matterlogic blog

Buying a house is the most expensive thing most people will ever do. Almost 70% of Americans now own their own homes, and that is an all time high. But the commitment to buying a home is a great one; the payment schedule can run as long as forty years, the interest charges will exceed the cost of the house itself and the payments need to be made each and every month. It is no wonder that people who finally pay off their mortgages often throw parties to celebrate.
And while this commitment is a long one, it doesn’t have to be as long as you think. The mortgage document may say that the term of the loan is thirty or forty years, but there is nothing to prevent you or any other homeowner from paying it off sooner. True, most Americans are already paying as much as they can for their houses, but it really isn’t all that hard to cut several years off of the life of the home loan. All it takes is a little bit extra each month.
The typical amortization schedule for a home loan provides for an even number of payments that consist of an identical sum of money each month. But the size of the payment is misleading. Each payment consists partly of mortgage principal, partly of interest, and partly of taxes. In the early years of the mortgage, most of the payment is interest, with only a small portion being applied to the principal. In later years, when most of the interest has been already paid, a larger portion of the payment will apply to the principal.
By adding just a little bit to your payment each month, such as $20 or $50, the term of the mortgage can be reduced quite a bit. As the principal is reduced, so is the interest that is due on the remaining balance. This compounds over time, reducing the overall time of repayment. An extra $50 each month on a $200,000 mortgage at 6.5%, for example, will cut more than three years off of the repayment schedule. Even an extra $20 on the same loan would cut 16 months off of the loan and save more than $14,000 in interest.
Don’t think that you cannot pay off your mortgage sooner just because you don’t have a lot of extra money. It only takes a little bit to make a difference.

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Writing a good resume cover letter is something you should seriously consider when preparing to send off your resume to potential employers.
Here are seven important cover letter writing tips:

Address the individual by name. If you don’t know their name then use: “Dear Sir or Madam” or “Dear Human Resources Director”.
Attract attention with a strong opening paragraph. Create impact. Give them a reason to keep reading about you.
Refer to your enclosed resume. Be specific in describing your skills, experience and accomplishments. Use actual examples of things you’ve done.
Let the employer know what you can do for them. What can you bring to their organization?
Keep the letter’s tone of voice positive and professional. Be persuasive but don’t come off like a cheap used car salesman. Remember to ask for the interview!
Double check your spelling, grammar, and sentence structure. Have someone proofread the letter.
Sign your letter and keep a copy for your files.

Writing a strong cover letter will help you (and your resume) stand out from the crowd. Hopefully, your cover letter will give employers a reason to pick up the phone and invite you to that all-important job interview.

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There is a struggle for power and everybody is involved. Everybody is doing everything in his power, at times even over set limits, to extend what he currently have.
Why?
It is commonly believed that we can only enjoy things that we control. Because of that, we want more power so that we can exercise more control over things.
That is the truth — a half of it.
Some people take advantage of others to advance their own agenda. Others in their way to success lead in their train people who have their own share of the success as well.
Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)
That is the other half.
If you share the power that is in your stead, people will allow you to influence their lives more. You will end up having more control.
You didn’t have it because you are pulling the strings behind the scenes but because people do willingly submit themselves under your authority. It’s no longer because they have to, but because they want to.
Why would they do that?
They understand that you value their success as much as our own.

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Five must-ask questions
(NC)-Beware of estate planners charging little or nothing to draft your estate plan. They are likely earning a commission on the investment products they recommend - which could compromise the objectivity of their advice. And note that competent estate planners should offer a holistic approach to estate planning. That is, an objective and skillful adviser provides more than investment strategies or financial planning advice.
When looking for the right estate planning adviser, consider these key questions:

What is your previous estate planning experience and have you worked with clients like me?
Do you have in-depth knowledge of relevant legislation such as income tax law, provincial family law and probate acts?
How do you set your fees? Do you sell life insurance, mutual funds or other investment products?
I would like to set time lines and how can you help me meet those deadlines?
Can you refer me to other professionals, as needed, such as a lawyer or an accountant?

For more information, visit www.GrantThornton.ca. Grant Thornton LLP is a leading Canadian firm of chartered accountants and management consultants.

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I am going to begin this article by sharing a shocking fact….
Did you know that if you opened the door on every single budgie cage around the world (and we are talking a lot of cages here…) fewer than 5% of our imprisoned feathered friends would actually embrace the window of opportunity provided and fly away!
Hard to believe I know.
Most would choose to do exactly what they’ve always done. Spend a bit of time moping around on the swing, maybe the odd moment glancing into the mirror and the rest of the time keeping a close eye on the rise and fall of the bird seed.
I bet you could just imagine the dialogue being squawked around the enclosure as well. Chances are you’d hear priceless banter such as
‘There is no such thing as being as free as bird….squawk’
or ‘Those sparrows have all the luck…squawk, squawk’
or from the really disgruntled budgies….
‘it’s all my parents fault that I was born inside a cage….squawk, squawk, squawk!’
So what has this got to do with leaving your job and starting up your own business I hear you ask?
Your Cage Door is Always Open!
Well the most important thing for you to realise is that the door of your employee cage is always open. Whether you stay or whether you fly away is completely your own choice. It has nothing to do with your boss, nothing to do with your irritating co-workers, customers or suppliers and everything to do with you.
You have to accept responsibility! This will not only make you feel a lot happier and more empowered, it will also provide you with the seeds of your great escape.
Start Taking Day Trips Outside of Your Cage!
If you have made the decision that you would like to leave the confines of paid employment, experiment with leaving your cage on day trips. Don’t worry, you don’t have to fly off for good just yet!
Take a day off here and there (a sick day if you have to!) to experience what it would be like to be your own boss for a day or two! Spend time planning your new business venture and start taking the small steps necessary to make it a reality.
Experiment with the piece of mind that you can always return to the safety of your cage, bird seed and water at the end of the day.
Make the Decision to Leave Your Cage for Good!
Return to bird seed I hear you cry! But I’ve just spent the entire day eating these delicious, wriggling worms that I pulled out of the ground all by myself!
Chances are when you start to experience how good it feels on the outside you are not going to want to go back to your old way of life as an employee! If this is true for you, start making bigger plans that will help you leave your employment cage for good.
Freedom is a mindset!
It is important to understand that Freedom is a mindset. As soon as you make the decision to be free you will be.
Similarly, it is important to understand that being an entrepreneur is also a mindset.
If you make intelligent use of your free time, find a hungry market for your good or service and develop the confidence necessary to go out on your own, soon you’ll flying, singing and eating worms to your hearts content.
Copyright Damien Senn 2005. All rights reserved.

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Shopping for the best bad credit loan? Then you know it can be time consuming and frustrating. But there are several lenders who offer financing for people with bad credit if you know where to look.
First, you must realize that bad credit interest rates are always higher than for someone with a good credit rating. That doesn’t mean you can’t shop and compare rates and terms to get the best bad credit loan.
It’s always important to do your research before you accept because it could save you a great deal of money. Here are a few places to help you with your search so you’ll end up with the best bad credit loan possible.
Bad Credit Bank Loan
Not all banks are open to financing for people with bad credit but some are. This is especially true if you have current accounts with the bank now and have been a regular customer.
A bad credit bank loan is the best place to start because you are already doing business with them. That gives you better leverage with their loan agents because they may feel because you are already a customer you may repay the loan better.
Lending Company Loan
The main advantage of going to a lending company for a loan is they deal with people with bad credit on a regular basis. Even though a lending company will have higher bad credit interest rates than banks, their loan acceptance rate is considerably higher.
Bad Credit Loan Online
A popular alternative to a bad credit bank loan or going to a lending company for a loan is a bad credit loan online. These bad credit money lenders offer you loan services from the convenience of your computer.
Many online bad credit money lenders offer financing for people with bad credit or any kind of credit. Some of these online lenders have more competitive interest rates and terms because of a low overhead.
Each lender has their own specific interest rates and terms so that’s why it’s important to shop and compare. Half the battle is knowing where to find financing for people with bad credit.
Hopefully we have shed some light in that area for you so you will end up with the best bad credit loan possible.

Copyright andcopy; 2005 Credit-Repair-Facts.com All Rights Reserved.

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When another person succeeds in using your credit information to commit credit fraud, it can cause a lot of hassle in your life. So how do you protect yourself.
Here are a few tips on how to avoid becoming the victim of this type of crime.
Periodically review your credit reports. Order your credit report from each of them at least once a year.
Properly discard documents. Cut up, shred or otherwise destroy credit card statements, credit card receipts, bank statements, preapproved credit offers or any other documents that contain personal information.
Limit identification pieces. Carry only essential identification pieces in your purse or wallet, backpack or car. Do not carry your Social Security card or your birth certificate with you unless absolutely necessary.
Limit the number of credit cards you carry. Try to only carry one or two.
Memorize your PIN and password numbers. Do not write them down.
Make and keep copies of credit account and bank account numbers in a secure place.
Guard your personal information. Don’t give out credit card or Social Security numbers to people you don’t know.
Do not have your Social Security number printed on your checks or driver’s license.

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It’s easy to find a real estate agent. Just put a for sale sign in the yard and wait for the phone to ring. The question is, how do you find a GOOD real estate agent? You can start with newspaper.
Pick up the Saturday or Sunday paper - whichever day they have all the homes for sale in your area. You can also collect a few real estate guides to look through. Browse the listings to find properties similar to yours. If you are selling a cabin, you want to look for cabins for sale. If you are selling a lakefront mansion, look for those.
When you find similar properties, note the names and numbers of the agents that are selling them. The idea here is to find a real estate agent that has experience with your type of property. An agent that has all the million dollar homes may not be the best to sell your mobile home, for example. You want agents that have sold or are selling several properties like yours.
What To Ask A Real Estate Agent
1. When you call the agents - and it’s best to call several - you want to verify that they do have experience selling properties like yours. Ask for examples.
2. Ask what they do to market a property. Any agent can place an ad and put your home in the multiple listings. Do they have existing leads - people looking for properties like yours? Do they let other agents know about your property?
3. Do they show their listings very often? Many agents just list real estate for sale and let others sell it for them. It’s more profitable for them, but not for you. If they are a good salesperson, you want them to be going through the house with potential buyers.
4. Do they do their own closings? Again, it may be better for them to delegate this part of the process, but it isn’t better for you. You want the same person to be there through the whole process. You want one person to call. Things go wrong all the time in real estate, so don’t complicate it further by having more people involved.
Most real estate agents will probably argue these points. That’s okay, but be aware that there are other things they won’t tell you too. For example, did you know that open houses are primarily a prospecting tool for real estate agents? In fact, new agents (not the listing agent) are often given the job of hosting your open house, so they can find buyers to work with. It isn’t expected that they will sell your house in the process.
Also understand that when you see ads for homes for sale, and they don’t have prices, it is a prospecting technique. When that buyer looking for a $100,000 home calls on your $300,000 home, the agent isn’t going to make him able to afford your home. The whole point was to get him to call so he could sell him ANY home. Meanwhile, other potential buyers for your home skipped over the ad - there are enough homes WITH prices to look at (insist that ads for your property have the price listed).
Trust your intuition when choosing an agent. If you don’t feel comfortable with an agent, it’s possible potential buyers won’t either. And ask the right questions. You don’t just want to find a real estate agent you like. You want to find the right agent for your property.

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Foreign exchange trading is the trading of currencies. Most currencies can be traded. Huge amounts of currencies are traded 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. On average $1.9 trillion is traded a day. The most traded are United States Dollar, Japanese Yen, Euro, Canadian Dollar, British Pound Sterling, Australian Dollar and Swiss Franc.
Many brokers will let you open an account with a starting balance of just $250. Though that may seem small, remember you will be trading on margin. Your $250 investment may let you control $25,000. As with all investments there are risks so make sure you take the time to study the markets and your exposure before making your first trades. I highly recommend that you do some paper trades first to make sure you have understood how the markets work. No risk training, just write down the trades you would have done for real and chart the prices. Buy and sell and see if you have the right strategy before making real trades.
A fast internet connection will allow you to do forex trading online. Your broker will give you many online tools to allow you to study the markets: Real time quotes, news feeds…
Visit different broker’s websites and compare the services they offer. Some brokers give you the possibility to open demo accounts. Do so, to test their software and find the one you like best.
Before you start trading make sure that you have learnt the terminology: Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Order. You may find the definitions of these terms and more information at http://www.forex.value-guides.com/calc-forex.html Calculating Forex Profits And Losses.
All currencies have standard identifying code used worldwide, some examples are: EUR (European euros), GBP (United Kingdom pounds), AUD (Australian dollars). Of course you don’t have to know them all but it may be good to be able to recognize all the major currencies codes so that you will be able to make quick decisions.
To make sound evaluations, you need information. Follow carefully the world’s current events, economic and political news. You will be surprised to see how, what may seem to you as insignificant will cause the currencies markets to fluctuate wildly.

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As your son or daughter heads off to college, there are a lot of things that they will be learning about-and managing their finances is one lesson that needs to be taught before they pack their bags.
How students get into trouble
When college students are first living on their own, there is a lot of freedom that they are enjoying and learning to handle. They are flooded with credit card offers on campus that come with free t-shirts or CDs. And they think that a credit card is no big deal and something that will help them get the things that they want.
Unfortunately, credit card companies realize that college students aren’t all that knowledgeable about credit cards and capitalize on that, causing thousands of dollars in debt outside of school loans. But there are ways to teach your child how to handle a credit card.
Credit cards aren’t a bad thing
While it might seem like a simple solution to forbid credit cards entirely, this can also be an opportunity to teach your child how to handle their money. Start by applying for cards with both of your names on it and with a low limit. This allows both of you to have access to the card while also giving you a statement each month to see what the child is spending money on.
Budget out a limit for each month and then have your child pay that off or make it clear that they will pay it off during the following summer. This can teach a college student not to pay for things that they can not afford.
The best card will do this
The best student credit card will have a low limit that your child will need to watch in order to stay in a good credit standing. And they can use it to buy their school books safer than they could with cash.
And for emergencies, the card can be used to cover unexpected costs, but only when you have gone through a repayment plan to help them learn that money that is spent on a card needs to be repaid.
The best student credit card will also allow the student to gain rewards for their purchase, perhaps cash back or gas money for trips back home. even though they won’t be spending a lot on the card, it can help to see how credit cards can be used responsibly

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