Kamis, 25 Desember 2008
DEBTSMART: 10 financial questions you should ask yourself today!
People always ask kids, "What do you want to do/be when you grow up?" I'm sure you remember the question well. A fireman, policeman, scientist, doctor, social worker, teacher, superhero, etc. are some popular answers. The truth is that people have many interests and talents. Someone may be just as happy being a lawyer as a teacher. That's why I believe the better question to ask is "How do you want to live?" Do you want to live in a mansion or a shack? Do you want a chauffer or bicycle? Do you want to live in the city, country, on a farm, an apartment? I believe that you need to decide what you want to do based on how you want to live your life. Time after time, I've read about studies showing that ,in general, people do get what they strive for. In fact, I just ran into a friend of mine from high school. He was my lab partner in biology. He wanted to be a podiatrist, which was great since I really didn't want to dissect that pig. He did everything. Guess what he's doing today? Okay, he's not a podiatrist, but he is a neurologist. He still became a doctor. My other friend always wanted to be in construction and now he's the owner of a very successful construction company. If you think back, you will probably discover that most people who pursued what they wanted achieved their goals. That's why it's so important to have the right goals. Pursue dreams that will give you the future you want with your career. But, let's not forget something that's equally important, which is the quality of your off-time and family life. If you really love helping people, doing social work, or being a camp counselor, that's great! But if you, at the same time, want to live in a huge house by the shore, then you will be disappointed that the social worker salary isn't going to let you live in that manner. It's a combination of what you want to do and how you want to live. Pick one of the things that you love to do, that will pay for how you want to live. That's my two cents on this issue. It's never too late to start. You might be thinking, "I did get what I wanted, but now I want something else." Fine. Believe it in your heart. Work toward that goal. Stay focused and as before, you'll reach your goal. Just be sure you choose carefully because if you work hard you will get what you want! As Thoreau said, "In the long run, we only hit what we aim at.
Rabu, 24 Desember 2008
5 Tips for Grabbing Last Minute Holiday Shopping Deals
Tuesday December 23, 10:45 am ET
By Kimberly Palmer
The stockings may be hung and the tree decorated, but not everyone is ready to sit back and enjoy the eggnog. Some of us still need to hit the malls and buy presents. But shopping procrastinators are in luck this year--retailers are offering mega-discounts and sales to those who still have money to spend.
To make sure you're getting the best deal possible, here are five tips to keep in mind, as well as a list of stores with some of the most tempting offers:
Retailers are desperate. With the retail sales forecast weak--TNS Retail Forward estimates sluggish growth of around 2 percent--stores are doing whatever they can to get consumers to open their wallets, and that usually means offering big discounts. Hefty markdowns for Black Friday spurred a short-term jump in spending, and many of those discounts have lingered throughout the entire month of December.
That means you have the upper-hand. With retailers willing to do almost anything to win your business, you have room to do a bit of negotiating. Before setting foot in a store, compare prices through websites such as PriceGrabber.com so you know where to go to get the best deal. If you're visiting a boutique or craft market, then you likely have some leeway to ask for a lower price. A simple request, such as, "Can you give me a discount on that?" can lead to $5 off or more. As for the big box stores, Brad Wilson, editor of BradsDeals.com, says more retailers are willing to match their competitors' prices this season. That means consumers who see better deals elsewhere can point out the discrepancy to a store manager and ask for a price match.
Don't forget about last minute online deals. For those who prefer to shop from the comfort of their own homes, a few online retailers are still offering deals for delivery by Christmas. According to DealNews.com, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and Teleflora can deliver by Christmas Eve if you order by 2 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve--so basically, you can order your bouquet and have it delivered within hours.
Last minute travel gifts are another option; websites such as Travelocity, LastMinuteTravel.com and Expedia feature last minute deals with bigger than usual discounts, so procrastinators can benefit.
But be careful as you click. Fraudsters are prowling websites for credit card numbers and other personal information, so be sure to enter information only on trustworthy websites. Never click on a link embedded in an E-mail or send credit card information over E-mail. When your January credit card statement arrives, check it carefully for any discrepancies. Credit card companies offer protections against fraud as long as it's reported in a timely manner.
For the best deals, check out these retailers:
-- J. Crew is offering 20 percent off through December 24, but it applies to in-store purchases only. That means the stores will be crowded, but you can snag some great deals on J. Crew's colorful winter collection.
-- If you like Lacoste's pastel colors, then you can take advantage of the mark downs on select Polo shirts for men and women. While the classic colors like yellow and blue carry their original $79.50 price tag, Wisteria purple, Storm Cloud blue, and others are on sale for $58.99.
-- The Gap is offering up to 40 percent off, while its sister stores Old Navy and Banana Republic are holding their own sales of up to a whopping 60 percent off.
-- At Target, shoppers can get visit stores to get up to 30 percent discounts--just make sure you check Target's weekly ad in advance.
-- Wal-Mart has put together its list of last-minute gift suggestions with some incredible discounts, including a Garmin GPS device with an mp3 player for $246, marked down from $498.
If you end up running out of time before Christmas, then you can still take advantage of the post-holiday sales through January. And next year, try to plan your shopping list in advance to prevent a crunch as Christmas approaches.
According to Greg Hintz, general manager of Yahoo Shopping, consumers tend to spend more when they wait until the last minute. Plus, he adds, making a shopping list ahead of time reduces the chances of impulse purchases--so that's another goal to add to the 2009 New Year's resolutions list.
By Kimberly Palmer
The stockings may be hung and the tree decorated, but not everyone is ready to sit back and enjoy the eggnog. Some of us still need to hit the malls and buy presents. But shopping procrastinators are in luck this year--retailers are offering mega-discounts and sales to those who still have money to spend.
To make sure you're getting the best deal possible, here are five tips to keep in mind, as well as a list of stores with some of the most tempting offers:
Retailers are desperate. With the retail sales forecast weak--TNS Retail Forward estimates sluggish growth of around 2 percent--stores are doing whatever they can to get consumers to open their wallets, and that usually means offering big discounts. Hefty markdowns for Black Friday spurred a short-term jump in spending, and many of those discounts have lingered throughout the entire month of December.
That means you have the upper-hand. With retailers willing to do almost anything to win your business, you have room to do a bit of negotiating. Before setting foot in a store, compare prices through websites such as PriceGrabber.com so you know where to go to get the best deal. If you're visiting a boutique or craft market, then you likely have some leeway to ask for a lower price. A simple request, such as, "Can you give me a discount on that?" can lead to $5 off or more. As for the big box stores, Brad Wilson, editor of BradsDeals.com, says more retailers are willing to match their competitors' prices this season. That means consumers who see better deals elsewhere can point out the discrepancy to a store manager and ask for a price match.
Don't forget about last minute online deals. For those who prefer to shop from the comfort of their own homes, a few online retailers are still offering deals for delivery by Christmas. According to DealNews.com, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and Teleflora can deliver by Christmas Eve if you order by 2 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve--so basically, you can order your bouquet and have it delivered within hours.
Last minute travel gifts are another option; websites such as Travelocity, LastMinuteTravel.com and Expedia feature last minute deals with bigger than usual discounts, so procrastinators can benefit.
But be careful as you click. Fraudsters are prowling websites for credit card numbers and other personal information, so be sure to enter information only on trustworthy websites. Never click on a link embedded in an E-mail or send credit card information over E-mail. When your January credit card statement arrives, check it carefully for any discrepancies. Credit card companies offer protections against fraud as long as it's reported in a timely manner.
For the best deals, check out these retailers:
-- J. Crew is offering 20 percent off through December 24, but it applies to in-store purchases only. That means the stores will be crowded, but you can snag some great deals on J. Crew's colorful winter collection.
-- If you like Lacoste's pastel colors, then you can take advantage of the mark downs on select Polo shirts for men and women. While the classic colors like yellow and blue carry their original $79.50 price tag, Wisteria purple, Storm Cloud blue, and others are on sale for $58.99.
-- The Gap is offering up to 40 percent off, while its sister stores Old Navy and Banana Republic are holding their own sales of up to a whopping 60 percent off.
-- At Target, shoppers can get visit stores to get up to 30 percent discounts--just make sure you check Target's weekly ad in advance.
-- Wal-Mart has put together its list of last-minute gift suggestions with some incredible discounts, including a Garmin GPS device with an mp3 player for $246, marked down from $498.
If you end up running out of time before Christmas, then you can still take advantage of the post-holiday sales through January. And next year, try to plan your shopping list in advance to prevent a crunch as Christmas approaches.
According to Greg Hintz, general manager of Yahoo Shopping, consumers tend to spend more when they wait until the last minute. Plus, he adds, making a shopping list ahead of time reduces the chances of impulse purchases--so that's another goal to add to the 2009 New Year's resolutions list.
President Yudhoyono, Chinese deputy PM discuss financial crisis
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Chinese Deputy Prime Minister Li Keqiang held a one-hour meeting at the presidential office here on Monday to discuss the impact of the current global financial crisis on their countries` economy.
"President Yudhoyono and the visiting Chinese deputy prime minister discussed the impact of the global financial crisis because the Chinese economy is predicted to drop by about 10 percent," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said after accompanying President Yudhoyono in the meeting with Li Keqing.
Patti Djalal said President Yudhoyono and his guest in the meeting found it necessary to strengthen the two countries` economic and trade cooperation amidst the global crisis.
"Specifically, the Chinese government will give buyer credits of US$800 million to Indonesian companies, and therefore we are going to use the buyer credits selectively in various projects," Patti Djalal said.
But he added that President Yudhoyono would underscore the importance of mutual beneficial cooperation between Indonesian and Chinese companies which were engaged in the scheme of the cooperation.
He said that on the occasion President Yudhoyono appreciated the Chinese government in its concrete cooperation with Indonesia to construct Suromadu bridge, connecting Surabaya and Madura island, both in East java Province.
The Chinese deputy prime minister visited Indonesia to open the 3rd Indonesia China Energy Forum (ICEF III) and sign a number of agreements in the energy field.
Indonesia and China earlier signed eight agreements on the energy sector covering electricity, coal, oil and gas with a total investment value of around Rp35 trillion and would absorb at least 32,000 manpowers. (*)
"President Yudhoyono and the visiting Chinese deputy prime minister discussed the impact of the global financial crisis because the Chinese economy is predicted to drop by about 10 percent," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said after accompanying President Yudhoyono in the meeting with Li Keqing.
Patti Djalal said President Yudhoyono and his guest in the meeting found it necessary to strengthen the two countries` economic and trade cooperation amidst the global crisis.
"Specifically, the Chinese government will give buyer credits of US$800 million to Indonesian companies, and therefore we are going to use the buyer credits selectively in various projects," Patti Djalal said.
But he added that President Yudhoyono would underscore the importance of mutual beneficial cooperation between Indonesian and Chinese companies which were engaged in the scheme of the cooperation.
He said that on the occasion President Yudhoyono appreciated the Chinese government in its concrete cooperation with Indonesia to construct Suromadu bridge, connecting Surabaya and Madura island, both in East java Province.
The Chinese deputy prime minister visited Indonesia to open the 3rd Indonesia China Energy Forum (ICEF III) and sign a number of agreements in the energy field.
Indonesia and China earlier signed eight agreements on the energy sector covering electricity, coal, oil and gas with a total investment value of around Rp35 trillion and would absorb at least 32,000 manpowers. (*)
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