If you’ve ever used a computer in your life then you’ve heard someone ask, “You did have a backup right?” Ah yes, the all important backup. No matter what you use your computer for, whether it be work, school or play, you should know the importance of backing up any and all things you can’t replace or do without. Therefore, I present to you the Top Five Things to Backup on Your Computer.

5. Bookmarks
Most people don’t realize you can backup your bookmarks, but you can and should. I don’t know about you, but I have a ton of bookmarks and a lot of them are very important. Trust me when I say this, some of the pages saved on your bookmarks list are going to be very difficult/impossible to find again, so be certain to have a backup. Backing up bookmarks is really easy on most browsers and is well worth the 45 seconds it would take.

4. Music Files

With the birth of digital song downloading came the birth of humongous digital music collections. I know people who have paid hundreds and I’m sure some have paid thousands of dollars for their MP3 song collection. Not only will backing up this folder potentially save you a big headache, it could also save you big money.

3. Documents

If anyone out there reading this is like me, then you save everything from pay stub copies to tax information as documents on your computer. I don’t know about you but when Mr. Taxman comes knocking, I want to be sure I’ve got all my info at the touch of a button. The My Documents folder is very simple to back up with a blank CD, USB stick or external hard drive.

2. Pictures

Before digital cameras, everyone just went to their nearest supermarket or department store to have their photos developed. They would get multiple copies and share them with friends and family. Chances were if you lost a sentimental photo, a friend or relative would still have a copy. Now almost everyone stores their treasured family memories on their laptop or desktop and once they’re gone, there’s no way to get them back. You can’t go back in time and retake that picture of your dear grandmother as a teenager, so avoid the sorrow and keep multiple backups of all your photos.

1. Your Registry

A computer cannot function without a clean registry. Nothing you ever do on your computer gets done without checking the registry first. It’s what keeps your computer operating as it should, so it’s a great idea to make consistent backups. That way your system can be returned to an earlier state of proper functioning in the LIKELY event you run into problems. I would advise you backup the registry before you make any big changes to your computer such as installing a large program, or changing any significant system settings.

Please keep in mind that my top five list might not be the same as yours and that’s okay. Everyone uses their computer for different things and will therefore have different needs. If you only follow one of my suggestions though, I would recommend it be #1. Backup that Registry now, so you don’t regret it later.

So you’re in the market for commercial gas supply and you’re considering switching your supplier to see if you could benefit from a better deal and improved service. As a business owner, you want what’s best for your business across the board and that includes your energy supply.

British Gas commercial gas supply is one of the most competitive on the market and should definitely be considered if you’re thinking about changing energy provider. Not only will you benefit from a provider who has had years of experience in the industry, but British Gas Business will also ensure your energy bills are a little nicer on the pocket.

Why choose them as your supplier?

• The Service is unrivalled. From the word go, your best interests will be taken into consideration, ensuring that their years of experience are put to good use
• The Prices are amongst the most competitive on the market which in turn, will help you to see more favourable energy bills. Combine that with the implementation of energy-saving initiatives that both you and your staff can adopt and you will see positive changes in no time.
• Fixed Contracts are available if you prefer to pay a fixed rate rather than deal with the rise and fall in energy prices. Fixed term contracts, over one or two years, are available so that you can manage your budget effectively, while paying a competitive rate even if the unit price rises.
• Hassle Free Switchovers mean that the stress is taken out of changing supplier. By applying online, you can leave the hard work to them. Multisite options are also available at the click of a button. All you need to do is sit back and wait for changeover day.
• Expert Advice is on hand whenever you need it. Whether you need some advice regarding which contract option to take, how to become a greener business or you’d like to have more information about the Climate Change Levy aspect of your bills, qualified advisors are at the end of a phone line, waiting to chat to you.

If you’re planning on adopting a new energy supplier, head online and find the best quote for your business needs.

It used to be that retirement meant lazy days, no stress and sufficient money to handle basic living expenses.

However, thanks to the financial crises that destroyed investment accounts and the housing market, more retirees are in debt than every before.

In fact, 44% of senior citizens carry some kind of debt, whether from a mortgage, credit cards or something else.

The average amount of debt that Americans over the age of 65 carry is roughly $26,000, according to the Business Insider.

This figure is double what it was ten years ago, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

What is the Cause of the Debt?

People used to have their mortgages paid off before they retired, leaving them extra income to cover the unexpected expenses that life brings. When the housing market crashed, many people turned to reverse mortgages to cover everyday expenses. On top of that, credit cards were not getting paid off every month, and the debt pile just continued to grow.

The average credit card debt of people over 65 years old is $9,300, which is more than any other age group, Kiplinger points out. With all of this debt, senior citizens may think that it is impossible for them to get a car. However, retirees who are deep in debt and in need of a car are able to use auto loans from www.DriveTime.com to secure a vehicle.

What Can Be Done?

Unfortunately, the past cannot be undone. However, the way that things are now is not the way they have to remain. Five strategies are available for pre-retirees so that debt doesn’t continue to haunt you when you’re supposed to be living the good life.

1. Downsize Early – Many people plan on downsizing to a smaller home once they hit the retirement age so they can manage their limited income easier. However, Forbes suggests that people downsize as soon as they can—the sooner the better.

2. Time Mortgage Payoff Accordingly – Instead of having to make a mortgage payment after retirement, there is another option. Middle-aged people should figure out how much extra money they need to tack onto their existing mortgage payment to ensure it is paid off before the age they plan to retire. Once the huge expense of a mortgage is depleted, managing other debts and expenses during retirement will be much easier.

3. Get a Second Job – When people are still young enough to work, they should. The second job can be anything to bring in extra money, including selling homemade crafts or picking up an extra shift here and there. The money earned should go directly to paying off debt. Once debt is paid off, it can be added to the retirement fund.

4. Reduce Retirement Contributions Temporarily – If the amount of debt accrued seems impossible to tackle alone, it may be wise for people to reduce how much money is put into their retirement account until this debt is paid off. However, it is very important to return the contributions to the original amount upon completion.

5. Work a Little Longer – When all else fails, people may want to extend their working years a little bit. Not only will the extra money earned help pay off debt, more income means more money is put into the retirement account.

The debt problem among senior citizens today is something for all people to be aware of. If workers are proactive, they will be able to have a debt-free, enjoyable retirement—the way it was meant to be.

In the coming years, even more of the country’s baby boomers will be turning sixty five years of age and becoming eligible for Medicare benefits.

Earlier on in the decade, only a little over five percent of baby boomers were over the age of sixty five. That number will have more than double by 2013.

In total, baby boomers take up almost thirty percent of the population. Just in case you were unaware, baby boomers are people who were born in the period between 1946 and 1964. Times have changed greatly from the time that baby boomers came of age.

Retirement Decisions

Now, because of the suffering economy, baby boomers have to forge financial security for themselves, and this includes health insurance. Life insurance for baby boomers is essential because elderly individuals require health care twice as much as younger people. Many people who were born in the baby boomer age may think that they no longer need health insurance, but the need is even greater with old age.

If you are a baby boomer with term life insurance, it may be time to consider converting your life insurance to permanent life insurance. If you have a policy that gives your spouse an income for twenty years and five years have already passed, it may be time to change that policy to a permanent policy. For one, it can create a good savings vehicle.

The premiums will be higher, but for a good reason. With permanent health insurance you will have death benefits for the remainder of your life. Of course, converting to a permanent policy is a process that needs to be discussed with both your spouse and insurance company. You may even have to change insurance companies. All in all, it is a good decision, especially if you are an aging baby boomer.

Other Considerations for Life Insurance

Another thing to consider concerning seniors getting life insurance is securing an income for your family after your death. Any wealth that you have accumulated during your life will be taxed by the government after your death; as much as fifty percent. After paying that fifty percent, your family or beneficiaries will then have to pay even more in estate tax, if you estate has one. When your family receives their payout, they will then have to pay an inheritance tax. By getting an adequate life insurance policy, your family can be secured financially and have enough money to pay taxes when the time arises.

Those adult children of people who are baby boomers should discuss the issue of life insurance with their parents. It can be one of the most important conversations they ever have. It is important to plan while the parents are still in good physical health so insurance premiums won’t be higher and they have a better chance of getting insurance. It can be a good idea to get other family members involved to explain why obtaining a better life insurance policy will be beneficial for them and the entire family in the future.

Continued training is a major part of many professions.

Doctors, attorneys, accountants, pharmacists, financial professionals, engineers, and many other careers have professional organizations or legally mandated oversight bodies to ensure that folks are hip on new development and skills.

You’d hope your doctor knows the most advanced procedures or at least outmoded procedures that shouldn’t be performed.

So why doesn’t this logic crossover into driving? Just as, industry standards can change necessitating updates for industry people, standards on the road can change necessitating drivers to learn the new do’s and don’ts. Below are the top 3 reasons that even if you’re over 55 and “know how to drive,” it’s worthwhile to take a defensive driving course.

Insurance

Some states allow insurance companies to lower premiums for customers as an incentive to take defensive driving courses, as much as 15 percent in some cases. Insurance companies do this for two reasons: 1) It reduces the chance that drivers will be in an accident, and 2) It, therefore, saves lives and money.

Defensive Driving for You

Don’t worry, taking a defensive driving class doesn’t mean being the oldest goat in a room full of young, dumb college bros who all drive used Chevy trucks. Not wasting time on rudimentary material, these courses offer a refresher and introduction to new rules and techniques that’ll enhance your skill as a driver. For instance, did you know that due to the ubiquity of airbags and modern understanding of ergonomics the proper hand position on the steering wheel has moved from “10 and 2” to “9 and 3” or “8 and 4”?

Don’t Be Complacent

When was the last time you had to take evasive action to avoid impending doom behind the wheel? How confident are you in your ability quickly to maneuver. Regardless, of how you answered those questions it never hurts to practice driving defensively. There are driving courses that focus on real-world training, getting drivers comfortable with being aggressive when they need to be to avoid possible danger. Also, keep in mind, it’s an excuse to relive some old hot rod days and drive like a crazy person (safely, of course) through the course. Times they are and already have been changing.

Think of all the changes in the world, like, when you first got your license and today. Is it that unreasonable to think that you’d benefit from a defensive driving class for experienced drivers? After all, you wouldn’t trust a doctor whose advancement in medical knowledge stopped after graduation 40 years ago. To keep your skills up at anything, driving included, you have to put the time into it. It’s widely accepted that defensive driving classes reduce accident rates, can lower your insurance, and hone your driving skills, so in the case of defensive driving courses it’s a no-brainer.

Question from our reader:

“If I take out a reverse mortgage for $200,000 on a house valued at $380,000 and pay it back in full in six months and close the loan what will it cost me besides the initial fees of getting it in the first place? Also, I am having trouble getting insurance due to two previous claims. Can the lender provide insurance for me?”

A Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage) can be repaid at any time with no penalty. You would owe the balance on the loan at that time which would include all the money you borrowed, any fees that you rolled into the loan at the time you started the loan.

The hecm Saver Loan would have much lower start-up costs due to the fact that the Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium would be just $38.00 instead of $7,600.

Interest that has accrued on the balance for that time and mortgage insurance renewal premiums of 1.25% of the outstanding balance for the time that the funds remained outstanding.

In all, with today’s low rates, not much interest would accrue in just 6 months but a Home Equity Line of Credit would probably be a better bet if you only planned to have the loan open for such a short period.

Regards to Homeowners Insurance

The reverse mortgage lender will require you to have acceptable insurance on the home as a condition of the loan. The lender will not supply the insurance and lenders will require a full explanation why a home was not covered previously.

With claims issues, as long as you have the situations corrected that caused the insurance problems you should be OK, but lenders and HUD do not want to see borrowers who fail to pay their insurance or their taxes so they will require verification on the reasons for non-coverage as well as verification that the home is now covered.

Resources: www.allrmc.com Blog

CFPB

Reverse mortgages have a number of different factors that go into the determination of the borrower’s benefit amount, or the loan amount that they will ultimately receive.  The property value is one of those factors, but so too is the borrower’s age, interest rates at the time, the program that the borrower chooses, fees associated with the loan (not just the origination fee but also whether or not there is a servicing fee), and also the program the borrower chooses.

Since you are able to live in the home for the rest of your life without having to make a mortgage payment on the loan, the benefit amount or loan amount for a 62 year old borrower is much less than for an 82 year old borrower.  The program is based on actuarial tables based on the age of the youngest borrower to be on the loan.  If there is more than one borrower, then the benefit amount would be derived by taking the youngest borrower’s age into consideration.

The next factor that goes into the calculation for the reverse mortgage benefit is the interest rate.  Right now all rates are below HUD’s “floor” of 5% so all the amounts are going to be the same at all rates available, but when rates again go over 5%, the amount available to borrowers will begin to drop as the rate rises.  The interest will accrue faster at higher rates so at these higher rates borrowers will receive less money under the program.

Finally, the program you choose will affect how much money you receive.  The only fixed rate loan available is the Saver Program (which is also available as an adjustable line of credit or monthly payment).  HUD implemented the Saver Product for borrowers who did not need all of the proceeds available to them in the Standard Program and in recognition of the lower risk of the lower proceeds, drastically reduced the Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premium for that loan.

Finally, HUD does change the program every so often.  There have not been any changes to Principal Limits (the amount borrowers receive) for a couple years but it does happen.  It is easy to go online and find a free reverse mortgage calculator such as the one at ALLRMC to run different scenarios at any given time based on current market conditions rather than counting on a set percentage, only to find out that there has been a change in one or more of the factors on which you were counting later.

You’ve probably gotten emails suggesting you invest in gold for the ultimate in economic security. Or maybe it was an ad praising the merits of Bitcoin. Which one is safer in today’s always changing world? Gold is well-known, but not practical for daily use. Bitcoins are, for the tech-savvy, easy to use but not at all practical due to limited acceptance.

photo Zach Copley

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a digital currency that was created in 2009, can be used by anyone and is not regulated by any country’s government. Unlike American dollars, which are divided into 100 cents, Bitcoins can be divided into a million parts, so the smallest unit looks like this: .00000001. What’s unique is that more Bitcoins are constantly being created, though that number will gradually decrease until there is $21 million in circulation, at which time no more Bitcoins will be made. Coins are “mined” by servers and then distributed to the people whose server provided the power for the coins to be mined.

Some companies accept Bitcoins as payment for services, and the currency can easily be sent from one person to another, without any intermediary like a bank. Merchants who now accept Bitcoins are printing business cards at PrintingForLess.com to update their cards with this new information.

Gold Tumbles, Bitcoin’s Unpredictable

From 2003 to 2011, gold saw record highs, but now prices are falling rather rapidly. Leading up to the end of it’s run, people were stocking up as the European economy was on unstable ground. More recently, gold prices aren’t breaking any records. In fact, according to GoldPrice.org (1), so far in 2013, the price is taking a dive. That’s a sharp contrast to it’s hefty 30 percent increase in 2007. Also, as banks all over the world print more currency, the price of gold will continue to decrease.

However, Bitcoin isn’t without its problems, either. The price has gone all the way from $7, when it was first introduced, to more than $230 per coin at it’s highest. Besides being extremely volatile, the currency has proven susceptible to hackers. Venture Beat details the story of Instawallet, which was hacked and subsequently shut down, with the company refunding customer funds until better security measures can be put into place.

Which is the Better Investment?

While Bitcoin is the trendy currency, a good portion of Americans have a poor understanding of, or interest in, this digital currency. Unlike gold, it’s not something they’ve grown up knowing and trusting in. Sure, gold prices go up and down, but it is no different from any other investment that you could make. Gold has been around for thousands of years, while Bitcoins have only been around for little more than a thousand days — it doesn’t carry the same credibility as gold.

In the end, the decision is up to you. Any type of investing comes with risk, be it a tangible asset like gold, or a digital currency like the Bitcoin. Remember to be responsible and never invest money that you can’t afford to lose, and only invest in something which you truly understand.

Things might be grim in much of the western world, but as Europe stumbles and the U.S. gradually recovers, it’s been a very different story in the Middle East. This region, noted for being one of the world’s most violent, if no the most violent, places is on the up economically.

According to research published by HSBC’s Global Connections Trade Forecast, the rate at which imports are growing to the region is expected to exceed that of exports – the opposite of what’s happening in the U.S., U.K. and other European countries.

The fact that there is an appetite for imported goods in the Mid East and other emerging countries like China, who is forecast to overtake the U.S. as the world’s largest importer by 2026, represents a huge opportunity for international businesses. Already, there has been an influx of expats to the Middle East and in particular the relatively attractive safe havens of the U.A.E., Qatar and Bahrain where there is economic growth and low taxes. These countries have extremely favourable taxation policies in comparison to developed economies like that of our own. Free trade zones galore and personal income does not attract tax in many of the emirates. Perhaps that would explain why multinational banks such as HSBC have been setting up offices and offering a plethora of business products like these targeting those in the import business.

So how can we in the West take advantage of what’s happening? Well, for a starter we cannot afford to sit back and watch it happen from afar. We need to be proactive, and get involved. Businesses that already export to established marketplaces in other developed countries need to think about how they can approach these emerging economies. Perhaps that means setting up a small office there. Maybe it means sending a member of staff to build sales, as so many companies have been doing over the past few years. Or you could take the most conservative approach and attend some trade shows and network.

With the world’s balance of economic power shifting, undeniably, now is the time to take action. Now is the time to get in there and start selling. Now all we need is for the government to grant businesses a tax repatriation holiday (Apple just raised billions of dollars in debt as that was a cheaper option compared to using their overseas cash) for businesses who do what everyone wants them to do – go and sell products and services overseas. But that’s a story for a different day.

Whether you’re purchasing a first time ride for your “old lady” or found a steal of a deal, buying second hand can be a great way to get some variety in your riding. As long as you remember these simple tips, you won’t get burned, maybe a little road rash.

#1 Before You Leave

For a start, check websites like Motorcycle News for similar bikes in your area that have sold recently, and what they went for. Try to go on a nice day, if possible. A dry road makes for a much easier test drive later. While we’re on the topic don’t forget your license, insurance and gear. These show you’re a serious enthusiast and not just a time waster.

#2 The Bike’s History

They say a well worn leather jacket tells the story of its owner. A man’s ride is no different. What, if any, variety of accidents has it been in? Are there other previous owners? Has it been well maintained? Be sure to check all the documentation. Validate the registry with the VIN numbers on the bike itself. If you’re unsure about anything you see, Take a step back and run a check on the VIN online.

#3 The Once Over

This is where you and/or a knowledgeable friend give it a complete inspection. Be sure to pay special attention to the following areas: drive chain and sprocket wear, tyre wear, gas tank (for rust), check the fork tubes for rust or leaks, all lights, gauges, and electrical systems, and most importantly, make sure you see no frame damage. If you do save yourself a world of pain and just walk away.

#4 The Test Run

So far so good. At this point you’ll want to suit up and hop on. Expect a little hesitance from the owner, remember you’re taking off on his baby. He’ll definitely want to see your documentation as much as you wanted to see his. You’ve given a good visual shakedown and she looks as described. Now, Start her up from cold, look, and listen. Check for leaks, drips, and sounds, such as rattling or creaking.

If you’re local, you’ll likely know a great stretch to test the bike on. Fully test the following: brakes should not feel sponge-like they should be smooth and even, steering should be stable and easily righted, and all the gears should shift without hesitation. After your run, make sure to check the bike once more for leaks and odd sounds that may have come up during.

#5 The Art of The Deal

Now you’re ready to negotiate. You know all about this bike and he’s been more than glad to share. You’ve done the research so don’t waste both of your afternoons with a lowball offer. A fair starting price is more likely to win the day.

With these tips in mind you should be able to find that perfect second hand motorbike. So, Good Luck and Good Ride.