Archive: February, 2010

Women’s Auto Insurance – Cheaper Or Not?

Historically, the insurance industry has used certain data from customer’s gender and age to decide the premiums to charge. The practice of using this data sometimes has made it difficult for some people to obtain car insurance. It was always believed that women had to pay more for insurance because men are better drivers. However, this perception may not necessarily be the cause of more expensive car insurance for women. Click through here for additional info about buy car insurance .

That erroneous delusion no longer holds true in our present society since insurance providers are now more competitive and more informed to the fact that women are equally, and in some case more responsible than men when it comes to driving. The clich that women are not as good drivers as men has led some people to believe that car insurance for women is more expensive.

Actually a recent Carnegie-Mellon investigation revealed quite a different result concerning the controversy of men vs. women drivers. The study showed that men were twice as likely to die in a traffic accident than women were. While in another independent study, almost 65% of men had no traffic citations, while the figure for women was almost 70%. Men also are more likely to have multiple citations than women, as a further question revealed that of those who do have citations, women had 10% less violations than men.

Since the insurance companies are aware that women are lower risk, many insurance companies gear specific programs toward car insurance for women. These programs guarantee that women pay a lower rate than men. These insurance companies have set up special individual companies to provide and underwrite car insurance for women only.You will find extra info on discount car insurance here.

The misconception that car insurance for women is more expensive has been debunked, as the industry has discovered that young men are actually the highest risk group. Finding out how you fare in comparison to other types of drivers is easy by getting a free online quote from any insurance provider.

A comparative quote will show the real difference in premiums and lay to rest the myth that car insurance for women is higher. In spite of the fact many may believe men are better drivers than women, the insurers writing the policies do not subscribe to this theory. Nevertheless, the insurance industry combines many factors into deciding a premium for each customer, and gender is not the only factor. However, if you are a woman it is to your advantage that premiums are, normally, lower than a corresponding male with corresponding driving practices.You should get stacks of additional valuable info on buy car insurance here.

Big Red Calculator, The Official Calculator Of The National Debt

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Big Red Calculator, The Official Calculator Of The National Debt
 
Manufacturer: Columbia Technologies, LLC
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $12.99
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Product Description

The Big Red Calculator is capable of displaying very large numbers like "Trillions", or calculating the National Debt and the Federal Budget Deficit. For business, office and home use. Large digits allow easy viewing and large sure-feel buttons make digit entry reliable. Dual power allows for use in varied lighting conditions. Includes illustrated step-by-step manual with sample calculations. Features include 16-digit large LED display capable of showing trillions, with Tax, Mark Up, 112 Step Check, Auto Replay and Grand Total functions, solar/battery power, large sure-feel buttons, bold red color, easy-to-read instructions, CE/RoHS compliant.

Product Details

  • 16-Digit Large LED Display
  • Tax, Mark Up and Memory Ideal for Business and Finance
  • 112 Step Check and Correct for Long Calculations
  • Solar / Battery Powered
  • "Official Calculator of the National Debt"

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

Finally a calculator with enough places
 
Review Date: November 7, 2009
Reviewer: O. S. Pratz,



Has a few features you may not have seen before so be sure and save the instructions. I like playing with numbers and this is exactly what I was looking for. Great little (or not so little) calculator. Gregory's review covered the features pretty well and about all I can add is you may have a few calculators laying around the house but this is the one you'll reach for.
Forget the debt, this is a great calculator!
 
Review Date: November 7, 2009
Reviewer: Paul Drake,
Simply the best digital calculator I've ever owned. Cool styling, big key pad and a display that doesn't run out of room!

Great Functions!
 
Review Date: December 16, 2009
Reviewer: Jon W. Ball,
As an Accountant and an Accounting Teacher, I will admit to purchasing the calculator as a joke. However, the functions are great! The repeat function. The review functions are great.

What started out as joke, has become my primary work calculator.
Big Red Numba Cruncha!
 
Review Date: March 30, 2010
Reviewer: Arthur Pitcher, Phoenix, Arizona United States
Okay, so here's the deal. I know my way around a calculator. I mean I *REALLY* know my way around a calculator. Business, Finance, Scientific, Graphing, I love them all. However, in the job I currently have, I don't need a very advanced calculator. I just wanted a cool one.

Enter the Big Red Calculator. I call it the "Big Red Numba Cruncha." First of all, it's designed to work with larger numbers... like... quadrillions. To put this in context, this is approximately half the amount my wife spends on shoes from Amazon in a given year. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating to inflate my feeling of self-importance. Imelda Marcos she's not. But I digress. Working with numbers that big is satisfying, and most calculators don't let you go out anywhere near that amount of digits. How big is a quadrillion? Well, one quadrillion looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000 or 1E15 or 1 x 10^15 (yes, that is 15 zero's.) Sorry, I'm breathing a little heavy now. Numbers make me feel all tingly.

So, besides handling some really large numbers, it has some really cool features. Personally, I love the way there are hard analog selector switches to select how decimals are handled (in modern calculators sometimes there are hidden "function" combinations that toggle these settings, and this can be confusing and difficult to change.) The buttons are nice and big, with quality, legible screening. And they feel like little heavenly sponges when I'm in formula munching, number crunching, HUGH NUMBER PUNCHING MODE (sigh... I suppose I'm still excited.) Also, for such an inexpensive calculator, it has some pretty advanced memory and step-through functions. There is also the fact that it's dual powered (solar/LR44 battery,) which is convenient, although I miss an OFF button. Sure, it powers off automatically after 10 minutes, but that's 10 minutes this beautiful brick-red number-bludgeon-er is not calculating... almost being teased like; "Okay - I'm powered on - any minute now imma get to nom nom on some digits,") but no... it's simply a crime against mathematics!

Speaking to the quality, this is a very well made unit, much higher in quality than some at five to six times the price. But the best part? Oooohhhhh yeah, the best part is... well... the best part:

The calculator is red. Not like little-girl pink, or chartreuse. I'm talking about Fire Engine, Brick, Apple on steroids, Ed Norton in Fight Club RED.

Now, I'm not going to get into the way this unit is marketed, or discuss the political ramifications of buying one (although I heard Ron Reagan Jr. will sneak in to your house while you're sleeping to spoon with you if you buy one,) let's just say that a price <$30 is a remarkable deal, but for <$13? CAN NOT LOSE.

Why don't you quitcher readin' and buy it already! You know you want to. It's RED! And it CALCULATES! Adds - Subtracts - Multiplies and even Divides, with MEMORY up in this thang! Holy Crud on a Crisp! You still haven't bought it? Than in my opinion, you're missing out. Seriously. Fer Realz.

Added features make it a winner.
 
Review Date: August 11, 2009
Reviewer: Gregory C. Steiner, USA
Don't let the novelty packaging fool you. This is a full-featured calculator with added features that set it above a run-of-the-mill unit.
- The display is large - 16 digits! That's up to quadrillions!
- The keys are sized and spaced for easy use, even for those with large fingers.
- There is a 'call back' feature that lets you review a long series of calculations. This is especially useful when balancing your checkbook to find that 10-cent error.
- There is a replay feature. Similar to the call-back but it automatically steps through all the calculations in the series.
- Business functions like mark-up, tax rate.
- Solar and battery power. If there's enough light to read the display, there's probably enough light to run the calculator.

If there's any draw back is that it is not pocket-sized. It will easily fit in a backpack and on your desk.

How To Save On Your Mortgage Costs

The largest debt that most people will ever have is a mortgage. The ability to lower this payment and save on interest is an interesting idea but many people have no idea how to go about doing it.

There are hundreds of financial experts willing to give you advice on lowering mortgage costs. Anyone who uses some common sense and does their research can do this on their own. Refinancing the loan may be a possibility if your current financial and credit situation are both in good shape.

If you are already in a fixed rate loan offering the lowest possible interest rate you have no reason to consider refinancing. There are very few buyers who were able to obtain this deal at the time of their purchase. Many times it was due simply to not having a large enough down payment or that their credit score was too low for the best loans or the better rates. For these people refinancing can really benefit their mortgage costs by lowering them considerably.

Even if your interest rate is not that bad you should consider refinancing if you are in an ARM or balloon loan, anything other than a fixed rate loan. If you are considering refinancing you should make sure that no missed or late payments have been reported to your credit history and that your score is high enough to get you a better rate.

A good credit score is extremely important for refinancing, it will help you get the lowest interest rate and therefore will reduce your monthly payment dramatically. If you have owned your home for awhile or have done some upgrades then you may have equity, this equity can be used to get you an even lower rate if it is used properly. You should use it as leverage on the loan, meaning if you owe $130,000 and the home appraises for $180,000 then you have $50,000 that you are not taking out but leaving in as a simulated down payment, this results in a great rate.

Your home should be in the best possible shape at the time of refinancing. An appraiser will come out to assess the homes value, the higher the value the better the savings you will see. Make sure all repairs are completed in the home. Just as if you were selling the property you should remove clutter and create curb appeal for the appraised value to be at the highest.

You do not want to be refused a loan due to a cluttered basement that the appraiser could not visit or an unfinished project that would have added equity. If you are unable to get the home appraised for a higher value then is owed then you will not be able to refinance. The higher the appraisal goes over the amount owed is treated as equity and would get you a much better rate, therefore lowering your monthly mortgage payments.

Graham McKenzie is the content coordinator for a leading South African leading Homeloans and Bond Origination portal which provides access to Standard Bank Homeloans.

The Advantages Of Home Mortgage Refinancing

Home mortgage refinancing may be a well-liked alternative for millions of householders these days. Several people are trapped in dangerous mortgages, have homes that are losing worth, or have a defrayment that has grown and will no longer afford. These issues will be fixed by obtaining a mortgage refinance.

Home mortgage refinancing offers multiple choices for house owners in quest of something. If you are trying for a lower interest rate, mounted-rate mortgages, or lower monthly payments, refinancing is presumably your best bet. Many house owners even get cash up equity in your house. Owners should grasp the precise reasons for wishing to refinance their mortgage loan, and begin from there.

– Do you wish lower payments?

– You want out of an ARM (adjusted rate mortgage) and a fixed rate mortgage?

– Have you lost your house thanks to the market worth of the house, and want a loan right currently?

– Do you wish to use the capital they have accumulated in their house and use that money for what you wish?

If you answered yes to either query, home mortgage refinancing may be perfect for you. By knowing the precise reason you wish to refinance, the method can be much easier and profitable. House owners want to explore completely different loan choices offered to them and see how they work into their long-term fiscal plans.

With interest rates so low, as they are now, refinancing of mortgages has been a in style choice. Many owners benefit from getting a mortgage that helps them with their fiscal goals. Build positive you recognize the exact reason why you want to refinance, and see what is available to you. Do not approach a mortgage loaner or bank regarding refinancing if you have no idea why, how, or what will happen next.

Home mortgage refinancing can build your fiscal life higher and more manageable.

Refinancing a mortgage is merely the process of getting a loan, new house yourself. Then use the proceeds of the new loan to pay off your existing one. The reason most individuals refinance is because their conditions and desires have changed over the course of your existing mortgage.

House refinance loan will scale back your monthly defrayment. If you refinance a house mortgage terms with low interest rate, then you’ll reduce your monthly defrayment. If your credit has fortunately improved, or your house has increased in market price, you’ll be in a position to easily qualify for a lower rate.

Refinancing can help in optimizing the structure of your loan. Keep in mind the time your loan request in the first place? Most people are terribly anxious concerning her new house and move to any term of the mortgage loan that can offer them quick. Ultimately you may realize that the structure of the loans they need isn’t right for you longer. Perhaps you bought adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and mounted interest amount is about to expire. Or he may have gotten a mounted rate mortgage, but as a more flexible structure of ARM.

Refinancing will reduce your pay off terms. Maybe you choose to pay your mortgage in 10 years instead of 20. Truly, this may save you thousands of dollars in interest. If you’ll afford higher defrayment set up and are one zero one% confident that they will stay house for a very long time, then refinance a mortgage on the idea of those terms can save you heaps.

Visit us to get more information on veteran loans.

How Living Within Your Means Can Make Life More Enjoyable

With the recent downturn in the economy, many people are realizing that they cannot afford to sustain the lifestyle that they have grown accustomed to living. Fortunately, this does not mean life cannot be enjoyable. There are a number of easy ways to live within your means without hurting your quality of life. With a little planning and knowledge you can live on budget without feeling the financial strain.

The following are a number of ways to live within your means while making life more enjoyable:

1. In order to live within your means, you have to be able to bring in more money than you are spending. Create a monthly budget that includes how much you spend on essential items such as home and vehicle insurance, utilities, food, cable, phone, mortgage payments, gas, etc. Then, calculate how much you earn monthly. Subtract your monthly income from necessary expenses to determine how much extra money you have to work with.

2. List extra expenses such as entertainment, recreation, and products you shop for in the home and on yourself such as clothing, personal care products, etc. Calculate how much you spend monthly on these items. You will then need to come up with ways to control your spending habits. This can include cutting down on the number of times you dine out each month, shopping for discounts at large department stores, second hand stores, surplus stores, etc. When shopping, look for deals, coupons, and sales. Never pay full price for an item. As well, you can often find great deals when shopping online.

3. Credit card debt is a major source of financial hardship. If you have several credit cards with high outstanding debt, you should at least pay the monthly minimum for each card, and then start to pay off the card with the highest interest rate. Owning fewer credit cards will make it easier to manage and remember. Always pay your bills on time to avoid having to pay any interest at all. To help wean yourself off of credit cards, start carrying cash with you at all times and pay using cash. Seeing the physical money literally change hands will help you consider needs vs. wants on a more regular basis.

4. If you are having trouble keeping up with debt payments, then maybe you should consider consolidating your debt in order to manage it better. Instead of making multiple monthly payments to several creditors, you can consolidate your debt and only need to make a single monthly payment. In addition to helping you get organized, this can also alleviate stress that is often associated with debt.

5. Clean up your credit score. Request a copy of your credit report from one of the following two major credit bureaus: Equifax, or TransUnion. Check it over for any inaccuracies. Look to see what debt is affecting your credit rating and work with a creditor to establish a repayment plan. Don’t ignore your creditors as they will send your debt to a collection agency.

At first, implementing a plan to live within your means can seem very unpleasant. You may miss a few of the luxuries you had grown accustomed to. However, once you get used to the plan, you will find life more enjoyable as you will not longer have the worry of how you are going to pay all of your bills. You may even realize that you are much happier living on a budget.

Adriana Noton is a freelance writer who specializes in providing great financial information for Canadians. When searching online for debt counselling or credit counselling, one of the many resources available is Consolidated Credit; offering a variety of debt counselling services and financial planning tools to help Canadians get their debts under control.


Related Finance Blogs

How to hack RFID-enabled Credit Cards for $8 (BBtv)

A number of credit card companies now issue credit cards with embedded RFIDs (radio frequency ID tags), with promises of enhanced security and speedy transactions.

But on today’s episode of Boing Boing tv, hacker and inventor Pablos Holman shows Xeni how you can use about $8 worth of gear bought on eBay to read personal data from those credit cards — cardholder name, credit card number, and whatever else your bank embeds in this manner.

Fears over data leaks from RFID-enabled cards aren’t new, and some argue they’re overblown — but this demo shows just how cheap and easy the “sniffing” can be.

This episode is part of our ongoing series of interviews with some of the thinkers, hackers, and tinkerers at the O’Reilly Emerging Technology conference this year.

For more episodes of Boing Boing tv, visit tv.boingboing.net.

Duration : 0:3:23

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How does identity theft happen from surfing or viewing adult web sites?

I’m wondering how does identity theft happen from surfing or viewing adult web sites? and can someone fish for your credit card information just by surfing at these sites?

It depends. If you typed your personal information then yes it can be stolen so never type stuff like that.

The other way is the website tricks you like you need to install blah blah to watch this video……If you install anything, ANYTHING then it’s possible for them to steal your identity because they always contain virus/spyware that will remain on your computer.

So lessons: 1) don’t install anything websites tell you to. and 2) don’t use any personal information on the internet unless you know for sure its safe like buying something on amazon.

Looking After The Aging Is A Top Health Care Concern

Are you currently in place where it has become important to arrange for aging care? It does not matter if the place is for yourself or someone you love, discovering the right aging care facility is critical. Here are a look at some of the different aging care options and how to select the right facility for your needs.

You need to comprehend that if someone suffers from certain medical ailments they can need very specialised care that will actually make some health care choices unsatisfactory. They can include Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, care following a massive stroke or heart attack, or even something such as arthritis, where mobility is going to be profoundly affected.

Do you feel that you’re in good health but need assistance with daily chores and tasks? Should you be still mentally aware, have good balance and mobility, and are not within a altered mental state, you could possibly remain in your home and simply hire a nurse to come in. This can be great for some health conditions such as diabetes, where some specialised foot care may be needed but overall health is still fairly good.

You may look at a retirement residence as a good transition from your home. You want to make sure that the facility you choose has activities you will enjoy and enough privacy and independence that you will feel at home there. Look at this place as somewhere you will want to live for a long time. Health care methods and advances in medical care can keep you around for many years to come.

Nursing care facilities may be the next step that you will consider. Normally, a person is admitted into a nursing home when they have significant physical or mental impairments that make any level of self-care impossible. They usually have less segregated living arrangements and activities which are less varied or active. People who are suffering from altered mental states due to disease or the after effects of a stroke may require a room in a nursing facility.

Once aging has reached a very advanced stage, you may need to use palliative care to provide you with personal care until you pass on. This can be a hard decision to make especially since it is normally being made on behalf of a loved one, instead of by the loved one themselves.

Senior care is quickly becoming a growth industry. People requiring more care for longer periods of time and the different levels of physical needs has caused people to need specialized aging care. Knowing what stage you or a family member has reached is the key to getting the care you, or they, need.

Before you go and buy a policy get more long-term care ins info and request a long term care insurance quote visit us today. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.

Texas Instruments TI1795SV Solar Calculator

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Texas Instruments TI1795SV Solar Calculator
 
Manufacturer: Texas Instruments
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $15.95
Sale Price: $10.00
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Product Description

If you're looking for a low-cost calculator but want a unit that's sturdier than most, then the Texas Instruments TI1795SV may be your ideal choice. It offers basic math operations without the frills that you may never need. Plus, it has a combination solar/battery power supply for long battery life and easy reading in any lighting condition.

The TI1795SV is a slightly larger and sturdier version of the Texas Instruments TI1706 solar calculator. Like the TI1706, the TI1795 offers functions for square root, percentages, plus and minus values, and memory. However, the TI1795 is designed as a mini desktop calculator, so its eight-character LCD is larger and easier to read, and the unit overall has a weightier and more substantial feel.

Although it's too large to fit in a shirt pocket, the TI1795SV fits comfortably in a coat pocket or a purse. Use it at home, work with it at the office, or take it to the grocery store or anywhere you need quick and easy calculations. --John Frederick Moore

Product Details

  • Easy keyboard operation
  • Change sign (+ / -) key
  • Square root key
  • Solar and battery powered
  • Angled display

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Customer Reviews

Avoid the Top 10 Mistakes of Budgeting

It will save you money

Making a budget is essential for your financial well-being. When you have a plan in place, even the roughest of recessions won’t be able to pull you under. But beware, purveyors of payday loans – if you aren’t careful, you can fall prey to one of the top 10 budget mistakes.

Having two household incomes – because you need them

If there is a second income in your household, it’s nice to be able to use that one for savings. That said, too many people have a second income to overextend their credit, especially when buying more home than they need. What if one income dries up? Live within the means of a single income and you’ll be safer and more economical.

Not putting money away

Savings accounts, college funds or even rainy day funds. Whatever you choose to use it for, you need to set small portion of each paycheck aside. It pays to be prepared!

Overspending

Will that hole in your soul really be filled with a new television? If the old one works just fine, you should think before thinking about replacing it. Impulse buys can be lethal, so make sure your budget is about what you really need every month. Sure, there should be some money earmarked for entertainment, but you must be disciplined enough to stay within the boundaries. When you do shop, try to look for sales and special deals.

Not recording expenses

When your budget is young, this is essential. Record purchases in the register of your checkbook, Smartphone, or a notebook, and create visual proof you’re following your budget. Eventually you will get the hang of it and won’t need to record things right away, but if you start to notice trouble, don’t be afraid to go back to recording it all.

Going credit crazy

This is very symptomatic of overspending. If you don’t have the money for something, don’t be buying it. Using credit makes it too easy to overspend, and long-term revolving interest is very expensive. If you must use credit, try to pay it off right away as opposed to carrying over a balance.

Being too charitable

This one might sound odd, but it’s obvious, isn’t it? There’s nothing wrong with generosity, but your own bottom line comes first.

Going overboard with birthday parties

Parents of young children may know about this one. I’m not talking about how much to spend on junior’s gift, but on the party guests. Giving goodie bags is a great practice for kids, but is it actually necessary? Cake, ice cream and games should be enough.

Too many bills

This is why it’s useful not to go crazy with credit cards. Housing and utility bills are unavoidable, but you really DO need eight or nine credit cards? A too many bills can lead to errors and omissions, not to mention more money you’re paying out.

Being afraid to ask for a raise

If you are valuable to your employer, make sure they know. If you don’t think your pay is consistent with what others in your field are paid, discuss it with your superiors. If you are valuable, an employer will consider it. If your employer won’t do it, consider improving your skills and education so that you can perhaps find a better job.

Not creating a budget

A person without a plan is a person who will soon be parted from their money. Payday loans can help, but budgeting is the best way to handle your finances over time.