A Unique Tool For Your Financial Future?

The idea of ​​a company pension a thing of the past, even a government or union pension is no sure thing. The problem is that we are awash in debt. We have been spending more than we take in for decades. Our current economic plan is unsustainable. If you are counting on Social Security, then you are really living on the edge. It is no secret that Congress spent that money a long time ago. No matter where you look, the American economic system is living on borrowed time.

When we finally tip into the abyss is anyone's guess. I am not a fortune-teller, but I can tell you what will happen when we finally figure out nation is broke. The dollar will collapse it will soon be worthless overnight. There are plenty of historical examples of this happening. Argentina is a recent reminder of the catastrous repercussions of a sovereign default. The stock market will collapse. Imagine what it will be like if everyone wants their money out of stocks at the same time.

I can draw up a dozen plausible theories that can explain why we are heading towards an economic meltdown. How it happens is largely irrelevant. What matters are the steps that you take before the crash. What assets will be worth anything in a panic?

Some people like Gold as a hedge against chaos. I also like Gold, but is it really that useful? Gold is a potential substitute for cash. The problem with Gold is that it does not produce an income by itself. Gold will go up and down in value relative to any fiat currency, but it does not produce value.

I favor real estate as an investment. Real estate has created more millionaires than any other investment in American history. Real estate markets will go up and down just like any other investment. Where real estate outpaces other investments is that it produces an income without being consumed. You can own a rental house for decades and it will still be there producing cash. You can leverage your money to increase your purchasing power. All you need to buy real estate is a down payment not the entire amount. No other asset class combines the safety and long-term potential of real estate.

I am worried about the future of America. I am concerned for the future of my family. When I combined these two thoughts I started to look at real estate outside of the US market. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. There are a number of jurisprudence where the legal structure supports foreign ownership. I suggest that you look into buying property overseas as part of your retirement plan.

What to Look for in an Auto Body Shop

Without knowing what to look for, choosing a quality auto body shop is tough. It's important to select the right auto shop to ensure the vehicle is fixed correctly the first time. It's also the best way to make sure the shop is honest and reliable. There are many important features of a good shop, including an experienced staff and certificates. It can also help to read customer reviews before making a selection.

A Certified Shop

A good body shop is certified by the largest auto organization. Facilities that gain the approval of the organization have proven their abilities as certification is often a lengthy process. To become approved, an auto shop must demonstrate it has the latest equipment, qualified technicians and a proper facility. It must also show it offers above average training to its employees. Larger associations always collect feedback from prior customers as well before issuing an approval. Auto shops can also receive certification from parts manufacturers and organizations like Autobody Alliance, which requires the shop to meet certain qualifications.

Qualified and Experienced Staff

A good auto body shop has qualified staff with a number of certificates. Certification from ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) is especially important. ASE is a non-profit organization that offers certificates to automobile technicians that show proficiency in their trade. Technicians may also have certification from car manufacturers like GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Nissan, showing their knowledge and experience dealing with particular car brands. Some auto technicians also receive aftermarket training from Bendix, Moog, or NAPA. Most training requires a great deal of knowledge and experience and demonstrates a technician is a professional in their field.

Positive Customer Reviews

When possible, former clients should be consulted about their experience with the shop. Some resources to find reviews are online, making it easy to decide if a body shop has good feedback from the public. Reviews should mention that the vehicle was properly fixed the first time and work was completed in a timely fashion. Positive reviews should also discuss whether a warranty was offered by the body shop and if the facility was clean and orderly. A facility that has the approval of a large automobile association has shown a history of positive feedback from customers, although it's always a good idea to check into a shop as much as possible.

Accepts All Insurance

Another important aspect of a good body shop is its acceptance of all forms on insurance. An auto body shop that accepts all insurance providers underscores it has experience working with insurance companies to settle claims quickly. A shop that is hesitant to accept major insurance providers is a red flag that something may be wrong. This is also a matter of convenience and makes it easier for the vehicle owner to select a shop they feel comfortable with.

Selecting the right auto body shop requires a bit of patience and consideration. For example, choosing the first shop available can be a disaster if the employees are not trained properly. A good auto shop is clean and up-to-date with a friendly and knowledgeable staff. The shop should have positive reviews and a range of certificates for both the facility and technicians. It should also accept all forms of insurance, making repairs easy and convenient.

Are You Paying Too Much Council Tax? How To Check And Claim A Refund!

PPI claims management firms have found a new money making spinner through identifying homes which are in the wrong council tax band and offering to make a claim on their behalf. These firms identify potential clients by looking to see if any homes on the same street pay more than their neighbors do. They then cold call the identified properties and offer to make a claim for a full refund for all the years of over-payment, as well as get them a reduction on future council tax bills. This service is usually around 30% of any money claimed.

One lady was recently contacted by one of these claims management firms and discovered that she and her neighbor were both in a higher tax band than the other properties on their street and could qualify for a full refund. She decided to hire the claims firm and as a result got an £ 800 refund! She paid the firm £ 300 as payment for processing her claim and now pays £ 10 less council tax each month. Her neighbor however decided to investigate how she could claim the money herself and discovered the process was in fact not too complicated. She also managed to get a full refund but retained 100% of the money she claimed!

How does it all work?

Every home in the United Kingdom is assigned to a specific valuation band, known as council tax which is managed by the Valuation Office Agency. The cheapest bands are assigned an 'A' grading rising incrementally with the most expensive homes being assigned to the 'I' band.

For homes based in Scotland and England the valuation band is designated by what the property was worth in 1991, not what the property is valued in today's market. However if you stay in Wales your tax band is assigned using the market value price of 2003.

So, if you suspect you may be in the wrong tax band and as a result are paying too much council tax, simply see what your neighbors are paying. If you find there is a difference in price but a similarity in property then it could well be you are in for a refund.

Visit 'voa.gov.uk' to see what band your neighbors have been assigned, if indeed there is a difference contact an agent at the Valuation Office Agency and ask them to investigate your claim. You will have to fill in paperwork, but you are capable of doing this yourself, you do not need a claims management company, meaning you get to keep 100% not just 70%.

You will usually have to wait up to 30 days for your claim to be investigated, but if the Valuation Office Agency agreements that an error has been made then your band will be changed. The service is free, not only could you get a nice lump sum but you'll also save on your future council tax bills.

How Businesses Can Save Costs With a Vehicle Tracking System

Saving Money with a GPS Vehicle Tracking System

With businesses such as taxi firms or with companies that conduct many door-to-door deliveries, a vehicle tracking system is essential for keeping track of all outgoing business. These systems allow employers to see their fleet of business vehicles, giving them a detailed overview of the day's business operations from a geographical perspective. This allows employers to see when employees are taking unscheduled breaks or stops, to know quickly if there is a problem such as a break down or traffic jam and to ensure that employees are driving safely and legally. It is proven that if an employee knows he / she is being watched, even by something as simple as a vehicle tracking system, he / she is less likely to break company rules or the rules of the road, lessening the likelihood of a crash that could seriously damage the vehicle and severely impact the business of the day.

But a modern vehicle tracking system is not just about keeping tabs on employees driving company vehicles. Many modern GPS systems are built with fuel economy in mind and calculate the most economic route based on all of the business operations that need to be carried out that day. Likewise, the system can also detect reported traffic gridlock or roadworks that may slow down a vehicle's progress and, if necessary, calculate a quick route around the obstacle. Another aspect of the modern vehicle tracker is its ability to deal with the fleet of vehicles as whole, as well as individuals. Should one vehicle break down, the system can easily work out which vehicle is best placed to take on that particular vehicle's daily tasks.

A vehicle tracking system can also help a company save on its long-term costs. By monitoring the habits of the drivers in company vehicles, the system is able to detect any habits (such as breaking too hard, for example) that may be detrimental to the health of the vehicle and can notify the employer. This means that an employer can actively inform the driver of these bad habits and ask them to stop early on. While this may not seem like much, over a long period of time these bad habits can seriously affect the overall health of the vehicle, resulting in extra vehicle repair costs. Tracker systems can help employers foresee these future problems and help to actively combat them.

Taking Online Surveys for Money

So you want to make money online but do not know where to get started. That is understandable since there are so many different ways to make money online. You can get paralleled by the different offers coming at you. One of the quickest and easiest ways to make money online is by taking surveys online. A lot of surveys pay money and others offer prizes like electronic devices that are nice to have (or sell). This idea sounds too good to be true to a lot of people because you do not understand why companies would pay you for your opinions.

Even if you do not really understand it your opinions are important and very valuable to many companies. In trying to appeal to a specific demographic they may ask you about your age, and spending habits. They may want to know what TV shows you watch and what type of music you prefer. All of this is very important to a company trying to reach and appeal to other people just like you.

Taking surveys online for money is easy once you locate a group that can provide you with surveys that are a good fit for you to take. There is no sense in you taking a survey about cross bows if you have never fired a cross bow in your life. However, if you are really into cross bows then they would love to hear from you and get your opinions about cross bow products. So make sure you are qualified to take the survey.

What sort of surveys should I take? That's a question many people ask. Again, it comes down to what you have experience with. Are you a car nut? Do you like motorcycles? If you are an enthusiast in some area that is a good place to start. Always try to take surveys about things that really interest you. It will make the survey taking job seem easier and it will probably help your income as well.

Taking surveys online is not something that most people can make a living at. However, you can make some good supplemental income if you work at it. As you gain experience you will learn how to qualify for the larger paying surveys and get yourself invited to focus groups etc. where you can earn a few hundred dollars for a few hours of your time talking. So look at this as any job or skill and start out slow but continuously work your way up.

Understanding the Different End-Uses of Steel

Steel is often referred to as a commodity product. Although recognized as a material with a wide range of uses, the breadth of different end-uses is often not well understood. In the article that follows, the author discusses some typical end-uses of steel that illustrate the breath of different applications for which this material is commonly used.

Flat products

Within flat steel products, a number of different product groups can be identified. These include:

• Plate, commonly used in shipbuilding, for the production of large diameter pipe (e.g for oil and gas transport) and for military applications such as armoured plate (tanks, personnel carriers).







• Hot rolled coil and sheet, where important uses can include low pressure tanks, heavy ducts and channels, gas and water pipes, roll-formed sections for use in construction, machine parts, and some auto chassis components.







• Cold rolled coil and sheet, where typical uses include roofing products, enamel coated kitchen utensils, packaging (including strapping), non-exposed elements of white goods such as fridges and freezers, brackets for construction and machinery.







• Coated steel products - meaning mainly zinc coated and tin coated steels - where key uses include motorway crash barriers, air conditioning ventilation shafts, lockers, cabinets, metal boxes, non-exposed car body parts, railway wagons, drums, vessels, roofing products, PVC window assemblies - and at the highest end of the quality spectrum for exposed auto body panels, white goods panels, sandwich panels for construction applications; and tinplate for packaging uses (food and beverage).

Long products

Within long products, several different product groups can be identified. These include:

• Heavy sections, typically used to make bridges, or as construction elements (beams) as load support structures in buildings. Railway rails are also an important end use of heavy steel sections.







• Light sections, which can include merchant bar products [meaning round, square, hexagonal, rectangular, flat and other shapes used as support structures for building, construction and machinery], reinforcing bar (which is used to reinforce concrete - both horizontally and vertically) as well as engineering steel products (used for the production of crank shafts, gearbox gears, suspension arms, automotive springs and hydraulic components).







• Wire products, used for tyre cord, mechanical springs (including bedding), steel rope, as well as for fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws) as well as wire mesh, nails and fencing products.

Within tube, further products can be distinguished. These include:

• Seamless tube, where the thinnest applications include syringe needles and precision tube; and larger diameters find uses in oil and gas exploration as well as in high temperature and pressure applications including uses in highly corrosive environments.







• Welded tube, which includes small, medium and large pipe, with uses ranging from furniture, gas and water piping, as well as construction elements. The very largest diameter pipes are used for cross-country, sub-sea as well as intercontinental transport of oil and gas.

Whilst often called a commodity product, it is clear that the uses of steel are very varied indeed. Many of the applications of steel are also highly specialised - especially in the case of:

• high-speed steels, used for metal cutting.






• tool steels, used for the manufacture of tools (including stamping dies, shear blades, and hand tools such as wrenches and machine tool-bit holders).






• steel forgings (with very broad industrial applications including components and machinery).

With certain sub-groups of steel (such as stainless steels) themselves having further quite unique sets of applications (jewellery, surgical instruments, kitchen surfaces and tools).

Inflation and the Equation of Exchange

Let's start with a big question: What reasons are there for inflation to occur? One way of answering this question is to take the monetarist approach and focus on the so called Equation of Exchange. It will help us to easily identify the culprit.

First we take a look at the quantities necessary to understand this equation step by step and using an example. One quantity is the money supply M. It's simply the total amount of money present in the economy. For introductory purposes, I'll set this value to M = 100 billion $.

Also important is the velocity of money V. It tells us, how often each dollar (bill) is used over the course of a year. This quantity depends on the saving habits of the people in the economy. If they are keen on saving, the bills will only pass through a few hands each year, so V is small. On the other hand, if people love to spend the money they have, any bill will see a lot of different owners, so V is large. For the introductory example, we'll set V = 5.

Note that the product of these two quantities is the total spending in the economy. If there are M = 100 billion $ in the economy and each dollar is spend V = 5 times per year, the total annual spending must be M · V = 500 billion $. This conclusion is vital for understanding the Equation of Exchange.

There are two more quantities we need to look at, one of which is the price level P. It tells us the average price of a good in the economy. If there's inflation, this is the quantity that will increase. Let's assume that in our fictitious economy, the average price of a good is P = $ 25.

Last but not least, there's the number of transactions T, which is just the total number of goods sold over the entire year. We'll fix this to T = 200 billion for now and make another very important conclusion.

The product of these last two quantities is the total sales revenue in the economy. If the average price of a good is P = 25 $ and there are T = 200 billion goods sold in a year, the total sales revenue must be P · T = 500 billion $. It is no accident that the total sales revenue equals the total spending. Rather, this equality is the (reasonable) foundation of the Equation of Exchange.

For the total spending to equal the total sales revenue, this equation must hold true:

M · V = P · T

which is just the Equation of Exchange. Now think about what will happen if we increase the money supply M in the economy, for example by printing money or government spending. We'll assume that the spending habits of the people remain unchanged (constant V). Since we increased the left side of the equation, the total spending, the right side of the equation, the total sales revenue, must increase as well.

One way this can happen is via an increase in price level P (inflation). Indeed empirical evidence shows that in the US every increase in money supply was followed by a rise in inflation later on.

Luckily there's another quantity on the right side which can absorb some of the growth in money supply. A rise in the number of transactions T (increased economic activity) following the "money shower" will dampen the resulting inflational drive. On the other hand, a combination of more money and less economic activity can lead to a dangerous, Weimar-style hyperinflation.

At some point of your life, you probably thought to yourself: If governments can print money, why the hell do not they just make everyone a millionaire? The answer to this question is now obvious: The Equation of Exchange, that's why. If the government just started printing money like crazy, the rise in price level would just eat the newly found wealth up. Each dollar bill would gain three zeros, but you could not buy more with it than before.

Of course there can be much more trivial causes for injury than a growing money supply. Prices are determined by an equilibrium of supply and demand. If demand drops, the retailers have to lower their prices to sell off their stocks. Similarly, if demand suddenly increases, the retailer will be able to set higher prices, resulting in inflation. This happens for example when a new technology comes along that quickly increases in popularity. Appropriately, this kind of price level growth is called a demand-pull inflation.