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You Probably Have More Money Than You Think

Most of us would like to have more money in our bank accounts. It does, after all, make life a lot easier. Alas, for most of us, the relationship we have with our bank balance is more related to how little of it we have. However, it’s always worth remembering that you may have more money than you think — most people do! In this blog, we’re going to look at some of the most common money sources that people overlook. You might not be able to call upon all of them, but there’ll likely be one or two that’s relevant to you. And that could just result in improved finances.

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Cut Out Spending

First thing’s first — you probably have more money than you think, all because you’re spending it on things that really aren’t necessary. If you were to take a look at your finances, then you may see that your weekly coffee or lunch expenses are far too much. Once you’ve made that assessment, you can work on curbing your spending. Your bank balance might be much, much better within a few weeks, all because you curbed your spending a little.

Ask for a Raise

Many people think that the amount of money they get paid by their company is a natural force, and thus there’s nothing they can do to influence the amount. But this isn’t the case. Not only is it possible to ask for a raise, but you should ask for a raise. The secret among bosses is that many of them are happy to give raises because they know that it’s much more expensive to hire someone new if the employee leaves. There is a right and wrong way to go about it, however, so make sure that you’re on the right side of the line.

Renting Out a Room

Owning a home can be deeply enjoyable, sure, but there’s no avoiding the fact that it can be expensive. And in some cases, extremely expensive. One way to claim back some money from your property is to look at renting out a room. All you’ll need to do is make the room presentable, make sure you can legally rent it out, and then go through the process of finding a tenant. If you live somewhere popular, then you might find that you can earn a sizable income. Of course, it’ll be much better if you enjoy living with other people!

Liquidate Your Assets

It could be that you’re asset-rich but cash-poor. While that can be OK on a small-term basis, eventually, it can cause problems. If your money is tied up in assets, then look at liquidating them. For example, let’s say you have a business, but you need access to cash. There are websites where you can learn everything that’s involved in selling a business. Once you have that information, you can get to work on getting the best possible price — and seriously boosting your bank balance. 

What’s Rightfully Yours 

It can be annoying to have to face financial issues. But it’s outright problematic if you’re facing financial issues even when you should have money in the bank. There are many instances when people end up paying bills that other people should foot. For example, if you’ve been in an incident on the roads, and it wasn’t your fault, then you should be the one paying the medical and automobile repair fees. The person who was responsible should. When you look into it, you’ll probably find that there are a few cases where you’re paying for something that you shouldn’t. It might not be as dramatic as a car accident, either — it could be that you’re paying a bill that a friend or family member should pay.

Taxes and Credits

Another area where people often leave money on the side is when it comes to taxes and credits. Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for money from the government, or there might be ways in which you can reduce your tax bill. In many cases, you might have to dig a little deeper to learn what they are since they don’t always advertise the money that people are owed. If you’re coming into a lot of money, then it can be a good idea to hire a tax lawyer — their words of advice might just save you huge sums of cash.

Old Items

It’s also possible that you have money wrapped up in your belongings. If you’ve lived in the same house for a long time, then it’s possible that you’ve got plenty of valuable items located around your property. They say that Americans have thousands of dollars worth of junk lying around their houses! If you’re no longer using those items, then why not list them for sale? You weren’t using them anyway, and you might just find that you can add a month’s salary to your bank account. Plus, in decluttering your home, you will be making your home nicer and might just boost your home’s real estate value.

Old Accounts 

Finally, let’s think about any old accounts that you might have. As you go through life, you’ll likely find that you have money dotted around in various places, but if you stop using those accounts, then you might forget that you have extra money lying around. It’s particularly a good idea to check any old digital accounts — might you have some money in a PayPal account, for instance? We’re not saying that you’ll find large amounts of cash, but you might just find some money — and since you didn’t know that it was there, you’ll probably be pretty happy with whatever amount it is!

Conclusion

Money is one of those things that always feels a little out of reach. But as we’ve seen, it’s sometimes possible that we have more of it than we think. We just need to look for it and take steps to release that money. Take the tips above, and you’ll have done just that. 

5 Unusual Ways to Invest Your Money You Need to Know

If you’ve got some money spare each month, or you’ve come into some from a windfall, you might be wondering what to do with that extra cash. Yes, you could simply spend it or go on some lavish holidays. But, it always makes sense to invest spare money and make it grow. With that in mind, you probably know about the typical investment ideas for money like property, buying shares in a business, or putting it all in a long-term savings account. But, did you know many unusual investment ideas work just as well? Check out these examples:

1. Peer-To-Peer Lending

There’s no denying that the financial landscape is changing every day, and fewer people are using mainstream banking services each day. One such example is lending; more people are seeking alternative lending sources like peer-to-peer lending.

You could invest some of your money into peer-to-peer lending and help partly fund many loans to minimise your risk. It’s an excellent way of growing your money for minimal effort, and you get to help people with their daily lives in all kinds of exciting ways.

2. Buy Old Photographs

Many people have hobbies like stamp collecting. Some collect stamps that are rare and of a particular vintage because their value increases over time. Most people know that fact, but did you know the same also applies to old photographs?

You could invest some or all of your spare cash into buying vintage photographs and keeping hold of them until their value soars. At that point, you can consider selling them to a person or business that offers the best price for them.

3. Buy Shares in Songs

Musicians usually receive royalties on their works whenever someone buys their music or broadcasts it in a public setting. However, some artists decide to sell the rights to their songs for a cash lump sum.

You may not know it, but it’s possible to buy shares in such songs and receive part of the royalties to them each year. Many investment groups often purchase the rights to music, and those groups get made up of many individual investors like you.

4. Buy Some Wine

You’re probably used to drinking wine, either on special occasions or socially with loved ones and friends. Wine is undeniably a popular alcoholic beverage enjoyed by millions of people globally each year.

Have you considered taking things a step further by investing in some fine wine? As you may know, some wines are very expensive, and ones of a particular vintage can even fetch tens of thousands of pounds.

Consider buying some vintage wine and keep it locked away in a safe and secure cellar. You can then sell them when they reach a specific value.

5. Cryptocurrency

Lastly, if you’re looking for an unusual but medium to high-risk investment idea, how about cryptocurrency? You could invest in existing cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, or you could be an early adopter of new ones like Pi.

Just remember to do plenty of market research before selecting a particular cryptocurrency for your investment.

Loss and Grief: How Can You Care for Your Mental Health When Grieving a Loved One?

Funerals are some of the unfortunate things that happen in people’s lives. Losing a loved one is a challenging situation to handle, and you may forget to take care of yourself during this period.

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It can be heartbreaking not to have someone around you anymore. Accepting this condition could take some time, but eventually, you learn that some situations are uncontrollable. Here are some tips to help you take care of your mental health when dealing with a loved one’s funeral:

Outsourcing a Funeral Service

It can be difficult for you to focus and get things done when you lose a loved one. You don’t have to handle all the funeral services by yourself. Get people specializing in cremations or planning funerals to do that for you as you go through the grief.

It will be easier for you to process your loss and grief when you get time every day to stay by yourself. Handling every funeral plan would work against that since you will be running around finding the perfect flowers or organizing how every day will happen during the burial.

This process can take a toll on your mental health if you carry the burden alone. You can also use other family members or friends to handle different tasks as you rest.

Accept the Deceased’s Wishes

The Will is usually one of the causes of confrontation among family members. Whether you get fewer assets than what the deceased allocated you in the Will, accepting the person’s wishes will help you handle the grief better.

No one should have to go through the whole process of hiring lawyers and sitting through the lengthy court processes immediately after burying a loved one. Once you choose to contest the Will, you will be going against the deceased’s wishes. It can significantly affect your inner peace and conscience.

The wishes may also include what to do with the body. The first thing you need to consider is whether the person wished for burial or not. If yes, where should the ashes get spread?

It would be easier for you to handle the grief if you respected what the person wanted.

Find Alternative Ways to Raise Money

Funding a funeral is one of the most expensive things people handle. Coming up with the perfect fundraising ideas can help you get all the costs covered.

Social media platforms like Facebook offer an excellent opportunity for you to raise any amount of money you need to cater for a loved one’s funeral. Paying hospital bills and burial expenses can be too costly for the family.

Express Your Emotions

Most people think that crying brings out the weakness in you. However, it is good for you to express your emotions during a loved one’s funeral to avoid holding in anger or sadness.

Plugin your earphones and listen to sad songs as you cry out your anger. This way, you get to relieve yourself of the emotional burden and cope with the situation effectively.

You can also let your family and friends support you during this process. Talk to whoever you can about how you feel.

Conclusion

Loss and grief can take control of your emotions. Everyone grieving a loved one should understand that it always gets better, and you might not have the person back, but you can always learn to cope with the situation.

Are You Struggling With Car Maintenance? Here Are Some Tips for You

Getting a car makes it easier for you to move around. However, most people already understand how car value depreciates, and you have to put in the work if you want to have the same car for the longest time.

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Based on how expensive cars are in the market, maintaining them is less costly than buying new ones frequently. If you are struggling to figure out the best car maintenance methods, here is what to do:

Wheel Repair

Repairing or replacing your car wheels can go a long way to ensuring you stay safe on the road. You can decide what company to use once you learn more about it on a website or advertisement posts. 

Some companies are better than others at these services; therefore, enough research should help you hire the best one.

The wheels you go for are also determined by the material used to make them. Wheel repair and refurbishment companies can have alloy or other metallic materials. It would be best to research customer reviews about different wheels to determine the right quality for your car.

Conduct Safety Checks Before Using the Car

Everyone knows that once you get in the car seat, the essential thing is to fasten the belt before driving off to wherever you want to go. However, a seat belt is not the only safety check you need to do.

Checking the fluid levels and the tire pressure is essential to making your vehicle safe for use. The liquid level should be enough for a to and fro journey if an emergency happens and you cannot get another refill.

Taking your car for checkups in the garage once in a while is also an important safety check. It ensures that you understand its condition before using it for travel.

Replace Wiper Blades

Noticing when your wiper blades get worn out can be easy since they may start working at a reduced speed. It could also be challenging to make them flick from one side to the other. Some drivers also notice a problem with wiper blades when the blades do not clean efficiently.

Replacing the blades can save you the struggle of handling defaulted ones. You can visit any store with auto parts to acquire quality wiper blades that function correctly.

Cleaning Your Car Regularly

Car washing has to be the most regular thing car owners and drivers do. It should not be a surprise how quickly cars get dirty. Most people add carpet squares in the back seat to help you keep the inside area clean for a while.

Having trash in your vehicle is normal; the only thing you have to do is remove it regularly.

Vacuuming your car seats and floor can remove dust and make it leave it with a fresh smell. It would be best to clean any part of the car where the nozzle fits, including the peddle area.

Conclusion

Car maintenance requires discipline and commitments. Most people do not get much time to do this stuff during the day, and outsourcing the services saves the day. If you are committed to moving around in a clean car, you will do everything to maintain its value.

Signs That You Are Being Scammed

More and more people are being scammed right under their noses without them noticing, it is a common part of internet life. Scammers are becoming incredibly sophisticated, they are much harder to spot nowadays with scammers using very malicious methods in order to extract money or information from you that may prove disastrous. Scams come in all shapes and sizes. They are constantly changing and adapting and thus the methods for how to spot a scam are always changing. However, there are some very tell-tell signs that a scam is occurring. This post will help you locate the signs and methods that scammers will take in order to steal from you.  However, to prevent scammers from getting hold of your information to begin with then these are the ways to spot whether you may be being scammed:

Signs That You Are Being Scammed - online scam fraud phishing image
Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Being Contacted Out Of The Blue

Companies don’t often contact you randomly either through email or phone calls. This is especially true for companies that have never contacted you before. whether online, on the phone, or face to face, be wary if you are being asked for your money or any sensitive information. In this scenario, you should halt any further communication with the source of the suspicious call/email and contact the company directly. Call their number and ask if the contact you received was legitimate, but do not provide any of your details. 

If You’re Being Rushed

No legitimate company will ask you for your bank details or account information with any unreasonable deadline.  The scammers will also rush you in the process and employ a sense of fear ad use scare tactics to prevent you from making any sort of sound or rational judgment. If you are in this position immediately hang up the phone, and provide no further information. 

Being Asked For Your Bank Information

It is the policy now for banks not to ask for any and all bank information in an email or over the phone. They will never ask you for this. However, you have received a phone call from somebody posing as your bank, even if they sound legitimate, if they start asking you for your personal details or sensitive information, they are attempting to extract it from you in order to use it for malicious reasons. If at any point you become suspicious of someone saying they are from your bank, hang up and call them back from a number the official bank website has written on its ‘contact us’ page.

Hopefully, this list has been helpful and provided you with useful information on how to spot a scam when they present itself. If you believe that a scam is occurring or you notice that there is suspicious activity on your accounts then the first port of call is to report it immediately. Ultimately if you are being scammed the authorities are the best people to help you resolve your cause and begin the recovery process. There are also ways to claim back any losses that you may have experienced from the scamming such as through wealth recovery solicitors.