Tag Archives: Investments

Christmas Saving Plan

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Christmastime is traditionally the season for spending, so it would be unusual for us to think about saving during this period. Even the most disciplined consumers may get a little consumption-crazy over the holidays, putting aside their reservations and really getting into the swing of shopping.

Despite the heavy emphasis on seasonal splurging, it may actually be an opportune time to turn your thoughts to saving and securing your financial future. With so much money in circulation during the holidays, why should you only be thinking of depleting your reserves at this time?

Let’s face it — despite the cash that seems to be awash everywhere, how many of us really have anything enduring to show after our frenzied spending? Let’s look at some of the ways in which we can focus our minds on saving so we can have a little more financially rewarding season this year. Continue reading Christmas Saving Plan →

How to Invest Without Fear

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The world of investing can be very intimidating for persons who know nothing about it. Investing may seem like a pursuit for the wealthy elite or financial power-brokers, and not a money-multiplication activity that can be practised by ordinary people with relatively limited means.

Unfortunately, too many persons allow a lack of knowledge and an abundance of fear to prevent them from generating income and building wealth from investing. If you avoid or disregard this important financial skill, you may actually miss out on achieving your long-term money goals.

Do your research

If you have never bothered to invest because of ignorance, you first need to learn more about the process. The Internet provides myriad outlets which you can use to research investments. Just put “investing guide for beginners” in your search engine and it will return thousands of websites. Continue reading How to Invest Without Fear →

Investing By Lending Money

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When you work, you are supplying something of value which could be your time, talent or products. In exchange for your efforts, your employer or customers are willing to pay you money.

When you invest, you are actually making your money work for you; it’s as if you found a job for your money. The person or entity with which you place your investment pays for the use of your money.

There are myriad ways to invest money, but many persons fail to take advantage of them because they are intimidated by the complexities of investing. When it comes to investments, there are terminologies and procedures that you must learn just like any subject that is taught in school. Continue reading Investing By Lending Money →

Is it worth the risk to invest?

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Many people dream of enjoying a carefree lifestyle without the stresses of a regular job, and wish that they could find the perfect investment that would allow them to become wealthy. Their desire to be free from the routine of working for a living is often a compelling reason that motivates them to invest their money.

While most persons invest with an expectation of getting a positive result from their efforts, the reality is that investments don’t come with iron-clad guarantees of success. Last week we introduced the concept that investing activities carry some amount of risk, which is the possibility of getting a negative outcome or a different result than what was anticipated.

The risks that may accompany your investments have a lot to do with the reasons you may have invested in the first place. What are some of your basic expectations when you invest your money? Continue reading Is it worth the risk to invest? →

Money Lessons from the Mango Tree

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There’s no time quite as enjoyable for the typical Jamaican as mango season. Every sense is stimulated as the sight, smell, feel and taste of a delicious mango will herald an enjoyable experience. Even hearing the words, ‘Would you like a mango?‘ can bring a heady anticipation of coming delights.

It may not be immediately obvious how eating a juicy mango could lead me to reflect about money. However, because I’m immersed in money issues — coaching people with money problems, reading material from money experts and developing resources to teach others about money — then anything and everything becomes an opportunity to discover something new about money.

I have recently been sharing some of the money lessons that I learned from books and CDs, but there are also everyday occurrences that continue to teach me about basic financial principles. If you have a desire to uncover the secrets to financial success, then even the simple realities of life will supply you with useful insights.

Here are some of the lessons that I learned from observing the mango tree and its fruit. Continue reading Money Lessons from the Mango Tree →

Can Earning More Make You Poorer?

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“I’m really distressed about my financial situation. Although I’m earning twice as much as I did a year ago, now every month I’m broke right after payday, and I’m in serious debt. What am I doing wrong?”

Most people desire to make more money so that they can improve their finances. It seems practical to think that if we get additional income, our money troubles should disappear. So why is it that so many of us retain less money when we earn more?

It’s easy to point to the spiralling cost of living to explain this phenomenon. But should we only put the blame on the tough economy? Can our own spending habits contribute to this earn-more-have-less problem? Continue reading Can Earning More Make You Poorer? →

Get A Bang For Your Buck With Bonds

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“How can the average person invest today and make good returns? I’m not looking for a fly-by-night investment scheme; I want a legitimate opportunity that I can place my hard-earned money and receive a worthwhile profit.”

Over the three years of writing this column I have seen an increase in the numbers of people enquiring about investment options. They have a genuine desire to find out how their money can work for them. Gone are the days when the investment arena was occupied only by jargon-speaking financial traders and the super-rich!

While persons may have heard about the benefits of investing in the money market and the stock market, many people have never examined the possibility of earning big in the market for bond investments. Continue reading Get A Bang For Your Buck With Bonds →

The Secrets to Wealth

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It has been said that only about one per cent of the world’s population ever achieves great wealth. No wonder the 99 per cent majority thinks that there are some hidden secrets to becoming wealthy that rich people won’t divulge!

Recently, First Global Financial Services (FGFS) revealed some of the mysteries to wealth at its Dollars and Sense Money Management seminar. Jason Dear, FGFS Equity Trading manager, explained that the act of wealth creation was not shrouded in secrecy.

Dear explained that making money came with understanding and following simple money principles.

“There are universal rules that govern wealth creation,” he clarified. “To get rich you need to learn and execute these principles.” Dear outlined his top 10 list of ‘secrets’ that could help ordinary people begin a successful journey to wealth: Continue reading The Secrets to Wealth →

Life After Layoffs

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The days and weeks of watching and worrying have finally come to an end. Your worst fears have been realised – your name is on that dreaded layoff list. In an instant, your occupational status has been altered. You have joined the increasing ranks of the unemployed.

Being laid off can be a traumatic experience. Anxiety about the loss of a steady income, coupled with feelings of rejection and unworthiness can send some newly laid off persons into depression and despair. For others, a job is really more than just a bill-paying source, it helps to define them and give them a sense of purpose.

As with any other negative event in life, the way to survive a job loss is to adjust your attitude and adopt a positive outlook. If you allow the circumstances to overcome you, you will not be able to see the opportunities that exist within every challenge. Despite the situation, you must always keep hope alive that better days will come.

If you have recently lost your job or you fear the advent of the unemployment line, here is a seven-step guide to help you to recover from redundancy: Continue reading Life After Layoffs →