5 Ways to Save Tax for Salaried Employees

It is the duty of every citizen of India to pay taxes. As a diligent taxpayer, it is imperative to know about the various deductions and exemptions allowed under various sections of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Besides, there are numerous other methods to reduce your tax liability largely.

Following are five most popular and common ways to save tax for salaried employees in India.

1. Submit medical bills to your employer on time

Most salaried individuals are eligible to receive medical reimbursement of INR 15000 as part of their Cost ToCompany (CTC). Therefore, you may claim a tax deduction for all your medical expenses up to this amount. For this purpose, you may submit all your medical bills, medical reports, lab test bills, or doctor’s consultation bills to your employer. It is important to note that such a tax benefit may be claimed only through your employer, and hence you may submit such bills to your employer on a timely basis.

2. Save tax through House Rent Allowance

House Rent Allowance (HRA) is a common component for many salaried individuals. The rules of tax deduction on HRA are stated in Section 10 (13A), Income Tax Act. The amount that may be claimed as exemption is a minimum of –

a) Actual HRA amount received

b) 50% of the salary in case you live in a metropolitan city or 40% for a non-metropolitan region

c) Excess of rent paid annually above 10% of your salary.

In order to claim deductions on House Rent Allowance, you may submit rent receipts to your employer.

3. Claim deductions under Section 10(14)

The good news for salaried individuals is that they may avail of numerous deductions as per Section 10(14) of the Income Tax Act. You may avail of deduction on children’s education allowance up to a maximum amount of INR 100 a month, per child, up to two children. Besides, you may seek deduction on hostel expenditure allowance of INR 300 a month per child up to two children. You may also claim an exemption on helper or assistant allowance as well as uniform allowance up to the amount of expenses incurred.

4. Invest in medical insurance

You may claim health insurance tax benefits on your health plan. A medical insurance plan is indeed an integral part of financial planning. Besides providing a great degree of financial security during a medical contingency, it also provides tax benefits. You may seek health insurance tax benefits on the premium paid towards your policy. You may claim health insurance tax exemptions on premiums paid for yourself, spouse, parents, and dependent children. According to Section 80D, medical insurancepremiums are exempted up to a maximum of INR 25000. In an event that you or any of the covered members are senior citizens, you may enjoy a higher limit of INR 30000. You may, therefore, avail of such health insurance tax exemptions and reduce your tax liability.

5. Maximize utilization under Section 80C

Section 80C of the Income Tax Act allows a maximum deduction of INR 1.5 lakh. You may claim a deduction on investments made in various financial vehicles such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs),National Savings Certificate (NSC), andEquity-Linked Savings Scheme, among others. You may also avail of this section to reduce your taxable income through premiums paid on life insurance plans. Besides, you may claim deductions on tuition fees paid for the education of two children.

The Income Tax Act allows for numerous such deductions and exemptions for salaried individuals. You may, therefore, avail of health insurance tax exemption, numerous investment vehicles, and HRA component of your salary, among numerous others. You may take advantage of them and lower the amount paid towards income tax.

Keeping Your Company Strong & Secure

Company security is something that matters when you hope to grow and run a firm with influence. However, keeping your company strong and secure means maintaining it with wisdom. There are many difficulties that can arise in the effort to run a competent firm, and if you’re not careful you might find yourself in trouble to a degree. It pays to be strong whether or not you might encounter difficulty in the future. The reality of you potentially facing something that could compromise your business pales in comparison to the possibility of something going wrong. What we mean by this is that it’s always best to be prepared for everything than trying to resolve the pressing and immediate. This allows you to respond in the best and fastest way possible - giving you time for a deft reaction and response. 

Fault Defense

It’s easy to become accused of something that you might not be part of. Companies are often levied with accusations from sources either legitimate or fake, and what matters is the ability to meet those well. If a legitimate accusation is cast, that might mean you need to change the reason it was cast. However, often business leaders can be thrown into a false accusation pile, and terms such as insider training, embezzlement or other difficulties can be levelled at you.

You might be thinking ‘well how probably is that to happen?’ It could be more frequent than you think. For example, a jaded ex-business partner, ex-employee or perhaps someone trying to sabotage a merger or acquisition might try to stall this or interrupt you by levelling false accusations. In these cases it’s important to have a federal criminal lawyer on hand to help you separate the wheat from the chaff and respond in the most responsible way possible.

To prevent things like this from occurring, it might be wise to begin:

Vetting Clients & Employees

You might find that many business connections are made in the process of networking your business. From clients to business to business connections to the employees you bring on the team, it could be that vetting your social connection is worthwhile. You can never dig into the full past of someone you do business with, but you can sure look for red flags from employees and businesses. 

In the case of businesses, any wrongdoing will likely be publicised. You might find this through articles published from news sources, general reputation commentary online through social media, or looking for reviews from ex-employees. Vetting clients might be in the form of a credit report, particularly if you’re in the business of lending your own credit card or selling things on finance. For employees, checking their criminal history, their working history and speaking to their old managers could be critical in truly getting the full picture of someone’s personality. After all, not everyone is who they say they are, or acts how they come across in the first instance of the interview.

With the right methodology and exacting eye, your social and legal defence could be worthwhile, but only if you take note of the previous tips and enact them wisely.

Time Off Work Due To An Injury? Monetary Upkeep Tips

If you have an accident at work or through some other means, it’s likely that the injury will mean you have to take some time off work. In extreme cases, this can mean that you are prevented from working for a long time, which can be tremendously distressing for someone who found that their career gave them meaning. To make matters worse, this means that despite the insurance payout, money will need to be handled effectively. Loose ends will need to be tied up, and sometimes a lifelong scheduling of therapy and care will be important.

It’s vital you know how to proceed in these circumstances. The following advice should help you if you’re unsure of where to turn and how to best deal with your new circumstances. Anyone would forgive you for being worried and unhappy in your new surroundings, but with bravery, the following tips can help you dramatically.

When Healing Doesn’t Work

Many injuries heal. Some do not. Furthermore, some are made worse by the efforts put forward by the medical professional charged with helping your case. If this is the unfortunate truth, then finding medical malpractice lawyers to help you could be your first port of call. Using a service such as the Tittle & Perlmuter law firm https://tittlelawfirm.com/lawsuits/medical-malpractice/, you can express your discontent, collect evidence and potentially litigate for a sizeable degree of funding. This can help soften the blow when difficult situations do not get better, or even if they do get better, allow for compensation due to ineffective initial treatments.

Social

You need to stay social in these times. Withdrawing and tending to your injury yourself can not only mean that you craft blind spots in your self care, but it also means that mentally you are lacking the necessary social encounters we all need to survive and thrive. If you have to move in with your parents to get this, then that might be preferable. If living with a friend is not too much of an inconvenience, then fair enough. In any case, restructuring your life around social contact can help you face with injury with someone as opposed to continually being alone. Sometimes, this is one of the most beneficial things you can do when hoping to self-start monetary upkeep and find the motivation to keep that going.

Sell Unused Assets

If you’re injured for a period of years, there’s no need for an unused car to sit on your drive. Selling items such as these which you can no longer enjoy allows you to build your own cash reserve, and this can come very handy during a period of no work. The worst thing for an injury is to worry about how you’re going to afford next month's rent. Downgrading your life is possible, as not all those who can’t work can justify living in the great apartment they are used to. However, if you’re able to sell off some of your unused belongings in the meantime, you might buy yourself added financial time.

Better Yourself

When you experience an injury, you often have a lack of mobility, but an excess of time. This can be a wonderful time to better yourself and your general mental competence if possible. There are so many degrees offered online with cheap student loan coverings, or even basic courses taught free through educational websites that qualifying yourself has never been easier.

Not only that, but more and more online jobs such as copywriting, transcribing, translating and a whole host of others can be found easily. Travelling to an office and performing a physical role might have been the way you have conducted your career so far, but if you hope to earn a little extra cash, your computer and internet access is of course your friend.

Run A Second Hand Store

If you’re a discerning person, you might make money through running a second hand store such as those found on eBay. By purchasing items from websites and in online marketplaces, you can provide your niche clients with items of a specific purpose or taste with a markup. This can all be done from your laptop, and help build a new professional trading career. If you enjoy finding objects in a certain niche, and believe you can become a position of authority in their trade, then why not get started here?

It’s often super simple to get these platforms started, and once you do and build your reputation the money could come pouring in. Soon you’ll forget all about the fact that your injury is limiting you to an online career, because by definition its freeing nature will have you excited to achieve, connect and earn more every day.

With these tips, you should enjoy a manageable time when unable to work due to an injury.

Do You Know What To Do After You’ve Been In An Accident?

The shock

Whether you’re injured or not, the event of a car crash can leave us feeling shocked for long periods of time, and it can be hard for us to figure out what happened. In times like these, it can be hard to make the right decisions when it comes to trying to resolve the situation. You might be left feeling angry about it, or maybe devastated; it usually depends on the severity of the crash. Road accidents are generally pretty dangerous and are known to be lethal, and if caused by poor driving or illegal practices behind the wheel, then trying to make sure justice is brought is the right thing to do. If there’s no evidence of these crimes, then you may find it hard to bring up your claim, because it can be hard to hold prejudice against someone who meant no ill will towards you.

Your plans

In some cases, this is the point where you would try to build up a compelling case to represent your claims; it can be easy if you have some form of proof. Some drivers keep cameras on their dashboards, or maybe motorcycle helmets. If the property isn’t damaged too much, this alone might be enough evidence for the offender to be judged as guilty. Proof like this might even be enough to avoid the court case altogether, meaning you can come to a much simpler solution. It all depends on how far you want to take the case, and how much you feel you’re entitled to.

If you don’t think you’re qualified or able to make up this case, then it’s best that you invest in having a professional represent you instead. There are services out there for all kinds of drivers, for example, see the motorcycle accident attorney. If your memory of the crash isn’t so clear, it’s best to have someone who can arrange investigations to find the truth, at which point you can decide if you want to take the case any further; or if you're going to drop it. Either way, investing in this option can save you a lot of money if you’re not too sure. Yes, you’ll have to pay for the attorney services, but if you’re in the position of blame, you may cost yourself a lot more.

Not only do these professionals have more experience when dealing with these cases, but they can also make the whole process a lot less time to consume; while also a lot more convenient. You might find that there are extra options available if you didn’t want to go to court, which can save you time and money. In some cases, the attorneys won’t charge unless the case is won; meaning you’re not going to be losing too much if the case doesn’t end in your favor.

Some people can come out of road accidents with serious injuries, which can potentially ruin their entire lives. At this point, receiving the compensation is an essential factor of recovery. If you break any limbs, then the chances are you’re going to be out of work for a while; while also coping with the anxiety you’ll have from being at the wheel. You’ll need the money to help get you by on a day to day basis.

3 Financial Hazards To Avoid in 2018

With the new year comes (to borrow a parlance from Star Wars) a new hope. We hope for improvements in our jobs or careers. We hope for new levels of success and prosperity for our businesses. We hope for new accomplishments and achievements for our kids. New memories and milestones in our relationships. Most of all we hold out the hope that this will be the year when we finally right the ship in terms of our finances. This will be the year when all the bad habits of old will be cast aside and in instead 2018 will be a new era for financial responsibility. It will be an era marked by sage investments, sound and well informed fiscal choices and the curbing of some of our more reckless urges.

These goals are all very noble but be sure to steer clear of some of the financial hazards that could offset, or even completely derail your good habits in 2018…

New Year’s Eve

You may scoff, but after the traditional spendathon that is Christmas, do you really need to make it a one-two-punch with a pricey (and inevitably underwhelming New Year’s Eve). Restaurants, bars and clubs hike up their prices (sometimes so that they can pay their employees extra for their hard work but mostly just because they can) and some of us over compensate for this in some less than helpful ways. Loading up on booze before hitting the town is never a good idea. Not only will your tipsy state make your relationship with money more laissez faire, you’re more susceptible to trips, slips, falls and other wintry hazards which could injure you in ways that prevent you from earning money to recover from your festive spending. You may want to spend your New Year’s Day talking to a professional like Scott Gottlieb personal injury lawyer… but they’d probably much rather be with their families. Be money smart by limiting your activities (and your alcohol intake) this year.

Post-Christmas Sales

Seriously. You’ve just had Christmas. What more could you possibly want? The seasonal appetite for spending has been stoked beyond the normal spike created by Christmas with such manufactured occasions as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You really don’t want another excuse to wreak havoc with your carefully planned finances do you?

Over-bullish investments

If your finances have made significant gains in the previous year, you may start 2018 with a buoyed sense of confidence. This is great, just try not to get too bullish with your investments. Many markets are in a strange state of flux at the moment especially with a whole lot of new regulations set to hit the financial services industry in 2018. Just look at the recent spike and slump in the value of Bitcoin and you’ll see what I mean. Keep your investments conservative and spread over a diverse portfolio until the markets see some hints at stability. You may not reap huge dividends but you’ll be insulated against risks. And risks can hurt you more than gains can help you in the long term.

So, You've Been Injured... Now What?

A personal injury is defined as either a physical or psychological illness or injury caused by someone or something, to your person. It can vary in type and will usually be an injury which you can claim some sort of compensation for in the long term.

If you want to make a personal injury claim for an accident you’ve been involved in, you will first need to establish whether or not it was your fault or someone else’s. If it was your own fault you will not be entitled to anything however if someone else was responsible for it, you will be able to push forward with a claim. You will need to provide the details of the other person or company along with a detailed account of your accident. The level of compensation that you will receive will depend on the fault which lies in the other party, the severity of the injury and the losses you have incurred due to the incident.

Most of the time when you are looking to make a claim for an injury you have sustained there will be a time limit of 3 years from the day of the accident. You will then need to find out How to choose the right personal injury lawyer for you, what forms and documents you will need to fill out, and how much you will have to pay for their legal services.

What should you do first?

When you are caught up in an accident and hurt yourself, the first thing you will need to do is to check your health. Make sure that you can move, check your body for any abrasions, lacerations or bruises, and figure out whether anything is broken. Once you have given yourself the once over and you know where your injuries lie, depending on the severity of your injuries you will need to ring 911, or get someone else to do it for you. Once you have been to the hospital and had a once over, you can look to start thinking about the next steps in your claim:

-make sure you collect any evidence you can to prove that the accident was not your fault. You may want to either take some photos of the scene, or if you cannot, get someone else to do it for you. This will be incredibly helpful for you when you come to take legal action. For example if you have tripped and fallen on a public road, you can take photos of uneven paving or potholes which the council should have fixed.

- Write down in as much detail everything you can remember from the accident, as well as everything which has happened since. You will want a record of all hospital visits, medical bills, lost wages and other expenses you have had to pay out.

- Record the names of any witnesses who saw the accident or who came to your aid as you were injured. Make sure you have contact information for them so they can be contacted.

- Take notes of the conversations you have with anyone else who has been involved in the accident.

- Make sure to notify the other party that you are planning to take action

Is there a time limit for telling the other party?

If you do want to make a claim against someone for an injury you have sustained, there is no time limit for when you have to tell them, however it would be better if you let them know fairly early on. By acting quickly with your claim and pushing forward as soon as you are able, you are more likely to resolve the claim. If you wait for a long time the judge may question why it has taken you so long to bother claiming for the injury.

Even if you don’t end up filing a lawsuit against another party for their part in your injury, it is helpful to let them know that you intend to. This is because it will preserve your rights and will make sure that you may proceed with sorting out your claim without being rushed by the other party.

Is there a time limit for making a claim?

There is. As we said above, the general time limit for the making of a claim is 3 years. Settling a personal injury claim can be a long process and will take a long time for things to go through the appropriate authorities. This is why ideally you will want to start making your claim and setting things in motion as soon as you can after the accident occurs. If you don’t claim within a timely manner, it means that the chances of you gaining any benefit from your claim is slim. The time you have for a lawsuit will depend on the type of lawsuit it is, but you will need to find out from a lawyer or do your research online to see what your specific limit is. By starting your claim early you will be much more likely to get it settled in the time frame and gain the compensation which you deserve for the suffering and losses you have endured due to injury.

How soon should I file a claim against the government?

If the unusual event occurs where you are going to be claiming for damages against the government rather than a company or individual, the time is more limited in which you can make a claim for it. The time depending on the type of case can vary from between 1 month to 1 year. This is significantly lower than the others and because of this is can be hard to make your claim in time if your injury is severe. With these claims it is more crucial than ever to act if you want to claim for compensation against the government, and get your case as watertight as you can to increase your chances of winning the case and bringing home the money you deserve.

"You Don't Need An Emergency Fund" - And Other Myths Young Adults Fall For

When you are growing up, you may have it drummed into you by your parents to save as much money as you can so that you have a cushion to land on should things go wrong in life. You need to be able to continue to pay your rent, groceries and utilities and you need to be able to live while you save up. Being smart financially is not always easy, especially when there are so many tempting ways to spend your cash. However, one piece of advice that parents give that is good to stick to, is to have an emergency fund.

Most young adults around you will tell you that you don’t need an emergency fund. It’s one of those financial myths that people get told and the reason it’s a myth, is because EVERYONE needs an emergency fund. If you were to find yourself off work because of an injury that changes your life, you would need to find and fund the best injury lawyer to ensure that you get the right compensation. You’d need an emergency fund to keep the bills paid while you recover, and you need that time to recover. The thing is, there are a lot of financial myths that young adults fall for every day, and bad financial advice is harmful – not helpful. It can really put you on the wrong foot if you are given advice that is simply incorrect, and you could be unwittingly led into financial disaster. So, what are the most common myths young adults are told about finances?

Always Leave A Balance On Your Credit Card

Nope, nope, nope. Most people believe that having a balance that is unused on your credit card can help your credit, but in reality, you should never carry a balance of any amount on your credit card. If you do, you pay interest, which means that the credit card companies are making a wedge off cash off of you. Clear the balance entirely every month and you avoid paying more than you have to.

Applying For A Loan Won’t Hurt Your Credit

In most cases, companies are now offering a soft search for credit applications. This means that when you apply for a loan or credit card, you can get an idea of whether you will be accepted without the footprint left on your credit file. The problem here is that any hard search could decrease your score, so this myth is definitely one that is only half true!

Stock Markets Are No Place For Your Cash

Mostly this myth comes from a lack of understanding of how the stock market works. Most people hear ‘stock market’ and also hear the word ‘crash’. Your cash isn’t safe in a lockbox in your house, but it wouldn’t stop you stashing it there for safekeeping before you go on holiday, would it? In the stock market, your money at least has some hope of keeping up with inflation, which isn’t something that will happen in that lockbox in the bedroom!

Credit Cards Are Evil

Usually this I something said by those who have mismanaged their cards and therefore been burnt by debt collectors and late fees. For people with a massive lack of impulse control, a credit card is likely going to be a very bad idea. But that’s not everyone, and you can’t buy into the myth that credit cards are bad just because your sister’s friend’s mother had a bad experience. As long as you are responsible with it, you can benefit from a credit card.

Stuff = Wealth

You could have purchased many things with loans or credit cards, but rather than looking wealthy, all you’re going to do is show the world how much debt you are in. Don’t forget that the more you purchase on your cards or with borrowed funds, the more you have to pay back. Your material possessions don’t equate to wealth, so don’t be fooled!

Money = Happy

Well, you never see an unhappy person speeding past on a jet ski, but that’s neither here nor there. Money, when managed well, can of course make you happy. But it can also be the cause of stress, depression and upset. The relationship between money and happiness is relative depending on the level of debt you have.

Being smart and not listening to myths is going to help you get by, so take everything you hear with a pinch of salt and make up your own mind.

Don't Let Healthcare Haunt Your Finances

It’s sad to live somewhere that makes healthcare one of the most expensive parts of your life. So many other countries have affordable healthcare options for everyone, meaning they worry less when a problem happens. Here, if we get a serious illness or injury, it costs thousands of dollars to pay for the treatment. There are even some tragic stories of people fighting cancer and being forced to admit defeat because they can’t afford the medical treatment.

The reality is, for the majority of the population, healthcare haunts our finances. As a consequence, we need to do everything in our power to make any healthcare costs as cheap as possible. What options do you have? There are some, and I’ll talk you through them in the points below. 

Purchase An Affordable Insurance Plan

Health insurance is pretty much essential for people nowadays. You need to have some type of insurance plan if you want to avoid paying through the nose for medical bills. With insurance, certain treatments might be covered, meaning you won’t have to pay for them. The amount you pay for your insurance can often be a lot cheaper than the treatments you have to pay for, which is why it makes sense to take out a plan. Different people are best suited to different health insurance plans, so there isn’t a one solution fits all option here. You need to do the research and find the right one for you.

Always Think About What Caused Your Health Problem

There are plenty of health problems that just happen over time because of the way your body is, or they’re down to genetics. Then, you have problems that might have been caused by other circumstances. Great examples that come to mind include breaking your bones and getting severely injured because you were involved in an accident of some kind, or ending up with health issues thanks to exposure to things like asbestos. In both scenarios, you end up in hospital, with high medical bills, thanks to circumstances out of your control. You don’t have to be a personal injury lawyer to know you’re entitled to compensation if you get hurt in accidents that weren’t your fault. Likewise, if you’ve been exposed to dangerous things at work - like asbestos - you could sue your company. My point is, by looking at what caused your problem, you might find that you’ve got a chance to earn compensation to help cover the medical bills and save money. 

Take Care Of Your Health

Finally, this seems like a silly point, but it’s definitely something that can save money. If you take care of your health, you will avoid being subjected to a lot of different health problems. Eating a healthy diet and being active prevents so many problems such as heart disease, obesity, and lots more. This makes you less likely to end up in hospital needing specialist treatment for certain health issues. It’s a clever way of tackling some health problems that can easily be prevented.

As you can see, there are ways you can try and cut down on your medical expenses throughout life. Otherwise, healthcare will haunt your finances forever, and cost a lot of money in your lifetime.

Small Changes For A Huge Financial Shift

When it becomes clear that you might need to try and get your finances in order, it can be hard to know where to begin. There is so much involved in the process that it can be challenging just working out the problems and their associated solutions. Fortunately, there is always something you can do, and at the end of the day the important thing is that you begin somewhere, wherever that might be. In this article, we are going to look at some of the small changes that can drastically add up to make a big difference to your finances. Many of these will be especially useful if you are struggling to come to terms with your financial situation, so let’s take a look.

Put Your Debts In Order

No matter how much debt you have, it helps hugely if you can find a way to put them in order of priority. This mens that you know which is the one that needs paying off first, which is second, and so on. If you get this right, you can then begin to pay off your debts much more quickly than if you don’t know whether you’re coming or going. To begin to prioritise your debts, you will first want to look for any that might be on the verge of causing a big problem in your daily life. If you have had bailiffs threatening to come round for a particular debt, then that is clearly the priority. Put those debts at the top of the list first.

But then what? Well, then you want to look at what debt is actually going to cost the most in the long term. This means sitting down and calculating the costs of the whole debt, including the interest, so that you can know exactly how much you will have to repay. This is often a scary moment, and it’s rarely a nice feeling to see your debts laid out like that, but it is also one of the most sensible things you can do in order to get a better understanding of the true extent of your debts. Once you have your debts in priority order like this, you can then begin to pay them off - and in a way which will be much more logical and will be a lot quicker than if you were just paying them all off basically at random.

This first change is small, but if you have any debt at all it is likely to be profound in what it can do for your financial situation. Of course, you might not have any debt at all, in which case this won't apply. Either way, once you have your debts cleared, or at least are beginning to, it is time to start thinking about saving a little money.

Change Your Savings Account

If you have had your savings account for longer than a year, you might be able to benefit from switching it over to another provider. Savings accounts generally have generous upfront interest rates, which often last for six months to a year, and after that will drop again. For something like a cash ISA, you can remove the money whenever you want - so you might as well make the most of hat and put it into a new savings account with the introductory interest rates. This is a change which s easy to do, and yet could make you hundreds in interest over the course of the year. Of course, it does depend on how much money you put into it - but it is still going to do something for you either way.

If you do decide to do this, you will want to make sure that you know exactly what savings account is currently going to be the best for you. You need to shop around, as this is not the kind of thing you can easily rush into. You might find it helpful to look online for advice on which savings accounts to use - there is a plethora of information out there, and much of it will be incredibly useful if you are keen on finding the best option. Get this right, and you might be much better off, so it is worth considering if you are in a rut and would like to make a big change in an easy way.

Ask For Help

There are many times in life when asking for help is clearly the best way to go, and yet many of us can find it extremely difficult to do. When it comes to finances, a lot of people struggle especially with asking for help, as it can be so embarrassing. However, we all need assistance from time to time, and appreciating that will help you to understand that there is no shame in asking for help. Of course, there are many different kinds of help that you might need for your money situation, and it’s good to know what they are so that you can understand what you actually need to ask for, and what you might be okay without.

One of the most common kinds of help in finance is when people need a little legal help understanding a difficult or dense situation. Money and the law are tied up together very intricately, and it can help to have a professional work it out with you. A number of pro law firms offer services in the financial area, and this can be especially useful if you are facing a difficulty, such as unpaid debts for example. This kind of help can often save your skin, so it’s worth remembering that it is there when you need it.

Besides legal help, you also have the help of friends and family. This is good to have, but it is also probably the most embarrassing situation for most people. If you are in need of actually having to borrow money, it can feel like a shame. But everyone is in this situation from time to time, and it’s worth remembering that if it happens to you too. It might just be that you need to borrow a small amount for a short period of time, which can be frustrating but is not the end of the world. Or, if things have really taken a downturn, perhaps you need to ask for quite a lot more. Either way, there should be no shame in it, and you should feel free to ask your friends and family for help - as long as you are fair about it, and pay back anything you might need to borrow.

Invest In Something

There is often this general idea that to invest successfully you need to have a lot of special knowledge or to have a certain amount of money to begin with. But if you have a basic understanding of how money works and you have a dollar to spare, you can start investing today. What’s more, it just might be one of the most sensible decisions you have ever made. Investing is a sure sign that you are starting to take money seriously, and it can be another one of those small changes which could make a big difference further down the line.

What you invest in is up to you, but if you only have a little money consider going for something relatively new. Investing in Bitcoin could be a good start, for example, or some simple binary options trading. Whatever it is, just make sure only to invest what you can afford to lose. Other than that, keep your fingers crossed - and who knows, you could be in luck.

Uh Oh, Watch Out For These Business Financial Woes

Are you worried about issues with money in your business? Perhaps you should be because there are various ways that you can experience difficulties with finances when running a company. That could involve dwindling profits, issues with legality and perhaps even theft. The good news is that all these troubles can be easily avoided if you make the right decisions early on. Let’s start by thinking about theft. 

Protecting Against Theft

There’s various ways to protect your business against theft and ensure that your finances stay healthy. One possibility might be to invest in high tech, state of the art security software. Don’t forget that most of what you do involving finances will be online these days and as such software is going to be more important than physical forms of security. You might think that if you’re running a small business a theft isn’t as likely, but that’s nonsense. Theft could still be a serious problem, and you will certainly need to have the right security in place on your systems before you even think about accepting sales and purchases.

The other way you can protect your business against theft is with insurance. There are special forms of insurance on the market right now for any issue with a company that was caused by a theft or a hack on your systems. You might think that the cost of insuring your company like this won’t be worth it in the short run but in the long run it will. If your business stays on the market for more than five years, we guarantee at some point you will deal with a theft or at least the threat of the hack. It’s best to be fully insured for this possibility.

Avoiding Legal Issues

You might stumble onto legal, financial issues in your business for a variety of reasons. Though arguably the most common and the one that catches everyone out is tax. Are you paying the right amount of tax on your business? Are you sure? If you’re not, you need to check this and do what you can to ensure that your tax payments are accurate. Your IRS weapon is going to be a financial tax attorney. They’ll help ensure that if you have underpaid on tax, you won’t be facing a massive penalty. They can also help ensure that it never happens again by getting your books in order. 

This isn’t the only way a financial advisor can help you. They might also be able to advise you on where to spend your money so that it isn’t wasted. By wasting your money in business, you will be putting your company in a difficult situation. Wastage leads to debt and debt can ultimately bring a business crashing down. 

Trouble With Clients

Of course, you can find that an issue with finance has been caused by your clients. In certain cases, clients may decide to pay the money they owe to you later rather than straight away. Usually, this occurs when businesses are providing a bulk order. Rather than pay straight away, the buyer waits until they sell the order on for a profit. Obviously, this can take months where the original company never sees a penny of profit. As such, it can put a business in an extremely difficult situation. The solution that you need to look into here is invoice factoring. With invoice factoring, you can make sure that invoices are sold off, and you get the money that you are owed straight away. You might be worried about this turning otherwise healthy business relationships sour. It’s a possibility, and that’s why you should also make sure you choose your clients and customers carefully. You need to make sure that you only deal with people who are known for paying the money they are owed quickly, without delay. 

If you are a B2B company, it’s worth looking at reviews online. Get a feel for the transactions that businesses have had with other people and make sure that you are aware of how reliable they have been in the past. Be advised that if clients or suppliers break contracts with you or fail to uphold them, you could lose thousands. Most SMEs will not be able to afford this type of loss. 

As you can see, there are a variety of financial issues that can impact your business. However, by taking the right steps, the negative ramifications of these type of issues can typically be avoided completely, allowing you to ensure that you do keep your company in a financially healthy position.

8 Out 10 New Businesses Fail, But Why?

If you aren’t aware, Forbes has a statistic which says that 80% of startups fail within the first year. For entrepreneurs, it’s a daunting task trying to be apart of the 20%. However, it isn’t an impossible target to hit as long as you know why new companies fail. Once you have the knowledge, it’s a lot easier to steer the organisation in a new direction. 

Below, then, are the main reasons eight out of ten startups fail and what you can do to be different. Good luck.

#1: No Love Or Passion

There is an attitude in the industry that is killing new businesses. It’s the need to make money at any available opportunity. As a result, entrepreneurs get into sectors in which they have zero knowledge. If they do get past the initial hurdle of a lack of info, there is the passion factor. A person who doesn’t love the work won’t put their heart and soul into keeping the firm alive. At some point, the fact that the money isn’t rolling through the door will cause them to quit. To avoid this, try and take an interest in the company. Whether it’s a genuine love or you learn to love it, there needs to be something which keeps the magic alive. 

#2: Underestimate The Budget

A friend who is a peer tells you the cost of starting a company. As soon as the figure leaves he/she’s lips, you think you can do it for less. There isn’t a businessman or woman alive who doesn’t believe that they can cut costs and stay in the black. So, when it comes to the budget, the coffers are dangerously low. Of course, in the end, a shortage of revenue is the ultimate nail in the coffin as new companies don’t turn a profit. At least, they don’t for the first six to twelve months. Always add an extra 10% on top of your budget to ensure hidden costs don’t cause a shock.

#3: They Aren’t Lawyer-Friendly

The firm doesn’t need an attorney, right? Let’s face it – you’re a small fish in a small pond. A legal team isn't necessary for because the chances of legal action are small, or so you think. In truth, a startup needs everything from a personal injury attorney to a business lawyer. For one thing, lawsuits come out of the blue and from every angle. Not only will the competition use them to bleed the firm dry, but employees will file too. Also, setting the business up wrong is a terrible way to start. If someone sues, you might be liable depending on the type of business. Lawyers cost money yet save a fortune in the long run.

#4: Mismanagement 

Sorry, but the boss is the person to blame in this circumstance. Owners think they know everything, but the opposite is true. The people who aren’t flexible and open to ideas are the ones who fail. From outsourcing to save money and increase standards to delegating power, a boss has to lead by example. Otherwise, the entire company will suffer. 

The above have one thing in common – you. Ultimately, the boss is the secret to success.

How To Keep Costs Down During Your Divorce

Divorce is an incredibly difficult experience that no one ever wants to go through. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that 42% of all marriages end in divorce, which is almost half of them. With a one in two chance of your happily ever after ending all too soon, you need to be prepared for the worst. Divorces are messy, but more than that, they are expensive, and sometimes this is an expense that you simply can’t afford. If you are about to get divorced and need to save some cash, or just want some information to prepare you for the financial roller coaster should the worst ever happen, then follow the steps below.

Use Attorneys Wisely

An attorney, such as from Strickland, Agner & Associates, is almost always needed when you’re going through divorce proceedings. They are especially required if you and your spouse are divorcing on bad terms, have children together, or share a lot of marital assets. Attorneys can help you to get the settlement that you believe you deserve, but that settlement comes at a cost. It’s no secret that attorneys can get very expensive, so you’ll want to use yours wisely. Don’t pay for them to do simple tasks that you can do yourself, such as send out mail, or answer a question that you would easily be able to find on Google. Time is money, so don’t waste yours by using theirs.

Do-It-Yourself

If you and your spouse ended your marriage on good terms, then you may be able to work out all the finances without having to involve any attorneys. Look online or speak to someone at your local courthouse and see if they have papers that self-represented parties can fill out, and schedule your court your court appearance for once the legal paperwork is completed. All you need to do is sit down with your ex-partner and go through all of your finances and assets and agree on who gets what. You will also need to decide who your children and pets (if you happen to have any) are going to stay with and work out visiting days and times for the other parent.

Be Prepared To Negotiate

When emotions are running high, it may cause you to do or say things that you wouldn’t necessarily do or say in a more calm state. Saying that you’re “going to take [your partner] for everything [they’ve] got” is just one example. A judge is never going to give you “everything”, regardless of what your spouse has done, and this will just cause the court case to drag on, costing everyone time and money. Instead, you need to be prepared to negotiate. Think of the things that are really important to you, and say that if you can have that thing, then you’re fine with your partner having another thing that is important to them, but not so much to you. This will make court proceedings go much quicker.

Divorces are hard, stressful, and tiring, so I hope that this advice will help to save you some cash and make your life a little easier.

5 Secrets That Allow Insurance Companies To Keep Your Money

Don’t get us wrong, using insurance companies is crucial when it comes to managing your own financial risk. In fact, paying for a surprise disaster out of the funds in your own dwindling bank account. In that sense, insurance companies are worth it. But that is about as far as our love affair with insurance companies go because their main concern is business, not you; it is profit not your settlement package. What’s more, the tactics of keeping your money are about as sinister as they come as most insurance companies keep their ways of doing business in the dark. 

That’s right, there are secrets that no insurance company wants you to know about when it comes to your personal injury claim, and it is those secrets we are about to cast a light on so that you can get the settlement you deserve should you ever have to make a claim. 

From now on, make sure you get the money you deserve, not the leftovers from their profits. 

Secret #1: Insurance Adjusters Are Not On Your Side

This is one of those things that you need to understand from the get-go because the adjusters that you face off with are paid employees of the insurance company. What’s more, in the same way Liam Neeson’s character in Taken was a specialist in badassery, these adjusters are specialists in negotiation, and they are supported by experienced lawyers that know the law better than you know the alphabet. But here is the part where alarm bells need to start ringing because the most immediate role of the adjuster is to stop you hiring a personal injury lawyer or attorney so that you are more likely to settle faster and for the least amount of money possible. With this in mind, your best form of defence is to do exactly what they don’t want you to, and that is hiring a personal injury lawyer. 

Secret #2: Insurance Companies Are Scared Of Experienced Attorneys

Of course, they are. The more experienced, skilled and ruthless your attorney is the more money they are probably going to have to pay you for the simple fact they won’t be able to pull any amount of wool over your attorney’s eyes. This isn’t about making the insurance company shiver, though. This is about protecting yourself and your rights and coming out of this process with a settlement that is fair, which is exactly what an attorney will aim to achieve. Let’s say you were bitten by an illegal breed of dog or had an accident while working on a construction site; you probably have no idea how much your claim is worth, and that ignorance is what insurance companies prey on by offering you a lowball payout while telling you this is the best offer you’ll get. Hire an experienced attorney, however, and they will know of similar cases, how much those victims got in their settlement case and how much a jury of twelve people would be willing to agree on. Basically, an experienced attorney will know how much your case is worth, and they will help you get the compensation you deserve. 

Secret #3: The Recorded Statement

You know that employee of the insurance company we mentioned earlier, Ms Insurance Adjuster, well she is going to try and get a recorded statement from you that they will then use to reduce the value of your claim down the line. Please, for the love of whoever you believe in, don’t buy into this. Don’t give any recorded statements to any adjusters. Don’t buy into the soft dulcet tones of the adjuster when they phone you up and don’t indulge their request for you to guess about the facts relating to the accident you were involved in. Like we said, they are going to use this information against you in any way they can. It is their job. It is how they impress their bosses, acquire bonuses and get promotions. To them, it is just their business but, to you, this is your life, and that is a distinction you need to remember if you are going to stop them keeping the money you are entitled to. 

Secret #4: They Want You To Be Brave When You Visit The Doctor

They want you to be brave and you want to appear brave, which makes the moment you first visit a doctor a very tough one to get right. To put it to you bluntly, this is not the time for heroics, bravery or a show of strength. This is a time of honesty because you need to tell your doctor every detail you can. The headaches you are getting, the broken bones, the inability to sleep and your saw pinky finger. It doesn’t matter how little the things are that are bothering you, they are important to your case. They are going to legitimise your claims and prove you have been consistent with your statements. You will find most insurance companies will try and make it look like you are exaggerating your injuries - or making them up altogether - and that is where your doctor’s notes will support your argument. Validity is important. So, in the same way you should never make up an injury, you should never downplay one either. You never know what a small injury could turn into in the long run. It could become the most serious concern of all.

Secret #5: They Want To Rush You

The reason why insurance companies want to rush your settlement through is that it is in their favour. It is their favour for you to accept a settlement before you’ve hired an attorney. It is in the favour for you to agree to a settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries. The problem is, for most victims, time is against them. It could be the accident has stopped them from working, or they think they need to claim quickly due to the statute of limitations. However, rushing a settlement is always a bad idea. In fact, we recommend you wait until your medical treatment has been completed, or a doctor has a good understanding of the extent of your injuries. It is also worth noting that most states have a basic statute of limitations that last two years. In any case, the best thing you can do to protect yourself is to hire an experienced attorney.

The Smart Way To Protect Your Business Financially

One thing you want to do when you’ve got a business is keep it financially secure from anything that could attack it. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect your business from such woes, and in this article is going to tell you exactly how.

Credit cards

Taking out a credit card for your business might be wise in protecting your business financially because it will give you the reassurance that if something goes wrong with a machine or item that you need to use in day to day service, then you will be able to replace it with ease and carry on with business as normal.

There are also many perks that come with owning a credit card like cash bonuses when you’ve spent a certain amount in one bulk. Depending on the bank that you take your credit card out with, you may even be able to gain perks for business like travelling costs.

Safety

Making sure that you and all of your staff are safe within the workplace is imperative to protecting your business financially. If you’re not following regulations and a member of staff injures themselves at work, they could go down the route of personal injury lawsuits which in turn, could result in you losing out on a lot of money.

Not only is it important to follow guidelines to protect you from being sued, but keeping you and your staff away from harm will ensure that you’re all being as productive as possible.

Training

Much alike safety, ensuring that you and your staff have sufficient training to do your job is definitely needed. Did you know, that a member of staff could sue you for any injury they obtain from a machine that they’ve not been trained how to use? That is of course, if you insisted they use the machine.

To ensure that business doesn’t have to shut, a good idea might be to send a few members of staff off for training at one time, so that you can keep the business open and not lose out on any revenue.

Providing your staff with training such as first aid will not only be useful in any workplace, but it will give them extra skills 

Insurance

No matter what size your business is, you should be considering getting insurance for your company. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that insurance is another unnecessary cost, but in the long run the small amounts you will pay each month may become worth the money.

For example, if the premises that you’re working from is burgled, you will want to be able to replace anything that went missing and get back to business as soon as possible to prevent any further loss of money. Being insured will allow you to do this. Not only that, yourself and staff members will be insured too in case there are any work injuries.

Getting taxes right

A word that pretty much everyone hates hearing: tax. Unfortunately, we are all liable to pay tax on our profits and earnings, so make sure that you’re correctly paying your taxes each month. If you’re confused on what you’re supposed to be paying, do some research on what your country expects you to pay and when. If you find their rules and regulations, save them to your computer so that you can look back on it if and when needed.

If you fail to pay taxes and are caught out, you could be landed with a major fine and also the reputation of your business will be tarnished. 

Fair employment terms

Ensuring that your employment terms for your staff are fair, and more importantly legal is something else that you need to think about. Before even considering hiring anyone to work for you, make sure you’re clued up on what the minimum wage is that you will need to be paying.

You will also need to think about working hours. What time of the day will you need to have staff attending to gain the largest profits? Remember though, that you will need to be fair with how many breaks you’re allowing your staff, especially if they are doing a particularly long shift.

Did you know, that in the US employers are not obligated to provide paid annual leave for their staff? 72% of private employers choose to give their staff paid leave each year. That’s not to say that members of staff aren’t allowed any leave, it’s just that it’s not paid. To make your job position more attractive, consider allowing paid annual leave for your staff.

A great rule to remember is that if you can keep your staff happy, then they will work harder; therefore generating more profit. A happier person works better than an unhappy person, so the fairer you are to your staff, the more you will gain from it.

Stick to a plan

If you haven’t already, it might be worth making a plan for your business. Within this plan will be goals that you set for yourself, and where you want to be in twelve months time. Here’s an example:

1. Beat 2016’s profit take by at least 5%.

2. Bring out a new product before Christmas of 2017.

3. Promote a member of staff to be a senior.

4. Improve quality of customer service.

5. Renew everyone’s training.

6. Try and be under budget when it comes to supplies.

Using a simple list of goals to reach before a certain deadline will keep you on track within your business. Try to make sure that all of your goals are financially orientated so that you can make sure that you’re protecting your business from financial losses. Writing up a list of goals for members of staff will also have the same effect.

Following these 7 smart ideas will be sure to protect you and your business from any financial woes. Remember to shop smart, and also sometimes spending money will benefit your business in the long run. Good luck with your business venture!

Prevent Medical Bill Nightmares With This Simple Guide

Medical bills are something that most Americans dread. They can reach into the hundreds of thousands, and there is often no choice as to whether to get the treatment or not, as it's vital for life. With over 50% of medical fee debt being related to prescription medications. That is drugs that a doctor has confirmed you need for a medical condition. This creates a big problem for many of us, even if we are insured. As unless we and those that we love have perfect health throughout their entire lives, we will be vulnerable to this issue at some point. So, if medical bills are keeping you up at night, read on to find some ways to minimize or avoid getting into a nightmare situation altogether.

The problem with medical bills 

One of the biggest nightmares that folks can experience with medical bills in the US is that the negatively affect their credit rating. This is because medical collections companies can be particularly strict about logging missed or late payments. As the amounts are so high with, so many people not being able to get anywhere near paying them off, the incidence of missed payments can be frequent.

Of course, this then affects the ability of the person whose account it is to get credit for other things in life such as loans, cars, and homes. Eventually in some cases leading to bankruptcy and further financial hardship.

Insurance

So what exactly can you do to avoid getting into this dire financial situation in the first place? Well, first of all, take out insurance. Yes, it's expensive, especially if you have a whole family to ensure, but when something does go wrong, as it is likely to, at least some of your medical bills will be covered. In fact, it usually works out that those that are insured are in debt to the tune of $10,000 less than those that aren't. Something that could definitely make the difference between being able to clear that debt and bankruptcy. 

If you are really struggling to pay personally for medical insurance, it may be useful to look for a job that includes this with the benefits package. In fact, some companies even offer coverage to their employee's families as well. Something that can make a big difference if the worst does ever happen.

Regular payments 

You can also help stay out of this nightmare medical bill situation by always paying the monthly amount on time. Yes, I know other things can get in the way, and may seem more pressing. Especially if you have already received the care and are fully recovered and feeling fine now.

However, as mentioned above nonpayment can get you into a whole heap of trouble, and damage your credit rating. So it's definitely worth setting up an automatic payment for just after you get paid each month. As then you can't even fall into this situation accidentally.

Disability applications

It may also be prudent to apply for social security disability if you continue to have medical issues that are stopping yours from working and causing you to struggle to pay your treatment bills. As the money that you get from this can help you stay on top of these bills, as well as your other financial issues like rent, groceries, and transport, even if you are unable to work.

To claim for social security disability, you must be over 18 years of age and have a serious condition that is expected to last over a year. You can apply online, although many folks become discouraged because they are worried they will be refused if they do make an application. Although to help you with this you can get some assistance from folks like the ones at LaPorte Law Firm, as they disability claim specialists. So they can help you file your claim, answer any question about the process, provide advice and give your application the best chance of it being accepted.

Medical tourism 

Something that is becoming more and more popular in recent years is US citizens going to other countries like Singapore, Brazil and Malaysia to get medical procedures done.

Known as medical tourism, this is something that many folks choose to do because it can be cheaper to travel abroad and get treatment. In particular, having a procedure like surgery abroad can cost significantly less than it would do in this country. That also includes the flights to and from your destination, and accommodation while you are there as well as the procedures, medications, and aftercare. 

Of course, there are some downsides to this too, in particular, the problem with communication that can become apparent when traveling to countries where English is not their first language. Something that can be pretty scary if your life is on the line.

However, the savings are so great for many that it makes this option something that cannot be ignored. As it becomes the only way to avoid the nightmare of medicals bill nightmares for the person involved. 

Get involved in the political issues 

Lastly, to help avoid the continuing issue of medical bill nightmares, it is important that you research the issue, and be proactive in using your voice to ask the government for change.

The real issue here is that while hospitals are allowed to set their own prices in a free market situation. So there will always be overcharging for essential medical treatments. This is problematic because it means that hospitals are profiting from people’s sickness. Something that doesn't happen in other countries in the world where their medical services are nationalized. 

Of course, the only way to change this is to make your voice heard and join in the appeal to Congress to change this system once and for all, for the better. To one where you don't have to face the choice between excruciating pain or death and bankruptcy. Where medical fees are standardized and affordable and not an additional burdensome nightmare that the sick have to shoulder along with their recovery.