How A College Student Can Visit Europe On Budget

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Consta

If you are a college student and you want to travel across europe here are ten tips on how to visit europe on the cheap. Some of the ideas like visiting Vatican Museum on the last Sunday of every month don’t require you to swipe your student credit card because it is free.

1. Olympics (London): Catch some Olympic glory without spending a penny by attending one of the free events, such as the marathon, triathlon, or cycling road race. Head to Hyde Park to catch the cycling portion of the triathlon.

2. Dos de Mayo (Madrid): Malasaña’s biggest party honors the memory of the madrileños who were killed in the fight to free Spain from Joseph Napoleon-and for travelers, that means free museum entry, live music, and dancing on May 2nd.

3. Bazaars (Istanbul): At Istanbul’s markets, American travelers should pretend they’re anything but American. Speaking a foreign language other than English translates into lower prices. It’s also smart to ignore the gimmicks found immediately upon entering the bazaar and head straight to the backstreets, where vendors are likely to have more practical products and be more receptive to bargaining.

4. Vatican Museums (Rome): Normally a whopping €15, this popular museum complex opens its doors for free on the last Sunday of every month. Beyond the Sistine Chapel, be sure to check out the Pinacoteca, home to some of the best Italian art from the 12th-17th centuries by artists like Giotto, Fra Angelico, Raphael, and Caravaggio.

5. Museumjaarkaart (Amsterdam): Dutch for “Museum Year Pass,” the Museumjaarkaart grants unlimited access to Amsterdam’s many museums. Travelers planning on going to more than two or three museums while in the city should rush to buy one of these.

6. Poble Espanyol (Barcelona): Head to Shangó Bar on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for free salsa lessons.

7. New Europe Tours (Prague): Czech out New Europe’s free city tour to get acquainted with Prague’s major sights. Paid options are also available, including a castle tour, beer tour, Terezín concentration camp tour, and Kutná Hora tour.

8. Garage (Berlin): “Happy Hour” (Wednesdays from 11am to 1pm) at secondhand store Garage offers 30% off of prices that already make travelers weak in the knees.

9. Ferries (Athens): To get from Athens to the neighboring Cyclades at a lower cost, trade the plane for the ferry. For further savings, take a standard ferry-they’re cheaper, and they run more frequently, than the fast ferries.

10. Palazzo Pitti (Florence): It may cost €10, but a ticket to the Palazzo Pitti can get travelers access to three museums and the Boboli Gardens. Let’s Go recommends Ticket 2 over Ticket

Let’s Go Travel Guides is the only travel guide created exclusively by students, for students. Let’s Go offers a fresh, young perspective on hundreds of travel destinations around the globe, and has become one of the most popular hubs of travel information, tips, and know-how through its guides, mobile apps, and website, www.letsgo.com.

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What To Do When Your Credit Card is Lost Or Stolen

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Consta

According to bank statistics, college students are the most likely card users to report their student credit card is lost or stolen. The reason is because their lifestyle of partying and boozing. You are more likely to lose your wallet together with credit cards when you are drunk and carefree.

What to do when your Student credit card is stolen.

Whether your student credit card was stolen when you were returning home after a drinking spree or you just misplaced it the first thing you should do is call your bank and ask them to block the card.

Thieves are quick to use a stolen credit card  so check if there is any unauthorized transaction. Check the transaction history of your bank issued card. You can do this online if your bank has enabled internet banking.If there was unauthorized transaction report it to your bank immediately. Banks will investigate and reimburse customers for unauthorized transactions on their credit card accounts.

Report The Incident To Police

This is a precautionary measure to beef up your case just in case your bank decides it does not believe your case.

Once the lost or stolen card is blocked your bank will issue you with a new student credit card. If you have any automatic payments set up you will need to get busy notifying merchants and service providers of the new account number.

What to do when your Student credit card number and other information is stolen.

Just remember crime has gone high tech just like other things in life. This days you are more likely have your credit card information stolen than losing the physical credit card. In March, 2012, third-party credit card processor Global Payments (GPN) reported in the news that it believes up to 1.5 million credit cards issued in North America may have been compromised, with security thieves potentially stealing “Track 2″ information such as the account numbers, expiration dates, and three-digit PINs on the back of customers’ cards. Credit card issuers affected were Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

When such information lands in the hands of a criminal they card steal from you. Make sure to keep good care of your credit card information. Never send your student credit card number and details such as Expiry date and PIN via email or fax. if you believe or suspect the information is in the wrong hands follow the above procedure.

For more information on what to do when your credit card or debit card is lost or stolen check out government site FTC.

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How To Negotiate Student Credit Card Debt Settlement

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Consta

If your student credit cards are becoming unbearable you can try to negotiate a debt settlement with the issuer of your student credit card.

But before you even consider negotiations for student credit card debt settlement just note, in general, the credit card company will only deal with a consumer when the consumer is behind on payments but capable of making a lump sum payment.

The following student credit card debt settlement negotiation tips will help prepare you face your student credit card issuer with know how and confidence.

Raise money for a lump sum payment

Before picking up that phone and calling the company customer representative to negotiate, know where you will get money to pay off the lump sum because that is the first question they will ask. One idea could be your PC, Laptop and other electronic goods.

Know the questions your credit card company will ask you

Knowing the questions they will ask during the negotiations will help you prepare your answers. You don’t want to advertise your ignorance. Some of simple questions will be like, your monthly budget?

Write down your ideas

During negotiations make your ideas precise, avoid lengthy explanation. Reading and re-reading your ideas will give you more confidence.

Know your rights as a borrower

Make sure you know your rights as a consumer. It’ll make you aware of what creditors shouldn’t do when they’re collecting your payments. If in case the creditor violates the laws, you can take suitable legal action against them. Read Government website on Rights of Creditors.

Be nice with your creditors

When you finally meet your creditors face to face be polite and understanding while dealing with them, it will make it easier for you to get an agreement on your student credit card debt settlement.

Explain how your creditors will gain if you settle the dues

When you’re negotiating with creditors, make sure you explain how the creditors will benefit from a settlement. Make them understand that they won’t have to approach Collection agency to collect your dues and they need not go to courts to sue you.

Ask Your Parents To Assist You

If your options to raise money dwindle, you can negotiate with your parents to bail you out. You don’t have to ask for a cash hand out, you can take an interest free loan from them and clear your student credit card debt. That approach will show your maturity and responsibility.

Try again if the creditor refuses to settle the first time

Never give up negotiating, be persistence.

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How To Invest in Emerging Markets With Minimum Risk

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Consta

We know investing money in emerging markets has produced returns above average. Data from  Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Markets between 1989 and 2008 saw a decent annualised return of 9.98%, and greatly exceeds the annualized return of 8.42% the S&P 500 Index over the same time period.

While many investors are reluctant to invest their money in in emerging because of factors such as politics and lack of market awareness of local companies and stock exchange there is away to go around these risk.

Invest in multinational companies that are investing capital in Emerging Markets.

One way to invest with minimum risk in emerging markets is investing in multinational companies that are investing capital in Emerging Markets. Multinationals such as Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson and McDonald’s ‘generate large portions of revenue from emerging markets’, while simultaneously being considered ‘stable, safe businesses’.

As you can see to, to invest your money in an emerging market does not mean looking at local stock exchanges and picking up unknown stocks. Play the emerging market by buying up stock of multinational companies.

A rapidly growing middle-class in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China will prompt a shift in spending habits, which can affect the profits of companies that invest in those areas.

A good example is Apple, the maker of popular Iphone and Ipad has reported it’s share of Chinese market is less than 1%. While China’s middle class right now consists of 200 million, they are set to grow to nearly 700 million by 2020. As you can see Apple has barely scratched the surface in China. An investor investing his money in Apple will be tapping into emerging market potential, but indirectly.

Low Risk Investing without getting your feet wet

If you don’t want to pick individual multinationals you can invest your money in funds that invest in big German, British or U.S. companies, which are trying to break through to fast-growing emerging economies. Funds such as Schroder Global Alpha Plus and M&G Global Basics.

This investing strategy is a way of ‘dipping toes’ into emerging markets without getting your feet completely wet. This investing tactic helps investors to avoid the sharp ups and downs experienced by those who invest directly in these emerging markets.

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Ride The Commodities Bull With Blackrock World Mining Trust

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Consta

BlackRock World Mining investment trust is a UK investment fund, mutual fund or in other words mining fund that invests money in mining and metals. It buys shares in miners that range from global giants such as Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton to specialists such as South Africa’s Impala Platinum.

Blackrock World Mining trust is a closed end mutual fund and investors interested in getting exposure in commodities, mines and metals can purchase the shares of Blackrock world mining trust from London stock exchange. Blackrock world mining trust ticker symbol is (BRWM) the company is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Blackrock World Mining Fund Returns last ten Years

Strong demand for gold, silver, steel and other minerals from emerging markets such as China has forced up their prices over the past decade along with miners’ share prices. BlackRock World Mining investment trust is one mining fund to have enjoyed the ride, with Blackrock mining share price rising five-fold over ten years.

Blackrock Mining Investments

According to the company’s website.The Company’s principal activity is portfolio investment. The Company’s objective is to maximise total returns to shareholders through a world-wide portfolio of mining and metal securities.

The Company’s top ten investments include

  1. Rio Tinto,
  2. BHP Billiton,
  3. Vale, Teck Resources,
  4. Minas Buenaventura,
  5. Fresnillo,
  6. Impala Platinum,
  7. First Quantum Minerals,
  8. Glencore
  9. Freeport McMoRan.

Blackrock mining also invests in physical metals such as gold and silver and 10% of the mining fund money is invested in physical metals.

Although the outlook for mining funds might not look as rosy as the last ten years investors should look at the dividend opportunities these companies provide. High commodity prices mean miners can afford to make more generous payouts. Checking on google finance, blackrock has a dividend yield of 14%.

Blackrock World Mining Forecast and Prediction

Evy Hambro, a natural resources fund manager at BlackRock who runs the trust, says: ‘We still see the same factors in play that have driven commodity prices over the past decade.

‘Long-term demand is growing and long-term supply is constrained, with a lack of exploration success.

‘At least one major discovery is needed each year to replenish what is being extracted.’

Hambro argues that many miners look more solid as investments than three years ago. Firms have been using surplus profits to repay debts and he says shares are cheap by historic standards.

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Mutual Funds That Pay Monthly Dividends

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Consta

Bond Mutuals funds are the best for investors looking for monthly dividends. As the name suggests, bond mutual funds invest in government bonds and company bonds. They also invest money in other debt securities.

If you put your money in a bond mutual fund you’ll receive monthly dividends from the fund. The dividend money comes from interest payments from government bonds and company bonds that the mutual fund has invested in. The dividend could also be from any realised capital appreciation in the prices of the portfolio’s bonds.

Bond mutual funds tend to pay higher dividends than your typical bank savings accounts, and they usually pay out dividends more frequently than individual bonds. Bond funds are also considered to be “low risk”

Mutual funds that pay monthly dividend are perfect for people who have retired because they provide a monthly income to meet daily expenses. They are also low risk compared to an equity fund.

Three Types of Bond Mutual Funds That Will Pay You Dividends

Government Bond Funds

This fund invests money exclusively in government securities such as government bonds and treasury bills. The dividend that investors receive comes from the interest the bond fund picks from government bonds and treasury bills. These funds are regarded as the safest of the bond funds because the underlying securities are backed by the government.

Corporate Bond Funds

Corporates bond funds invest in bonds issued by public and private companies. Investors are paid dividends from the interest earned from corporate bonds. These funds are considered risky than government bond funds. They tend to be volatile and they tend to show higher returns. The higher returns comes from there ability to take bigger risk. The risk is that underlying bonds could default if the companies that issue them run into financial trouble.

Municipal Mutual Fund Bonds.

Municipal bond funds invest money in debt issued by state and local governments to pay for local public projects, such as bridges, schools, and highways. Municipal bond funds are popular because they offer tax advantages. Investors in municipal bond funds are exempt from federal taxes and, in some cases, from state taxes as well.

The monthly dividends paid by the municipal bond funds is the money that the fund collects from the interest paid by the bonds issued by the state or local government.

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Tips For Investing Money In Mutual Fund

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Consta

Mutual fund is a powerful investment tool and also the cheapest possible way to invest your money. Mutual funds provide you an opportunity to diversify your investments without buying different stocks.

The following are a few on tips on how to invest your money in mutual funds.

Know The Fund Manager

Every mutual fund manager has an investment philosophy, some like taking big risk and others prefer being conservative. It is also important to know that it is not just the manager who decides on investment. There is a research analyst and an investment committee involved as well. However, the expertise the manager is important.

Keep Re-balancing Your Portfolio

Keep checking on your mutual fund investments. You can check it on a quarterly basis or half-yearly basis. The bottom line is that one should review and re-balance at a regular intervals.

Don’t Panic After Market shocks

Your mutual funds will have its ups and down. When your mutual fund reports a decline, Please don’t panic and change your investment plans according to market conditions. Draw out a long-term plan and work towards the achieving your financial goals.

Keep track Of Your Mutual Fund

It is your responsibility to know about your mutual fund performance. Make sure your address is up to date so that you can receive regular performance reports. If your mutual funds stops sending your regular mutual fund performance reports call the office. Mutual funds have a statutory obligation to send all investors regular performance reports.

Don’t just rely on information coming from your mutual fund manager, make use of third party news sources. Websites such as morningstar.com focuses exclusively in tracking mutual fund performance.  read financial newspapers and magazines for latest news on mutual fund industry. Set up a Google alert for your mutual fund so that you can be informed every time your mutual fund is reported in news.

Advantages of Investing Money in Mutuals Fund.

Mutual funds have advantages compared to direct investing in individual securities. vThese include:

  • Increased diversification
  • Daily liquidity
  • Professional investment management
  • Ability to participate in investments that may be available only to larger investors
  • Service and convenience
  • Government oversight
  • Ease of comparison

Disadvantages of Investing Money In Mutual Funds

Mutual funds have disadvantages as well, which include:

  • Fees
  • Less control over timing of recognition of gains
  • Less predictable income
  • No opportunity to customize

Choose Between Open End Mutual Funds or Closed End Mutual

Before investing your money in a mutual fund choose between two types of mutual funds. Open-end mutual funds must be willing to buy back their shares from their investors at the end of every business day at the net asset value computed that day. Most open-end funds also sell shares to the public every business day; these shares are also priced at net asset value. Open-end funds are the most common type of mutual fund.

Closed-end funds generally issue shares to the public only once, when they are created through an initial public offering. Their shares are then listed for trading on a stock exchange.

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Top Tips For Saving And Investing Money

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Consta

Although most of us have taken financial advice, only a minority who have done so go on to make tangible plans for  saving and investing their money. In short most people are good in getting financial information bur few are good at putting that what they know into action.

Know How Much You will need for retirement.

Financial planning needs to take into account every stage of your life, particularly those years when you have stopped working. Know your retirement date and estimate how many more years you expect to lives and calculate how much money you will need for retirement. There are free online tools to help you do these. Check CNN Retirement calculator, Bank Rate retirement calculator. 

Write A Saving and Investing Plan

Make sure that you commit to a plan of action – and then you can review it regularly to ensure that it is still delivering. Your saving and investing plan should have details that show how much money will be saved every month and how much will be invested.

Understand your long-term financial goals

Most people are just stashing their money without a clear understanding of  what they really want to do with your money. Be clear in your mind, are you saving for retirement?do you plan to buy a block of flats? are you saving to invest in a business? Suggestions can be made, but for the process to work you need to really understand what you want to do. Book a meeting with an independent financial adviser and talk not about products or accounts, but about aspirations and what you’d like your money to do for you.

Be Flexible with Your Plan

Monitor your plans and if needed revise it on regular basis. Companies, markets and economies are ever changing. An investment that was once a good deal could be negatively affected by market forces and the best decision is to cut your losses. On the other side if an investment turns out better than expected you can invest more money in it.

Don’t take too much risk

Generally, the larger the risk the bigger the potential returns, but also the possibility of a loss. Don’t be focused purely on the returns as striking the right balance for you is the key.

Keep a good relations with your financial adviser

A good adviser will be able to keep you informed of how things are going and recommend any changes that could be beneficial as markets change.

Keep an Eye on Transaction Fees

Although transactions fees are cheap on paper, they can really add up and eat all your profits if you trade often. It’s important to be fully aware of any fees, when they might be charged and how they might be applied. Are you paying too much? Are you paying for services you don’t need?

Take advantage of new technology

Long gone are the days when if you wanted to get information on investing money you needed to hit the road, go from one office to another collecting brochures. The Internet has made it easy to compare products.

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Donald Trump Investing Tips

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Consta

Donald Trump is a well known billionaire. Trump got to the top by following a no nonsense business common sense. Although he is known for his passion for real estate investing, his philosophy for making money in real estate can be applied in stocks, commodities and even forex trading.

Donald Trump Investing Tips

Follow Your Passion

To succeed in stocks, business or any other venture you must have a passion for it. Trump has this maniac passion for Real Estate, he talks about it everywhere, he is something like an Evangelist for real estate. If you want to make money by investing in stocks you must love the stock market. Read books on stocks and take notes. When at home tune in to CNBC or Bloomberg Tv. When business TV is your equivalent of ESPN then you will know you are passionate.

Take Risk, Embrace Risk

Nobody likes losing money but losing money once in a while is part of investing. Even the most successful investors lose money. Warren Buffet has his losses, George Soros has his losses and  good old Trump was once bankrupt. The lesson here is no one is successful 100%. As you approach investing except negative outcomes. But if you are losing all the time it means your approach is 100% wrong or the fact is you weren’t born to be an investor and you are better off hiring and investment manager.

Enjoy doing some work seven days a week and on vacations

This is one idea that separates the really successful investors from the average investors. For you to be successful at investing you have to approach it as more than a hobby. You need to think about investing every day. I don’t mean you quit your Job and start being an investor full time, although doing that would be very courageous and it might pay off in a big way. What am saying is stay update in the world of investing. Read business papers, watch CNBC and make sure you set your Google reader to send you updates on all news concerning investing.

Always Have a Plan B or A.K.A Diversify

You have heard the old age old advice, never put all your eggs in one basket. Don’t invest all your money in one stock, spread the money across different stocks. Don’t invest all your money in stocks, invest your money in stocks, bonds and even fixed deposit account. Although diversification is easy on paper it is difficult in execution because we give in to our greed instinct. When everyone is talking about how stock A is a great investment it is easy to lose our heads and invest all our money in it. And if the investment tanks we lose everything. Never succumb to the greed instinct.

Learn To Say No

In the world of investment, everyone has an opinion. The more you listen to the opinion of others the more you get confused and you suffer inertia. Beware of stock brokers, they have an agenda when they try to sell you a stock. All the decisions you make should be based on your own research and understanding of finance and investing.

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Hello world!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Consta

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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