0 10 Tips for Choosing Solar Power Solutions

You want to go green but it seems like a big headache? The good news is a reliable company like South Australia Electricity, can help you install rooftop solar panels, one of many other inventive ways to capture the infinite energy of the sun. In this way, you can reduce your power costs over the long term, help reduce global warming and energy pollution which comes from burning carbon base fuel. In fact, one in five households are utilizing some megawatt power to do everything from running their washing machines, dryers, their air conditioners, laptops and listening to music on their iPods. Here are ten tips you should consider when choosing a solar power provider:

• Your solar power provider should have a good understanding of electrical needs and energy-use patterns for your area, South Australia. If the power is in excess of the demand, then you will suffer spotty current or inconsistent electricity and this defeats the purpose of having a solar-powered system. While everyone wants to enjoy cleaner, greener energy, no one enjoys half-dried clothes or a black out in the middle of summer.
• Solar panel installation should be done by a professional to ensure that you are getting the most kilowatts per-hour as possible from the angle, elevation, and quality of your panels. This is called solar orientation. No matter where you live on the planet, the sun will always rise in the east and set in the west. However, in the northern hemisphere of the planet the sun will track differently than the southern hemisphere, so placing your panels in just the right way will make sure you get the most from your investment in solar energy. Experts in this field know how to install a system correctly. This can save you money and frustration later on.
• Also, licensed electrical engineers are the only capable on working on the interface of your solar energy system and your current electrical wiring. It stands to reason that quick installation is ideal, but without a good understanding of your electrical wiring specific to your hoe or business, you can end up with a mess.
• Perhaps this one should have been mentioned first, because everyone wants to save money when installing a solar power system. However, you should never sacrifice quality for a deep discount. You can count on a good company to provide a competitive price without price gouging their competitors just to get your business, and then installing an inferior system. Price matters, but be sure you are hiring quality installers.
• Photovoltaic technology is changing all the time. Make sure you are utilizing a company who installs the latest and greatest. Did you know, for example, that the cost of a solar panel is inverse to its performance sometimes? China has been pumping out solar panels and wind turbines, making the price per kilowatt per hour much less expensive due to global competition. Hence, there is also an advancement in technology these days about every six months or so. In just a decade, solar energy has gone from about 43 cents per kilowatt to about half that cost in some areas. Make sure your panels or solar system are the highest quality to reduce your long-term costs even more considerably.
• Consider utilizing solar energy to charge batteries and generator back-up power. This is especially important if you are using solar power for an RV or to heat a pool. But can also be wonderful in times of energy shortages, or in remote areas plugging into the electricity is not as easy or sometimes impossible. You can also utilize passive water heating as well, to lower your carbon footprint even more and reduce costs.
• Solar energy can be used for everything from powering a solar fountain in the style of Las Vegas hotels, accent a deck with solar lighting, or power your everyday energy needs for keeping warm or cool, cooking and cleaning. This being said, it is important to make sure you have enough kilowatts per your estimated usage on a consistent basis. Its great if you want to use passive energy for everything, but make sure you have installed a system that is big enough to handle it.
• Use solar energy to grow your own food. Australia is perpetually sunny, but you can use solar energy to run hydroponic systems that helps you grow nutritious organic food that can also help reduce your impact on the environment. If you haven't thought of putting solar panels on your greenhouse, you should consider it!
• If you are building a brand new home, it is often easier to integrate a solar system when starting from the ground up. So, start looking now, rather than after your home has already been built.
• Consider a back-up energy plan to solar power, such as wind. On average, solar can provide about 75% of homes energy needs but this can be increased to 100% with an integrated system.

4 What Should You Not Pay For After You Retire?

Life after retirement does change. And no matter how much you think you have saved up and along those lines, a little bit of restriction does tend to set in. This has to be a conscious effort because it’s a matter of changing your spending habits that have been cultivated over your entire working career. But it’s not going to be all that difficult. You can manage easily with some tiny lifestyle changes and availing senior citizen discounts.

Keep reading to know of things that can be struck off from your budget.

1. Expenditure on tax tools. There are a lot of tax counseling programs for the elderly that you can avail. The volunteers specialize in questions about retirement funds, pensions and general finance and tax related advice. So you need not pay for them.

2. Disability insurance can be reduced or totally stopped depending on if you are supplementing your income with a part time job or not. It makes sense to work part time because that will occupy you for some time of the day and you can save on the disability insurance payments.

3. This you may not like, but fine dining needs to go for a toss. Instead why don’t you check out how great you are in the kitchen! This is a great time to develop your culinary skills and impress the spouse and kids! Or instead of diners, try going out for lunch as many fine dining restaurants offer great discounts on lunch meals.

4. A second car after retirement is a bad idea especially as this will add on to your existing loans and EMIs, if any. Also, the ever mounting gasoline bills will only add to the financial burden.

5. Designer labels, well, the ones you already own can be decently maintained. Try and shop during the time stores announce deals or percentage off. You can even shop online using coupon codes only if the need arises. And for future make it only a need based purchase. However, you need to be careful while shopping online as you may be tempted to spend more than you require.

6. Health issues will crop up as you age. But eye exams you can score for free from the American Optometric Association through Vision USA. They may not be available in all areas and you have to go through an application program for this.

7. Then you need to watch your diet too. But that doesn’t mean some branded oats are healthier than the generic variety. Slow down on the brands and purchase stuff that gives you value for money. Make rounds of grocery stores that have offers running to save money. Try and collect coupons.
   
   
8. Try to meet your entertainment needs at home. Get Netflix and leech off it. You can also try to get some free passes to your favorite games and avail coupons and deals on the Internet.

9. You will have a lot of time now to increase your qualifications and take up courses purely out of interest. Many universities have open source programs through digital platforms that you can leverage.

10. And finally, cut down on your smoking and alcohol. They account for unnecessary expenditure and shorten your life span as well. So why the trouble!

These tips should get you started but what you actually manage to pull off is largely a question of self-discipline and will power. So plan your budget, make healthy adjustments to your lifestyle and you will be just fine.

Author Bio

Steve Dorrington is the best financial expert known when it comes to portfolio management. He has keen interest in merger and acquisition as he loves to explore the opportunities how different companies can expand.

2 Basic Money Savings Tips for Dummies

It is difficult to achieve peace of mind and quality of life if you are constantly struggling to save money and feel constant stress due to overwhelming debt. Starting small to achieve financial success is possible for anyone, no matter how small their income or how big their debt.
 

Cut down on your spending by clipping coupons for groceries and othe rpurchases. Even a 5 to 10 dollar savings per week adds up over time. Stop spending your money foolishly. If you are addicted to drinking expensive coffee from a coffeehouse enroute to work, invest in a gourmet creamer in a comparable flavor and an insulated coffee cup. Taking the coffee from home helps put money in your pocket and soon you may actually prefer the homemade version to the more expensive. Cutting corners in this way adds up to a large amount of extra money over time.

Make a budget that curtails frivolous spending for everyone in your family. Do not make the budget so rigid that there is no room for fun purchases. Allocate each person a small amount of cash to spend however he or she desires each week. If the individual has his heart set on a high price item, tell him that he then has to save his money until he has enough for the purchase. One of the most important categories in a budget is the savings account. Treat this just like a bill and if possible, have the money automatically deposited each time you receive a paycheck.

Concentrate on building an emergency savings account for car troubles, house repairs or other inevitable problems that pop up. Once you have the savings in place, you no longer have to resort to credit cards to pay for these money crunches. A wise amount for an emergency savings is about $1000. After building this type of savings, strive for a larger savings of 3 to 6 months of living expenses.

Pay the minimum on every credit card you have each month to avoid late fees. Choose the credit card with the lowest balance to pay any extra cash you have on hand on each month. Soon the balance will be zero and you can take the money you were paying on that credit card and apply it to another one. Following this method steadily and consistently enables you to pay off the credit cards. It also enables you to avoid the high interest rates on these accounts. Never buy a new car unless you can pay cash for it. If you need a relatively new car because you transport clients or drive long distances to work, purchase one that is at least two years old. Once you drive a brand new car off the dealer parking lot, the value diminishes rapidly.

Save up so that you have a hefty down payment for a house. The bigger the down payment is, the less your mortgage payments will be each month. Make it a goal to have enough of a down payment so that you don’t have to buy private mortgage insurance – or PMI. This protects the lender against default if the homeowner does not make the payments. This type of insurance is costly. In most states if you put down 20 percent or more on your home, you are not required to have the PMI. In addition, purchase a home that you can easily afford on one salary is you and your spouse both work. This prevents unhealthy financial stress if one of you is laid off, fired or disabled.

7 Auto Insurance Quotes - Various Things to Be Considered Before Taking the Policy

Insuring your valuables is the need of the hour as there is no guarantee of any safe future. It saves your money and gives you a helping hand in the time of financial need. Auto insurance also provides safety towards any hindrance to your vehicle due to man-made or natural calamities. It gives monetary aid to mend or get back your vehicle if any damage has happened while on the road till the duration of the policy.

There are many banks and insurance companies providing numerous kinds of policies for their customers. In many states auto insurances have become a mandatory at the time of buying vehicle. The vehicle dealers in collaboration with a reputable policy firm insert the insurance along with the vehicle papers. Sometimes the annual premium amount of the policy is given as a bonus point to the buyer of the vehicle.

While buying auto coverage you have to consider many points before signing the forms. The most valuable point to be covered is the amount of the premium. Different firms generate various quotes and to select the most suitable among them, your budget and needs has to be considered.

The points on which the amount of insurance depends:

• The manufacturing year of the vehicle.
• The model of the car.
• IDV of the vehicle.
• Cubic capacity of the vehicle.

Some of the kinds of coverage formatted for vehicle insurance:

• Comprehensive or damage coverage: this policy covers all the damage occurred due to natural factors like earthquakes, storms and floods. Man-made destruction like theft of the vehicle or vandalism.
• Collision coverage: collision with another vehicle or in case of rollover of the vehicle, the damage done gets paid by the companies.
• Personal accident policy: in case of a road accident, medical bill of the insurance holder is paid by the insurer.

The modes of buying the policy are numerous, but online purchase has many added benefits. Many companies have devised their own websites, which are safe and quite easy to deal. Their customers can gain a lot of information as per their convenience. Insurance firms give the detailed format of the policies they have introduced.

Online buying is cost effective and sometimes there are additional bonuses of getting a concession in some of the policies. Auto insurance can be easily acquired by going through all the sites of well known firms and banks. Your valuable time will be saved and you can get a well planned policy by browsing through all of them.

Before taking the positive step, there are some features which have to be studied minutely such as the term period, the added benefits and finally the quotation or the premium amount to buy the coverage of your favorite vehicle.

Precautions to be taken while signing the policy:

Taking on short term policy will be beneficial if you are in a habit of selling your vehicle often. Long term coverage saves a few dollars on your premium amount. Try to look for a policy that covers the main important plans connected with it.

There is a tool available on websites, which can be used as a calculator to compare the quotes of different companies. This online gadget will help you to find a perfect solution that suits your budget. You just have to feed the information about your vehicle and it will display the perfect figure of your premium.

Online purchase would safeguard you from cunning agents, who may dupe you by giving non selling plans for their own benefit. The insurance quotes given on the website are never faulty and will give you the best answer to your confused mind while buying auto policies.

Author's Bio:

Kris has been working for one of the best insurance company in Austin. He also writes about how people can make smart buying choices with the help of free insurance quotes.

3 How Can Bad Credit Personal Loans Help You in Achieving a Better Future

Low credit scores are not uncommon today. Millions of people have had their scores cut down for no fault of theirs. This means securing loans has become more and more difficult through traditional financial institutions. Given this scenario, there is an emerging class of lenders who provide loans with little to no requirements of collateral. 

These kinds of loans are called unsecured loans, and they have gained immense popularity among Americans in the last 5 years. There are many reasons why a bad credit personal loan will help you better than the secured ones. For one thing, you don’t have banks knocking on your door or phoning you every few days, or threatening to take away your assets. 

Interest rates

Before the current economic depression, the interest rates for unsecured loans were usually very high. Due to number of people opting for these loans, the rates have now come down. They are still much higher than interest rates for traditional secured loans. The primary reason for this is that the lenders have very little security, other than your promise to repay the loans. 

As a practical measure, the lenders will want to recover the loan amount as quickly as possible. History suggests that people with lower credit scores are more likely to default on their payments. The higher interest rates allow lenders to get their loan amount back in a shorter time frame. This is not a bad thing and it is the lending company’s way of compensating for the risks it takes. 

Features of unsecured loans

The nature of bad credit loans varies wildly from one state to another, but there are a few features common to all unsecured loans in general:

• They don’t need you to provide collateral security
• The maximum amount you can borrow for such loans is lower, typically up to $5000
• The time period to repay the loans is also shorter (6 years maximum)
• Terms of repayment are flexible compared to secured loans
• Your credit score is not very important for getting loans

Getting bad credit loans

Previously, there were very few lenders willing to risk approving loans without security. However, because the situation is so common now, and since many companies have sprung up, they are ready to lend money in the face of poor credit scores. They know that the economy is slowly improving and that credit scores will gradually improve.

Most unsecured loan providers now provide application forms on their websites. It is therefore possible to secure loans from a company in another state. Typically, you need to fill a form on their website, by giving all the necessary details to the company. It is then processed before it can be approved. There is still no guarantee that the loan will be approved.

Lately, the chances of getting unsecured loans approved are much higher, because so many people are opting for them. In fact, multiple loan companies are competing for your attention, and they routinely come up with very good interest rates and reasonable terms. 

Be careful

Now that you can get unsecured loans easily, it doesn’t mean that you should burden yourself with many such loans. 

Here are a few guidelines:

• Calculate the amount that you are sure you will be repaying, and only borrow according to your pressing financial needs.
• You can use unsecured loans for funding your child’s education, consolidating your loans, managing your monthly expenses, getting a new car, etc.
• Only get unsecured loans from known and verified companies

Overall, there was never a better time than now to get unsecured loans. They are your answers to a lot of financial troubles. Use bad credit personal loans to get through this difficult period of time, so you can breathe easy in future. 

Author's Bio:

Kevin is a financial expert and he also likes to write on topics related to finance. You might want to check out his post on bad credit personal loans, where he explains about the things that are needed for getting the loans approved.

4 Choosing the Right Indicator for your Binary Options Trading

Binary options come in different shapes and sizes. It is possible to trade commodities, stocks, indices and currencies. It is possible to trade over a week, a day, 2 hours, 30 minutes, 15 minutes or even 60 seconds. The information that is needed to have predictive accuracy is different for each trading scenario. Essentially though Binary Options are simple. You either predict that the direction of a price will go up or down. Indicators can eliminate the need to spend hours doing technical analysis to understand the current trends, and likely future trends. Or they can be used as a small part of an overall strategy. The right indicator is all about the strategy.

What successful traders tend to do is develop a strategy for a particular scenario type. For example, they may trade a certain stock with thirty-minute expiries. They may use indicators to point them to the fact that a bullish or bearish trend is likely to continue. This same indicator would probably not be relevant for a 60 second trend as the fluctuations are too unpredictable. Indeed, most serious traders tend to stay away form the 60-second trades. 

 

There are many indicator services available on the market. Some profess amazing success rates. At the end of the day they are all after your subscription and you should be wary of overinflated claims. Choose an indicator service that has a long history of success, check forums and find out what others are using, and read reviews. If an indicator service is going to be an important part of your analysis strategy you should vet thoroughly and then test it repeatedly. Good service providers will offer a trial to demonstrate their proficiency.

It is important to take a balanced view of indicator services. They can add value to your trading, save you time and improve your success rate. However, you should understand your technical and fundamental analysis and not rely on an outside service too much. Many people that are new to binary options are looking for the magic solution. In reality trading successfully and consistently is about using indicators for trends, moving averages, economic indicators to inform your understanding and help you reach a level where you have predictive power on an ongoing basis. 

 

Indeed, the right indicator is the one that provides you with information to make a successful trade. Often traders will use indicators to confirm something they already suspect. Trading successfully is about going through a process. Being confident that a price is going to go a certain way may involve doing ones own technical and fundamental analysis, reading reviews from others and then checking indicators to see whether they corroborate what you suspect. For some traders the indicator service information has the power of veto but is not used for initial predictive insight.

So the right indicator is dependent on the personality of the trade and the strategy adopted. Getting an edge in binary options trading is not easy. Use indicators wisely and understand your traded assets better than others and you have a strong likelihood of ongoing success.

About the author:

Eleonora Marchetti is an expert on financial markets specializing in foreign exchange and trading in binary options. An honorary graduate of the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Italy, she provides consultation services to various economic powerhouses, including the globally renowned binary options trading firm, Banc De Binary.

5 8 Cars with Lower Insurance Rates

Are you looking for a car that is inexpensive to insure? There are a number of autos out there that will not cost an arm and a leg in car insurance. An auto is an expensive item, and it can be costly to keep it properly insured. Listed below are 8 vehicles that are less expensive when it comes to yearly insurance rates.

Keep in mind when shopping for a new car that SUVs and crossovers seem to be tops in 2013 for lower insurance premiums. Not all that long ago, minivans were the least expensive to insure, but that may now be changing. Insurance companies also take into consideration the age and gender of the driver, the type of driving record that is involved, and even the part of the country where the driver lives. You will also pay more for auto insurance if you are driving a luxury car that is very expensive to repair.

1. Ford Edge SE

The Edge just may be one of the cheapest vehicles to insure, and it also happens to be a very dependable car to drive.

2. Subaru Outback 3.6R

The 3.6R is not only less expensive to insure, it also has a number of features that can be added for driving enjoyment.

3. Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium

This particular Subaru model is cheaper than the 3.6R by over $3,000. It is a good vehicle for those who do a great deal of driving since it provides good gas mileage.

4. Kia Sportage

The Sportage has received high safety ratings and may be a good choice for families with small children. If you have youngsters, you might want to consider a vehicle that will cost less to insure and also provide a safe, dependable drive.

5. Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

The Laredo may be a bit more expensive to purchase, but it will be a money-saver over the years when it comes to yearly insurance premiums.

6. Hyundai Tucson GLS

The GLS is somewhat more expensive than Hyundai's Tucson GL, but the vehicle does give the owner the option of adding features that cannot be added to the GL.

7. Jeep Patriot Sport

Of all the Jeep models, the Patriot Sport is the least expensive to purchase. It also gets good gas mileage. These benefits along with cheaper insurance premiums make it a good choice if you are in the market for a new vehicle.

8. Chevrolet Express 1500

If you are looking for a commercial van for your business that will also be cheaper to insure, this model may fit the bill. With an eight-cylinder engine, it can easily accommodate heavy loads. It pays to have a commercial vehicle that will not eat up your business profits with high yearly insurance premiums.

These eight vehicles are all on the list for lower insurance rates. If you are searching for a vehicle that will not be too expensive to insure, you might want to consider one that is mentioned above.

Authors Bio: Melanie Lewis writes for a site that has a useful car purchase calculator to help buyers determine the monthly cost of buying a new vehicle.

4 Keep Your Cashflow Positive – Analysis of Business Finance

You’ve heard it before. Money is the life blood of all business and commerce, whether locally or globally. Therefore, we must not only safeguard our current revenue streams, but understand the simplest solution to opening them up to new possibilities. This could mean the difference between making payroll, keeping the doors open, or shutting down your business permanently. 

Revenue and Profit are two different animals

We see this today with Amazon. They have incredible revenues but their margins are super tight, which makes their profitability significantly less than Apple, but they are playing for the future and can do so because their revenues are exceeding expenses. Even when you are investing in your business, it’s important never to over extend your reach; this means credit should only be used when your business needs to get to market, and will have near guaranteed returns. It’s always best to use cash on hand, and be more liquid than relying on future earnings.

You are losing out on Revenue

Most businesses today don’t make it convenient for the shopper to pay, whether through credit card, moneybookers, Paypal, or other types of payments. You still see signs of “cash only” in 2013, where digital money is becoming the dominant player; as a business man or woman you need to position yourself to capture this lost cash flow. With credit cards and now mobile secure payments, consumers now not only expect every option, they simply demand it. Even if it’s one out of 100 customers, that 1% can mean the difference between expanding, and playing it safe (which according to Seth Godin of Squidoo is a death sentence – you have to dare to be brave and expand, but that requires cash flow).

Research and development Business expansion

If your business isn’t moving forward, it’s moving backward. If your cashflow is barely meeting your expenses, then you won’t be able to see far into the future. Like a chess player, you have to think 15 moves ahead to be a grand master in your industry. With stress, mounting bills, and a stifling money supply, you will think and act as a Pawn, rather than the King / visionary you need to become.

Attracting the Best Partners and Employees

People are proud to work at Google, Facebook, Amazon, eBay, and other major brands that represent a healthy business, with great solvency and liquid assets. If your company isn’t reporting revenues that exceed expenses (don’t cook the books!) then you will scare off the best young talent pool graduating from college, or leaving other companies. Instead, you will be the company they leave to go to a larger, more credible company. Don’t become the starter business for someone to pad their resume; take charge, literally, evaluate what your competitors are doing to remain profitable, and see where you are leaving money on the table. It’s also important to slash unnecessary spending, but most businesses focus on cutting vs growing, which is a recipe for disaster.

Author's Bio: Matt Anton writes on many business and finance topics. He relies on http://merchantaccount.co/ to process payments at the best rates possible.