Those Britons who are paying for their energy through a prepayment scheme are losing out on millions of pounds, according to findings by a price comparison website.In a study carried out by moneysupermarket, it was revealed that the typical person meeting the cost of their utility bills via prepayment is paying out an average of 1,026 pounds 46 pence. However, by switching to pay by monthly direct debit, such a consumer would pay 853 pounds 96...more
We are in recession and have just began to chip away at the tip of an iceberg that is credit crisis. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers recently stated, "We are facing the most serious financial stress that the U.S. has seen in at least a generation." I think to call our economic situation a recession and the subprime bubble a credit crisis is a gross understatement.This is just the beginning - an opinion shared by Satyajit Das, a...more
Let's admit it; we all want to be more, do more, and have more. When you ask people if they would like to be happier, healthier, or more prosperous financially, you are certain to get an affirmative response. This is because every living thing in nature is programmed with a desire to improve. We are most certainly a part of nature. Since the beginning of time, our deep instinct of wanting to be more, do more, and have more has been one of the primary reasons behind general advancement of the human race.It is crucial to embrace wanting more as an essential aspect of our lives. This way we may advance our life in any manner we choose and thus advance the entire human race collectively as a natural byproduct. Going where you want to go begins with knowing where you want to go. This is why it is very important to have clear goals written down. A goal which all of us will always share is creating more results in our lives and in the lives of those we love. Please allow me to share how you can increase the amount and quality of results in your life through elimination, automation, and delegation.Two of the most important resources for any human being are time and money. The reason is...more
It has been said often enough in recent times that buy-to-let has two notable characteristics at present. One of these is that there is a determination on the part of most investors to make their investment a long-term one, eschewing the notion of making a quick profit and seeking instead to enjoy the long-term gains the industry can...more
The news earlier this week from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) that the number of buy-to-let mortgages taken out last year was higher in the credit-crunch blighted second half than the roaring first six months may have surprised many. But it appears this has not been the only news indicating that the continued strength of buy-to-let is only...more
Portugal has always been a popular destination for Britons wishing to purchase a holiday home abroad or to buy a place in the sun for their retirement. Pure investment purposes have also been behind such foreign property transactions, but according to one expert, it is the quality of life that is making Portuguese property investment such a lucrative option. Rhiannon Williamson of ShelterOffshore.com suggested "lifestyle buyers" are flocking to the country, lured away from the UK - or other property investment destinations - in search of improved quality of life. "Portugal is more popular with those seeking a home, second home or Portugal retirement property abroad rather than those simply looking for real estate assets for investment purposes," Ms Williamson claimed. Citing the recent survey by NatWest International Personal Banking (NatWest IPB) and the Centre for Future Studies thinktank, Ms Williamson noted that Portugal is among the top three most attractive countries in terms of quality of life. She noted that what expats are looking for is a way of life that is more affordable and of a higher quality than what they would have in the UK. "Naturally, this means there is a...more
Buy-to-let investment in the UK is set to go from strength to strength in 2008, it has been suggested by one industry commentator.Malcolm Harrison from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) has claimed that this year could be yet...more
Those who believe the Spanish market is past its best may be barking up the wrong tree. Not because there hasn't been a property market correction, not because there isn't a global credit crisis and not because many investors looking for new hotspots...more
If the talk of the property industry in the last year has been Cape Verde, the issue of how much property can be crammed onto those little volcanic islands in the sun may become an issue before too long.Or perhaps it won't. According to Simon Walker,...more
Those looking at property investment in France will soon be aware that there are many possibilities, as the country is large and offers different attractions to suit numerous tastes. With Alpine ski property, the winelands, the glamour of Paris, the...more
In times of economic gloom, it often seems to be the north which suffers most, with recessions seeing many people in grim northern towns kicking their heels as the factories shut. Stereotyped as this image may be, it contained a kernel of truth, for...more
The property market in Spain has been a vexed area for investors recently. The end of the boom years, the credit crunch and recent demolitions of homes that breached planning regulations are all major hits from which some markets might not...more