Category: Finance

  • Best Currency Conversion Apps For Constantly Staying Updated on Currency Changes

    Best Currency Conversion Apps For Constantly Staying Updated on Currency Changes

    If you often different currencies than just the one found in your country, you know how important it is to stay updated with the latest currency trends. I know googling currency conversions once doesn’t take a lot of time. But if you need it on a more daily basis, if you travel often, for example, it can be quite time-consuming to browse every time. I personally prefer using apps as they basically bring everything you need in one neat package. As every app is a bit different I decided to google for great currency converter apps and after just a couple of minutes, I stumbled upon this list I found quite useful.

    Best 10 Apps For Exchanging Money by AppGrooves

    Although it says apps for exchanging money, they are currency converter apps and some of them have the option to exchange money as well, which is quite useful. So, I picked my favorite 3 and decided to review them in hopes of making your search a bit easier.

    Currency Converter – A Basic App That Does Everything

    I think the app’s name says it all, it converts currencies. I prefer apps that have a more “creative” name, but it’s definitely not a deal breaker. A great thing about Currency Converter is that it’s a simple app. I think you’ll instantly get familiar with it as the design is extremely user-friendly. I double checked some conversations on Google and they were all on the point so you can be sure you get the latest conversion. A great bonus feature is the app also gives you info about credit card rates in other countries so you can easily prepare if going outside your country.  Thus, I think this one is great for anyone who travels often.

    Finally, the app comes with a widget you can customize so you don’t even turn on the app – you have everything on your screen. But, although I like the app design, I got to say, the widget design isn’t the best. It takes a great portion of the screen and you can’t change that. You’re stuck with a large widget which is especially a bummer if you have a small phone. It’s not too big of a deal as the app is great, but with the small fix, it could be much better.

    Currency Converter Plus Free with AccuRate™ – A Better Insight

    This is another great app if you often visit other countries. I might even like this one more than the first one since I think it’s more interactive with its features. It’s definitely more for people who are tech-savvy and want to be able to control every aspect of an app. There’s a simple drop-down menu where you can customize the main currency (your own) and nine others. Once you enter a number, the conversion is instant and correct. Another reason I think this one is better for more advanced users is the graphs. By simply tapping a button, you’re greeted by an eye-pleasing graph that shows you the the changes for the last 5 months. You can even refresh the graph if you want to double check in case you’re making exchanges.

    With a useful graph and other great features, I was hoping the app also comes with price-change notifications. I don’t know, it just seemed like a natural course for me. Unfortunately, as of now, the app doesn’t support that. So although it has the potential, it’s definitely not the best app if you’re looking for the best time to exchange as you have to check manually.

    XE Currency – A Powerful App For Exchanges

    Finally, there’s XE Currency, my personal favorite. The reason is it does everything the first two do with a bit more. Initially, I thought it would be complicated to use because it has many features, but the developers did a great job with the design. Besides checking the current rates, you can also get additional information for each currency with a single tap. And yes, XE Currency does have price-change alerts and you can customize the notifications. Finally, another great thing that shouldn’t go unnoticed is you can also check when offline. Although you should connect to get the latest updates, this becomes useful when you need quick information. Definitely a great app for anyone who’s in currency exchange.

    Unfortunately, to get full features, there’s a small fee. But if you’re serious in currency exchange, it definitely worth it considering the possibilities you get – from news and detailed analysis to notifications. I don’t recommend this one to people who only need exchange information. There are much simpler apps for that like the previous two.

    Conclusion

    So there you go, my top 3 currency converter apps. You should try one of the first two if you only need to quickly check the latest currency trends. If you need a more powerful arsenal for daily exchanges, check out XE Currency. All 3 apps are useful and I have no doubt they will save you time so you can focus on other things in your life.

  • What Freelancers Should Consider When Choosing An Accountant

    What Freelancers Should Consider When Choosing An Accountant

    As a freelancer, you want to spend time doing what it is that you enjoy and making sure your clients are happy but there is more to running a business than just the work – you also need to think about all of the financial aspects.

    One of the ways to help reduce your own stress would be to employ an accountant to take care of all the financial elements for you but unless you know someone already, how do you go about choosing an accountant to work with? Here is our quick guide of what to look out for when choosing an accountant.

    1. Do you even need an accountant?

    The first thing to think about is whether you even need an accountant at the moment. If you are just starting out as a sole trader it will probably be perfectly feasible to do your books and taxes yourself, so you might want to save your money and not bother with an accountant.

    If you have set up a Limited Company then you will definitely need an accountant to help you as it gets a little more complicated. Think about what you can afford and what works best for your business right now.

    1. What kind of accountant do you want?

    If you do need an accountant then think about what kind you want and how involved you plan to be in the whole process. Are you going to do the books and hand them over, or do you want to work alongside them on everything?

    You need to find someone who is happy to work in the way that you want them to and who you can trust. They need to be able to fit in with your lifestyle so if they are miles away and have short opening hours that might not work for you.

    It’s also a good idea to look for an accountant who understands your particular industry needs so make sure you find someone who is experienced in the challenges which you might need them to handle for you.

    1. Think about what your accountant needs to know

    Make sure the accountant you choose knows and understands all of the areas in which your business works, so if you have staff they need to know about payroll and contracts, or if you are in retail they need to know about VAT.

    If you have any complications like selling products abroad, then you need to find an accountant who knows and understands any issues which might arise with international sales. It’s all about making sure the accountant you choose can bring value to your business and that you are working in an area they are interested in.

    1. Does the accountant know your accounting software?

    If you are using accounting software already and the accountant doesn’t know it, then this should ring alarm bells with you. They need to be able to work with your software and use it effectively to work with you. You also need to know if they are going to do the bookkeeping or if they are planning to outsource it if they are too busy – you need to know who is working on your account at all times.

    1. How do they work on a day-to-day basis?

    You need to have clear expectations of the kind of contact you can expect from your accountant and how available they will be if you need to get hold of them. Find out if they prefer to communicate via email, phone or face-to-face meetings and what they are happy to offer.

    You don’t want to sign up with someone only to find you can never get hold of them when you have a tax crisis on your hands. You need to be comfortable with the kind of contact they can offer – if you want to be hands on you need an accountant who will be happy with a lot of contact from you.

    1. Make sure they know their own industry

    Make sure they are aware of any changes happening in the wider accounting industry which could impact on your business and are able to advise you accordingly. Issues connected with Brexit, for example currently, could have an impact in the future so you need to make sure your accountant is up to speed with modern business issues.

    Choosing an accountant is a really important decision to be made by any freelancer as if you get the right person they could bring enormous value to your business and help to make your life much easier in the long run.

    It’s vital to take your time and look for a good fit with your accountant as you will be working closely with them and they will be supporting your business through good times and bad potentially.

  • Joe Roosevans – Secrets of Financially Independent Life

    Joe Roosevans – Secrets of Financially Independent Life

    Today we face a strange tendency showing that a lot of young adults, mostly graduates from colleges and universities, are still living with their parents. These millennials choose not to spend much money on personal accommodation, while they still have their student debts and definite monetary problems. This tendency also shows higher demand of services provided by UK pay day loan online companies, as people need extra money for their financial issues.

    However there is a great advice for those who still want to move out of their parents and begin independent life. The trick is in budgeting for rent, even when you are still living for free at your parent’s house. Such financial habit will make your budget ready for regular payments for rent or mortgage. Also you will create a saving account that might be the first step towards your accommodation solution.

    While some parents decide not to take money from their children, convincing themselves that their children don’t have enough money and might help them for the house. But in such way they are making a great mistake leaving their children with an idea that they can rely on more money that they actually have. So if you want to become ready for financially independent life, you can make an agreement with your parents for making a saving account for the money allegedly paid for rent.

    This is the first step you can make to create appropriate budget and get ready for personal rent. But there are still the others financial factors need to be considered before moving in your own flat or house. For example, the actual moving in process can cost you a great deal, so you need to plan that too.

    Having your budget ready for moving itself is a necessary step, but not the least important is the possibility to stay at your own accommodation and live on your own. So you should learn the next tips that can help you to deal with your personal finance and create independent budget.

    Check Your Credit Score

    You should be aware about the condition of your payment history resulting in a credit score. In case you have some problems, it’s the best time to correct possible mistakes or cover some debts, not taking into consideration a student debt, while you still don’t use much money for living expenses.

    Choose Your Lifestyle

    Of course, when you are living at your parent’s house, you don’t plan your budget taking into consideration all expenses. This makes you feel you have more money and you can spend it on clothes, entertainment and hobbies. But when you begin living on your own, you will have to budget for all spending. So it’s better to get used to the lifestyle you can afford within your means. (Learn how to budget your money).

    Create an Emergency Fund

    It’s a good practice to think about emergencies from the first time you get your paycheck. To secure yourself from living paycheck to paycheck you should set aside some money each month and create a special saving account. This will also be a great basis for beginning of your independent life, as you will definitely face a lot of unexpected situations related to money spending.

    Author Bio: – FRA Financial Group Founder Joe RoosEvans is an industry veteran who has built one of the nations’ most successful Independent Marketing Organizations – Financial Resources of America and its affiliated companies, including FRA Financial Group.

  • 7 Tips for Making Saving for your Retirement Easy

    7 Tips for Making Saving for your Retirement Easy

    Saving for retirement is as essential as it gets. When you are old, retired and cannot work anymore (not like before) it’s your retirement fund that will take care of you. Many people don’t consider saving for the retirement early especially when they are in their twenties.

    If you are like many who don’t know where to get started with their retirement saving you are not alone. The good news is there are many ways you can save money for your retirement. It is an easy process and isn’t that complicated. If you are looking for answer for your question how to save for retirement, you have come to the right place.

    Here are some of the best ways you can save for your retirement.

    1. Start Today

    Starting early is the key to creating a comfortable retirement fund. The earlier you start the better. Even when you are in your twenties, start saving for your retirement it does not matter if it’s a small amount. Any amount will do.  This is first step towards starting a retirement fund. Here you will need to decide what kind of saving account you want to choose for your retirement fund. Now this will take you to the next step.

    1. Your 401(k) Contribution

    This is one of the best plans for people who are working and depend on their monthly paychecks. It is the saving plan offered by the company to the employees who can save a part of their paycheck. The best thing about this type of retirement saving account is that you don’t have to pay the tax until you withdraw. Even with the taxes you will end up with a great amount for your retirement. Some employers match up to your monthly contribution to your 401(k) savings. By choosing the 401(k) plan you will be getting the free money. Think about it.

    1. The I.R.As

    In case your employer is not offering 401(k) plan you can opt for IRA account. It is the Individual retirement Account you can open in any financial institution. Your contribution to the account will depend on your other retirement plans. It can be tax-deductable, but you don’t have to worry about paying them until you withdraw the money. You can get many tax benefits on this kind of retirement plans. Again IRAs are of many kinds and you can choose from the one that matches your requirements. It is one of the most popular types of retirement plans with the people. Its offers many benefits and one of them is a tax-free growth of your fund.

    Some of the IRAs include:

    • R.A
    • Roth I.R.A
    • E.P
    • Solo 401(k) plans

    You can know about the different types of IRAs.

    1. Build  retirement Fund

    In case you want something more flexible you can start contributing towards your retirement plan by opening a saving account. Here you can contribute small or big amount as per your requirements and when time comes you can use this money and invest them into better schemes. Start building your retirement fund as soon as possible. This is probably one of the best answers to your question of how to save for retirement.

    1. Build a habit

    Saving is more of a habit than it is about the income. Saving even $1 for a long time is huge deal. Remember your Piggybank? Each day it would swell and you know you have saved a huge amount saved after weeks and months. Building a money-saving habit is essential for creating a healthy financial system. Start saving early and regularly so that you have a good habit of contributing money towards our saving account. This is essential for any person. Get rid of the unnecessary expenses so that you can save more money for your retirement.

    1. Make and Save Extra Money

    There is no harm in making extra money. If you have them don’t just waste them. Put them in your saving account. And, if you have a considerable amount of money and you can spare some then try investing them in good scheme. Mutual funds are easy and effective ways to invest money and reap the benefits. You will find different types of mutual funds matching your needs.

    1. Delay your Social Security for long

    Did you know that the more you delay withdrawing your social security money the more return you will have. Yes try not to withdraw the money and delay for as long as you can and you will have a great retirement fund. Of course, this all depends on your financial situation.

    Conclusion

    These are some of the best answers for your question how to save for retirement. They are the best ones, but you are free to explore other options too. It’s important to choose the right retirement plan for your needs.

  • Boost your income – Easy ways to earn money from home

    Boost your income – Easy ways to earn money from home

    The unpredictable economy always puts us in tricky positions financially and a little extra income is always going to be helpful for you. If you want to earn money from home then you must think of ways that you do so with ease.

    Profiting from home comes with numerous benefits. You save a great deal of time as you don’t have to leave the house, you spend a considerable measure of time with the children, and on the off chance that you structure yourself properly, you make more than the office going people.

    In the event that you are wondering some of the manners by which you can earn money from home, here they are:

    Freelancing

    Freelancing is where you work for different clients as an independent contractual worker. You should simply identify what you are great at and sell the services. The cool thing is that there are plenty of freelancing sites that you can join for free. You should simply set up a record and begin offering for the available employments.

    You can freelance any ability including writing, visual computerization, software development, translation, website development, and whatever other aptitude skills that you have. Much the same as in some other field, you have to begin low and as you get more reviews, increase your rates. For you to remain in the business for long you need to ensure that you deliver choice services.

    Blogging

    Blogging has been around for quite a while. You can create a blog on any point and make money from it. To draw in people to your blog you need to create stellar content. You additionally need to promote the blog and fabricate connects to increase your search positioning. This is to make it easy for people to discover you when they search your target keyword.

    Experts recommend that you fabricate an email list at the earliest opportunity. This is because it’s very easy to market to the email subscribers as you already have their contacts. The subscribers are likewise more likely to purchase from you as you already have an established relationship with them.

    When it comes to the monetization of the blog, there are numerous manners by which you can do it. You can make your products and sell them on the site. You can likewise be an affiliate marketer where you market other people products and get a commission.

    Tutoring

    Are you great in English or some other subject? You can make great money online by tutoring students from different parts of the world. Much the same as in freelancing, you need to open an account in a website that has the students that you will be tutoring. You should then simply go ahead and begin teaching the grade that you are comfortable with. You can tutor the students online yet in the event that you have more time and you like the human get in touch with, you can request that they come to your home where you will make even more money.

    Become a Social Media Manager

    Social Media Managers have become really mainstream since the explosion of social media over the most recent decade. A social media manager is exactly that; a manager. So, if you somehow happened to become a social media manager your activity would entail sending/receiving friend requests, posting multiple times per day, engaging and reading approaching comments, etc.

    You would imagine this is something that anyone could do, yet there are numerous successful entrepreneurs and business owners out there that are readily ready to pay someone to handle these mundane jobs on their behalf.

    Learn how to trade forex and cryptocurrency

    It amazes me what a limited number of people have even heard of Forex. Forex is an acronym for Foreign Exchange. With Forex you are purchasing and selling currencies simply like people purchase and sell commodities like corn, coffee, and orange juice.

    This is an invaluable aptitude to learn because when you have it, you can write your own pay check. Simply keep as a top priority this is considered the same as betting in the eyes of Uncle Sam, so you should pay some hefty capital additions taxes on anything that you pull in. Crypto currencies like Bitcoin are not just something that you purchase and hold. You can really trade crypto currencies too.

    Join a Network Marketing Company

    In spite of the fact that network marketing companies tend to get unfavorable criticism, the vast majority are careless in regards to the way that network marketing is a 100+ billion dollar per year industry. More money per year is generated from network marketing than from the greater part of the professional games in the United States each year, combined!

    A network marketing organization gives you the chance to become the CEO of your own association from day number one. In Corporate America you regularly begin off at the base of the ladder and are forced to work your way up. In Network Marketing, you beginning of at the highest point of your association, however you are responsible for building and preparing a team of independent sales representatives who have shared objectives.

    Get started with e-Commerce

    You can likewise get involved with e-Commerce. You know things like eBay, Amazon, and even Shopify. This is where you have yourself a virtual business. You can sell for all intents and purposes anything that you can muster up from your creative energy. E-Commerce is a great method to make money working from home in case you are not so much a people person and you’re not equipped to deal with the sales life.

    Get involved in Affiliate Marketing

    Affiliate Marketing is tied in with selling other people’s products/services. Essentially every organization known to man has an affiliate program of some sort these days. For example, in the event that you refer someone to Time Warner, they will pay you. By basically sharing products and services that you use every day you can earn a percentage each and every time someone makes a purchase from your individ

    ual affiliate connect.

    Conclusion

    These are some of the routes on the most proficient method to earn money from home. One of the real challenges of working from home is getting scammed. Before you join any online site, dependably complete an exhaustive research of the site and ensure that it has been around for quite a while and has an established reputation. It’s regular for people to request that you deliver a service and pay later.

  • Household Money Saving Tips You Need to Know

    Household Money Saving Tips You Need to Know

    Sometimes, it seems almost impossible to make ends meet. When bills start to pile up, and we’re falling behind, that’s the only time we start to think about saving money. But that’s easier said than done, and if you don’t make a conscious effort to save, money disappears quickly.

    Even if you go online to look for money-saving tips but are not willing to make sacrifices, you’ll still have a difficult time making ends meet. So, if you’re tired of stressing about money, there’s no better place to get started than in your own home.

    There are plenty of ways to save money by following these simple hacks you can do around the house. Over time, the money you save can be allocated to making those crucial payments like mortgage, credit cards, student loans, or car loans in Adelaide.

    Always remember that there’s no better time to start saving than the present. The sooner you start saving, the better off you’ll be. Even if you’ve been falling behind your monthly bills, it will be easy for you to catch up. So, check out these household money-saving tips we’ve listed for you.

    Don’t forget to unplug.

    In a typical household, you’ll find lots of electronic devices lying around that are left unplugged. Even they are turned off, many people don’t realise that these appliances are still consuming electricity. The quick solution is to make sure they are both turned off and unplugged when not in use.

    Replace old light bulbs.

    Are you still using those old school incandescent light bulbs around your house? You may want to replace them with a more energy efficient light bulb as those last much longer and can save you as much as80 percent on your electricity bill.

    Another way you can save is by using natural light. That’s right. When it’s bright and sunny outside, just open those windows and tie your drapes and let that warm, natural light inside your home.

    Pack lunch.

    I’m a big fan of bringing my own meal to work. Not only will I save more money, but I can also eat whatever food I want. If you’ve decided to eat healthy food, it’s easy to plan your meals for the week. If you prepare your own meals every day instead of always dining out, both your wallet and waistline will thank you for it.

    Do some minor repairs.

    You don’t have to be an expert handyman to perform basic repairs around the house. But if you learn how to fix simple things, like a leaky faucet or seal up cracks on your roof, you can save literally hundreds of dollars every year on utilities and service fees, instead of hiring a professional to do those repairs for you.

    Reduce your power consumption.

    Do you spend a lot of time watching TV or surfing the Web? If so, you should consider doing other activities like reading a good book. You can go to the nearest library and borrow some good books you’ve always wanted to read but never had the time to do so.

    Another thing you can do is to exercise. That’s right. We’re not saying you should go to the gym and spend money on membership fees. No. You can work up a good sweat by jogging or doing some basic routines, like push ups or sit ups, which don’t require fancy gym equipment.

    Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. With just a few common-sense hacks and dedication, these simple hacks will make a positive impact on your household budget. And if you have your own clever ways to save money in your own home, we’d love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment so that other people may also benefit.