could have otherwise been spent on different areas of your business.

With leasing, you are effectively renting. This means each month you are paying only a small amount, meaning that you have plenty left over to spend on further growth.

Have access to all of the mod cons

This is one of those benefits which a lot of people don’t expect. Again, when you purchase equipment, you tend to be tied-in for the long-term. Due to the fact that you have parted with so much money, it means that you almost feel committed to use the machinery for as long as it is useful for. As well as this, you are also financially committed – and it’s rare for a company to be able to constantly purchase new equipment (unless they are huge in size).

With leasing, this problem can be navigated somewhat. You can commit to a shorter lease, and by the end of it you can then opt for a newer piece of equipment. This often turns out to be a much better approach than hanging on to old equipment, which is difficult to sell towards the end of its working life.

The balance sheet factor

For those businesses that at least need to appear better on paper, this benefit is for them. As we all know, if you purchase a piece of equipment outright, it’s immediately regarded as long-term debt. In other words, it’s going to remain on your balance sheet for years to come.

If, on the other hand, you opt for a lease, this is simply regarded as an expense. To some people, the difference will only be aesthetic, but for others it could make or break their business. It might make it more attractive to potential investors, who are keen to look at balance sheets in a bid to identify a healthy business. The less debt you have, the more chance you have of appearing as one of these.

Credit Repair 101: What Happens To Credit When Filing Bankruptcy

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Financial health is considered as one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. However, there will be instances when your financial standing is not as good as you wanted it to be, no matter how hard you try. This could be because of the long list of monetary obligations you owe to your creditors and you do not have sufficient financial resources to pay them back. Scenarios like these may usually lead you to file for bankruptcy as you may view this as the best alternative to end your misery of paying debts. Sure, you will always have this option but you should also remember that filing for bankruptcy is not all good. When you file for bankruptcy, your credit score may be seriously affected. If you still don’t get the connection between your credit and bankruptcy, read on to know more:

  1. Bankruptcy Damages Your Credit Score A Lot – There is no better way to describe the possible negative effects brought by filing a bankruptcy to your credit. During these times, you have to expect the worst that may possibly happen to your credit score, you can learn more here: https://www.crediful.com/bankruptcy-on-your-credit-report/. This financial hardship is said to be one of the worst scenario cases that may occur when dealing with your financial obligations. It may drop down your good credit score depending on the actual value involved in the process. In this sense, the higher your credit is, the higher the decrease is. For example, when you possess a credit score of 800 or above, it may fall down to 200 or 300 points. At some point, it may appear impossible to rehabilitate your financial health and difficult to handle the major decline of your credit. The damage is obviously huge that it would require you to improve how you manage your financial goals.
  2. Filing For Bankruptcy Might Mean Financial Difficulties For You – So you think that when you file for bankruptcy, everything is resolved, right? You’re wrong! Because even if you file for bankruptcy, you are still required to shed off a certain amount of money. You need money to pay for all of the filing fees so you can ensure that this process will be as smooth as possible. Aside from the filing fees, this process also requires you, to take a financial management course and credit counselling – yes, this means that you have to pay for all of these. If you don’t have any savings the moment you filed for bankruptcy, your only option to pay for all of these is by acquiring credit and acquiring too much credit is never good for your financial standing. You might be able to pay for all the requirements before and after the bankruptcy but you might be covered in another set of credits after everything is done.
  3. Bankruptcy Helps in Weakening the Negative Effects on Your Credit In The Long Run – The filing of bankruptcy will most likely hurt your credit score the moment you file for one. This might also have adverse effects with how you plan and restructure your current financial well-being. But this result is only temporary as it may also become a way to rebuild your credit score over time. The record of the filing for bankruptcy may affect your credit score value as it can be seen in your credit report but its influence may decrease as time passes by. You may gradually see how bankruptcy will slowly restore your good credit. This transition will only require time before your credit will be back on the right track. This is primarily because you are no longer in a difficult state of satisfying your financial responsibilities since you do not owe numerous debts anymore. As a result, your credit utilization rate will be enhanced. You just have to wait until your record of bankruptcy will be removed from your credit history because by that time, your credit will be restructured again. However, you have to endure the 10-year period of low credit score value until it will gradually bring to a sound financial status – this is certainly something that is worth waiting for!

These are few things that may happen when you file for bankruptcy. This situation is usually regarded as a desperate move when the need arises and when you’re in a washed up situation. But the negative effects of this financial move can be lessened by knowing how to restore credit. Rebuilding your credit is one of the best options to take after a tremendous financial downfall for several months. Filing of bankruptcy may lead you to re-establishment of new credit accounts after the lapse of ten years. By that time, it is suggested that you design and plan your credits well to avoid the dilemma of having to file for bankruptcy again. For instance, paying off your financial duties on-time and having the money saved to do so each month may eventually increase your credit score. This is the essence of constructing a positive payment record and providing an optimistic information in your credit report. As soon as you have gotten your new line of credits, make sure to create a progress plan so that you’ll be able to see and evaluate your credit performance. With this, you may prevent yourself from getting into monetary problems which will spiral over time.

Where to Find Tips On Budget Home Makeover Ideas

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Having seen pretty much every cent that I had on buying me new home this time 2 years ago, I had nothing left in the pot to actually decorate the place, I barely had enough to cover the furniture to be honest. Whilst understanding that this is part of the journey of being a homeowner, around 6 months ago I’d had enough of wood chip walls and lino, and decided to do some home design work, with a limited budget. I knew that I wasn’t going to turn my house into some Gary Friedman masterpiece like what you’d see on his Restoration Hardware website, but I thought I’d give it a go. The first thing that I needed, was a little inspiration, and here is where I went to find it.

Pinterest

Social media app Pinterest is absolutely brilliant for anyone looking to find hacks on decorating their home on a budget. There are some highly intelligent people out there with an eye for design who have kindly shred their wonderful ideas on making your home look great, while saving money. Admittedly, looking out on Pinterest can be tough because for every person posting budget hacks, there is someone posting incredible things which they have done in the home, most of which are far from being classed as ‘budget’. If however, you can sift through the masterpieces, you can find some great ideas to make your home look great on a budget.

Facebook

I use Facebook a lot but I had never really considered using it to find decorating ideas, how wrong I was. In fact there are many Facebook groups which have been set up that are wholly dedicated to sharing top tips and budget hacks to help you get some inspiration for your home design. If you have a browse through the groups you’ll see a great many of them, some private, some open. Even the private groups accepted me straight away and I had some great conversations with people who really wanted to help me get the look I wanted in my home, and save money whilst I was doing it.

Planning Your Time

Looking around the shops can give you some inspiration in terms of what kind of looks and colors to go for, but the prices still remain the same. With this in mind then, I would recommend that you go to the shops just after Christmas, or as the seasons change. When this happens, this shops start clearing out all of their old season looks and styles, to usher in the new season. This is the perfect time for anyone who is decorating on a budget, to pick up some great bargains. Let’s be honest, whilst the shops must care about whether their stock is in style or not, us consumers are far less worried about it and we can use this opportunity to pick up some great budget pieces.

Determining The Right Time To Get The Right To Buy Mortgage Loan

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When is really the right time to get a mortgage? Do you have to wait until you gain enough savings, or should you take the chance now while the value of the property is still within your reach?

Preparing to take out a mortgage is a huge challenge. You want to finally make your dream a reality but you are also worried that you are unable to repay the loan. If you are planning to avail of the right to buy mortgage program of the government especially if you have been a tenant of the property you are living in for the past three years, you can do so. You just need to get ready to go through quite a long process.

Organise all your documents

Applying for this loan requires a lot of documents. You need to submit all of them before your application is granted. Sometimes, applications are denied on the basis of missing documents. Therefore, you need to prepare them now. Even if you are not yet applying, it is an advantage if you have all these documents ready.

Study the application forms

There are different forms required at every phase of the application. There are items in the form that you will have a hard time answering or you are unsure of. Consult with experts in advance so that all information you provide is accurate.

Get ready with a deposit

When applying for a mortgage, a deposit is normally required, and you need to prove that you have the capacity to pay the loan. The good thing is that under the right to buy mortgage scheme, you can use the given discount as a deposit. You need not come up with a huge amount of money right away. This would affect the computation of the monthly mortgage payment later, but it is fine.

Have a buffer

Once you have applied for the loan, the next step is to repay it. You won’t be financially stable all the time. Therefore, it helps if you have a cash buffer. This saves you when you are unable to pay due to emergency situations or other problems.

Get the right loans

Even if you have gotten a huge discount under the right to buy mortgage program, it is still quite a huge amount. Therefore, you need to find the most reasonable mortgage loans that you can repay over time. Just check the options and find out if you can afford the terms and conditions.

Once you have fully understood the mortgage you are taking out and you are financially capable of moving ahead with this challenge, it is time to get the loan.

AS A MORTGAGE IS SECURED AGAINST YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY, IT COULD BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS.

New Right to Buy Criteria Allow More People to Avail of the Scheme

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Since its inception, several changes have been made to the right to buy scheme to increase the opportunity for those who really wish to have a property to call their own. This scheme started as a chance for tenants to finally buy the place they currently live in with a discount.

Even with the rules mentioned in the scheme, a lot of people can still not afford it. They are either unable to repay the loans or are rejected upon application. Even without requiring a deposit, it is still difficult for many to avail of the scheme.

The good thing is that with the new changes, the amount has already increased to £75,000 and £100,000 for London boroughs. You can still use this discount as the down payment if you have no capacity to pay for it. The actual discount will still be decided during the assessment, but this is already a huge help for you.

More borrowers are now accepted

It is not easy being rejected each time you apply for a loan. You are not considered qualified even if your documents are complete and you have complied with the special requirements asked. These changes have been in place since October 2016, and they should give you hope that you can finally avail of this government scheme.

You may now obtain a mortgage loan if you have a low credit score, have recent defaults, late payments and an established debt management plan. If you are self-employed, you are also allowed to avail of the scheme as long as you have a new business that has been around for at least 12 months. You just need to show the latest figures, retained profits, dividends, and salary.

The process is still complicated

Even if legislators have found a way to expand the number of people who can avail of the scheme, it is still tough. The process has not been simplified yet. There is still a chance that you will be rejected on technical grounds. There is still a waiting process that you need to observe. You also need to prepare several documents.

You just have to be more optimistic this time as more people have been given the opportunity to avail of the scheme through special right to buy mortgages. You can seek help from local mortgage brokers who have ideas about properties in the area and have dealt with clients availing of this scheme before. It would be difficult going through this tough process on your own. You need someone who will explain the procedure to you before you get started and guide you once you are preparing the documents for application.

AS A MORTGAGE IS SECURED AGAINST YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY, IT COULD BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS.

Image: Pixabay.com

Savings And Investment: Eight Tips To Make A Good Real Estate Investment

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Opportunities abound in the market and you have to be cautious when making decisions. Consider the following tips and get the most out of your real estate investment.

  1. Prudence and reflection are qualities of every great investor.

Find out about characteristics, conditions, and opportunities for your real estate investment. Consult with property experts such as www.chekes.co.uk, read recent news, and study the profile of the creators of the project.

  1. Investing in plans.

Keep in mind that the prices in the real estate sector fluctuate less; they do it at a lower speed and the downturns are less drastic than other types of investments. Although buying into projects at the planning stage is a bit riskier due to the maturity times of the projects and the utilisation of resources, they are always more profitable than buying a property that has already been built.

  1. Discover your investor profile.

They say that there are three types of investors: the cautious, the risky, and the saver. The first take moderate risks, the second take great risks, and the latter prefer security rather than profit.

  1. Rate the time factor.

Remember that real estate investment takes time. It is a long-term investment that usually does not begin to give results before five years.

  1. Study the location.

Find out about the medium and long-term plans of the area where the property you plan to buy is located. That way you can evaluate the development and value the sector in the future. If you are looking at opportunities, for example, in Essex and the surrounding areas, then consult surveyors in Essex to be better informed regarding planned projects in the short and medium-term future which might affect your investment.

  1. Determine the use of your investment.

In real estate, profit is usually gained on two sides. On the one hand, there is the valuation of the property and on the other, the annual net income. In the case of buying a house, reflect calmly on the use of it, will it be to live there or to lease it?

  1. Study the type of property.

There are several options for real estate. The first one that jumps to mind is a house, but there are also commercial and industrial buildings. Investment in real estate for commercial use is the most profitable option since whoever occupies the property does so to generate profits.

  1. Explore new types of investment.

Traditionally you think about buying and selling. But, real estate collective portfolios and voluntary pension funds with investments in the real estate sector are currently booming. These can allow you to own a percentage of a commercial property (for example, a hotel or a shopping centre) thus receiving a share of the operating profit of the property, proportional to the money you have invested, without the need to worry about the lease or maintenance of the property.

The Top 5 Money Saving Tips

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Let’s face it. Many of us have a hard time keeping track of our finances, especially when money is tight. A whopping 70% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck. In fact, 57% of Americans say that they have less than $1000 in savings, ultimately putting their retirement and future in jeopardy. To add insult to massive amounts of injury, 34 percent of Americans have zero money saved. How can this be when America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world? Today, I’m going to be going over the top five ways that you can save money so that you can ultimately create financial wealth and prosperity for you and your family. Let’s get started!

1. Create a budget

Having a budget is necessary if you want to have any financial success whatsoever. At the beginning of the month, create a written budget that is unique to that month. List all of your expenses and the amount of money you’re going to allocate toward those expenses. Once your budget is set, the biggest challenge next comes from the discipline of not wanting to break the budget. Every dollar has a name and knows where it’s going. Overall, creating a budget is arguably the most important step towards reaching financial freedom.

2. Add savings into your budget

Every month, you should be saving at least 10 percent to 15 percent of your income. If you aren’t able to put that amount of money into savings each month, chances are your expenses are too high or you’re just not making enough money. If it’s expenses, cut back on desires such as entertainment. If it’s income, pick up another job or create something that provides extra cash flow every month. By saving early, you’ll be in better shape than the majority of society when it comes to retirement and you will have saved more money for traveling.

3. Know what you’re saving for

When a lot of people think of saving money, they think of saving to save. However, this is not what you want to do! The average rate of inflation per year is around 2%. This inflation rate will eat away at your money over the years. Instead of saving to save, it’s better to save to invest. Invest this money into safe investments that will grow over time like treasury bonds and good growth stock mutual funds. The S&P 500 is setting record highs as it has grown over 20% in the last year. Adjusted for inflation, you would’ve made 18% on your money. Also, save for an emergency fund of $1,000 as well. If you need a title loan, Starfish Lending has you covered. All in all, save for safe investments.

4. Don’t buy a new car

Buying a new car is a very poor financial decision in general, let alone if your don’t have any money for one. Instead, buy one for cash that’s within your budget. Your new car will depreciate nearly 20% within the first year of ownership. If you buy a pre-owned one with cash, it will ultimately cost less and allow you to invest your extra money.

5. Watch the credit cards

This step is pretty straightforward. Only use credit cards if you know you’ll be able to pay them off at the end of the month. You can utilize the points many credit cards offer, allowing you to save money on both accommodation and airfare.

How To Make Money While Traveling!

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Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to save for all of your travel-related expenses before you catch a plane to a foreign destination as there a myriad of creative ways to make money while you travel the world. If you’re keen to discover a few innovative ways to make money while traveling, which you may not have considered, simply continue reading to discover four ways to make money whilst traveling.

How to Make Money While Traveling: 4 Fabulous ideas which you may not have considered

  1. Consider selling some of your scenic travel photographs

If you’re a talented photographer who has an eye for taking stunning travel photographs, you may want to consider becoming a freelance travel photographer and selling your photographs to travel magazines and travel blogs as well as hotels and resorts.

If you’re an amateur photographer and are not confident that you’ll be able to sell your travel photographs for hundreds of dollars, you may still be able to bring in extra money by selling your photographs to companies who specialize in purchasing stock photographs.

  1. Consider working as a freelance writer

There are a variety of ways to bring in an income, whilst traveling as a freelance writer. As an example, you may want to pitch travel articles to a variety of newspapers and travel magazines. Or you may be interested in starting your very own travel blog. You can find inspiration for your blog at sites like, http://wildfreedesign.com which, you can use to advertise travel-related products and services, in an exchange for a commission.

  1. Consider renting out your home, whilst you travel

One simple way to bring in a decent income whilst you travel is to rent out your home each time that you travel for a prolonged period of time. As an example, if you plan on exploring Europe for a month, you should be able to earn over several thousand dollars by listing your property on a trusted accomodation website such as Airbnb. Of course, to rent out your property, you do have to own the property, which you’re currently living in.

One added benefit of renting your home out whilst you travel is that your home will be far less likely to be targeted by thieves as there will be someone in your home and thieves prefer to target properties which are vacant.

  1. Consider applying to work at a ski resort

If you can competently ski or snowboard you may be interested in applying for a position an instructor, whilst if your ski or snowboard skills are a tad bit rusty you may be able to find a job operating a ski lift or working in a ski resort’s cafe or ticket booth.

One of the distinct advantages of applying to work at an international ski resort as most ski resorts will be able to assist you with obtaining a valid working visa. As in most countries, it’s illegal to accept a paid job without first applying for a working visa. Especially as most visitors enter countries for recreational purposes.

So if you’re looking to bring in an income whilst you travel the world, or even just tips on how to save money monthly so that you can travel more often, it’s well worth investigating at least one of the four opportunities listed above.

Does Photocopier Leasing Make Sense for Your Company?

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The need of many companies to reduce costs has generated a broad market regarding new solutions for this problem. In this sense, the purchase of printers and photocopiers of the latest generation is simply something difficult to afford for many; however, the market also offers excellent alternatives in the form of renting or leasing this type of equipment.

Nowadays it is possible to get very good prices in relation to the rental of photocopiers, an option that has been growing considerably in popularity among SMEs in recent times. In part, because it allows small and medium-sized businesses to access equipment and brands of the highest quality, which, otherwise, would have been very difficult to buy.

Why is it necessary?

Experts in photocopier leasing in Newbury explain that a company might not require large amounts of copying or printing during many months of the year. Accountants make an interesting case study: for many months they use their photocopiers and printers at a fairly regular pace, but in the months prior to the filing of tax and tax returns, they may need support in terms of additional equipment.

Faced with this, the company or business can opt for the purchase of new equipment, or to simply lease it. This presents a clear advantage because the cost is much lower, and also adjusts exactly to a precise period of time, thus avoiding unnecessary expenses in terms of supplies, maintenance, etc.

As for the brands of equipment, the best brands are available from established suppliers, and can be leased and incorporated into the work dynamics to maintain a highly efficient team and at a considerably lower price than if it had to be purchased outright.

Hassle-free operation

Another advantage that is worth noting is that companies that are dedicated to the rental of photocopiers and printers have very good guarantees against different risks, and also are responsible for carrying out the corresponding maintenance tasks, so that this cost is also reduced and helps the business save money when taking advantage of leasing such equipment.

In this context, the rental of printing equipment perhaps constitutes a really specific solution for many small and medium-sized companies that, in principle, cannot afford to invest in new photocopiers or printers, but that can also serve as support during seasonal demand where the use of such equipment increases considerably.

Flexibility: exactly what your business needs, when you need it

In any case, the companies providing this service are highly reliable and respond promptly to any requirements by clients, whether in terms of equipment, brands or models. However, it is always advisable to act with a certain degree of foresight and be informed in order to negotiate the best possible leasing deal.

Companies that are dedicated to the rental or leasing of photocopiers and printers can offer personalized advice regarding the specific needs of any business, and only then present the optimal leasing solutions to cover them.

10 Considerations When Creating Packaging

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Packaging has a double function, that of storing or packing the product, and of being a ‘magnet’ that attracts the public through its image. These two functions must always be united if you want to have a space in the mind of the consumer and in the supermarket shelves.

Regarding packaging as another element of communication of the brand, according to one professional designer, “Advertising can be considered as the air force, but packaging is the infantry, and to take a hill you have to use it”. So, let’s look at some considerations to have a good infantry base.

  1. Characteristics of the product to be packaged

Normally the product can be presented in three physical states: liquid, solid or gas. According to the physical state of the product, you must consider the design of the container.

  1. Packaging process

The packaging will be designed depending also on the form of filling to which it will be subjected. The container must withstand pressure differences, as well as the vacuum, the internal pressure of the product subjected to thermal processing and external pressures, etc. The packaging design must take into account the tolerances and movements or vibrations during or after packaging.

  1. Anticipated shelf life of the product

The shelf life should be considered as the time that a certain product should remain with the original quality characteristics with which it was launched on the market. For this you will have to consider aspects such as its weight, shape, size, colour as well as the material of the container.

  1. Product-package compatibility

It is essential that the necessary tests are carried out with the materials that have been chosen and the conditions that the container and the product will be subjected to.

  1. Handling and application of the product

You must ensure that the effort required in unpacking and application of the product is as simple as possible for the user.

  1. Consumer market

You need to take into account the market to which the product is directed, as well as the positioning that you want to have in the market; therefore, the packaging must also be consistent with that objective, as well as with the “philosophy” of your product. Packaging materials will differ when you are targeting a market in which saving is fundamental compared to when you are designing a container for a luxury product, such as perfume.

  1. Selection of the optimal size

The size and shape of the container can be decisive in the choice of your product by the consumer. Studying those products that are directly your competitors and knowing the way in which they are presented is fundamental to determining your own packaging presence.

  1. Printing and labelling process

It is necessary to consider how the printing and labelling of the product will be carried out when you start to work on different design options. Perhaps you will need to eliminate some aspects of your design or modify them in favour of a more optimal printing and labelling process.

  1. Quality is important in the marketing approach

Current markets are characterised by two aspects: a very competitive offer and the growing awareness of consumers about the quality of products. Quality, from the point of view of packaging, has two elements to consider:

  • The quality of the product, referring to the materials and manufacturing processes of the container.
  • And the quality of the service / use; the correct operation of the container as well as a fair and competitive price.
  1. Ecological impact

When designing a container, you must take into account the ecological consequences of it, through the choice of material, manufacturing processes, life after use, reuse or recycling. The design of containers is increasingly important in terms of sustainability of the same with respect to the environment and trying to reduce the negative impact that your activity and products can have on the environment. It is essential that you consider an ecological design, efficient consumption of natural resources, and that waste can be managed well by recycling or reusing it.

So, there are 10 tips to consider when creating packaging for your business and product. Incorporate these suggestions and you will be heading in the right direction of your business!