Money is what makes the world go around, and if you are struggling to save it can fee suffocating and hopeless. But this isn’t the case, you can budget better and save more by using the tools you have at your disposal. Whether you have no money or a lot of money, we all need help budgeting and saving for the future. The good thing is that there are many free applications that can motivate you and create a suitable atmosphere for saving and cutting down on spending. Read ahead to see what some of your options are.

Emma

Emma is a free app available on iOS and Android described as a financial advocate for your money. According to the experts at the site MoneyPug, which is used to find deals and compare payday loans online, this service aims to help you avoid over drafting, track your debt, and cancel subscriptions you don’t need.

With Emma you can track spending and set hard budgets. You will be able receive notifications to let you know when you’ve received a refund. When your direct debits are going to leave your account, your salary has been paid. Another great feature that seems to be unique among these apps is that Emma allows you to include your cryptocurrency investments. You can also track them over time.

Money Dashboard

Money Dashboard just may be the most accessible of these apps. It allows you to see all of your accounts in a single place, which includes current accounts, savings, and credit cards. Available for free on Android, iOS, and the Web while using over 70 UK banks, you can automatically categorise spending so it is easy to see where your money is being spent. Targets can also be set for each individual category. This is handy for when you need to cut down on specific expenses to save.

Money Dashboard also allows you to see into the future, at least with predictions. The app will project your income, expenditures, and account balances. This is very helpful, especially when you are looking towards a big event that you will need extra money for.

Oval

Oval, on the other hand, only works with 28 banks and credit cards. It is also free, but it is not available on the Web. But the most unique characteristic is that you can set up rules, goals, steps, and parameters for yourself. For example, you can make a rule that a certain amount of money is deposited whenever you buy coffee, or when you long into Facebook. Your savings are held in a segregated account at Barclays so you will not have to worry about your funds. Oval coach also helps you stick to your missions and improve habits.

Cleo

Cleo is the free budgeting app available from Facebook. It is quite interactive, meaning you can ask it questions and receive answers about your financial standing. Cleo will also send notifications, insights, and challenges to keep you engaged. Choose which accounts you want to link. The app is only able to read your transactions and make calculations based on your income and spending, but you cannot move money within the app itself. Cleo’s wallet feature has AI that calculates how much you can afford each week.

Bean

Bean allows you to connect your bank and credit accounts on a single dashboard, but the free service available on iOS and Android is really great for taking control of regular payments. The app allows you see recurring expenditures and decide if you need them and if you can find a better deal elsewhere. You can also cancel subscriptions or switch services. Bean notifies you when your bills are going up and if renewal dates and insurance contracts will be altered.

As you can see, there are a lot of options for budgeting apps. Choosing the right one for you and your situation will change everything. You will be able to see your current financial situation in front of you, and use it to make decisions. With so many viable options available to you, you should get started saving today and you will likely see big improvements in your financial life.

 

Credit scoring is a basic concept in the developed world. Although it’s still not that popular in the Philippines, the average Filipino is becoming more aware of it and its value.

A high credit score can open a world of financial opportunities for you, such as a more affordable residential house and lot in Cavite. However, not all Filipinos have credit scores. If you do have one, building it up takes time, effort, and discipline.

To make sure you’re as creditworthy as possible when taking out any loan, do the following.

Pay Your Bills on Time

Punctual and complete payment of bills is the bedrock on which good credit scores are built. Don’t play favorites, for picking which bills to pay on time and in full can taint your overall payment history.

Living in a country where financial credit data sets remain fragmented, it’s imperative to be responsible for handling every bill under your name. You never know when a late or missed payment can pull your credit score down, so make sure you repay whatever you owe.

Use a Credit Card

Credit card issuers are data furnishers. In other words, they submit consumer data to credit bureaus, the companies that generate credit reports and calculate scores.

If you’re allergic to plastic, you probably don’t fully understand how it works. The notion that a credit card can ruin your finances is a myth. In most cases, you may not even have to shoulder any interest when you use plastic to buy goods and pay for services. As long as you pay the full balance on or before the due date, you will not be charged extra.

Credit card usage comes with many other practical benefits. Apart from building your credit, it allows you to earn rewards, track your expenses, and push the deadlines of your financial obligations.

Don’t Rely on ‘5/6’ or ‘ATM Sangla’

When it comes to lending, avoid informal sources of funds. More often than not, they don’t report your payment history to credit bureaus, rendering your good pieces of credit information practically useless.

Instead, seek financing from the mainstream banking system. Thanks to the fintech boom, you can borrow money from non-traditional lenders through mobile apps.

Buy Insurance

Like bankers, insurers are active members of the financial community. They constantly collaborate with credit bureaus to assess the risk of doing business with different customers. Building credit is another reason to buy insurance and pay your premiums on time.

Reach Out to a Credit Bureau

Most importantly, request a copy of your credit report from a credit bureau. This document should give you the full picture of your creditworthiness. It explains where you stand financially, informs you about your credit score, and reveal incorrect information attached to your name that needs fixing.

Whether you’re planning to seek financing soon or not, you should take your credit score more seriously. The sooner you pay attention to increase it, the more you can benefit from it over the long term.

 

Financials increasing year on year for the online casino and gambling sector with slot representing the biggest increase. Read more here

UK casino and gambling business booming

If there is one industry that is booming at the moment, it is definitely the casino sector, especially online casino. Gambling industry statistics are public twice each year – in May and again in November.

This means that the most recent statistics were provided at the end of November 2018, and they certainly make interesting reading.

The statistics for the casino industry in the UK

Here are some of the key findings from the statistics that have been published by the UK Gambling Commission:

• There are 181,309 gaming machines in Great Britain. This represents a 0.5 per cent decrease when compared with April 2016 – 2017.
• There are 152 casinos in Great Britain. This means that one more casino has opened since March 2018.
• There are 644 bingo premises in the country. This means that there has been a 1.7 percent decrease from March 2018.
• There are 8,406 betting shops in Great Britain. This represents another small decrease of 1.8 percent since March 2018.
• 37.3% is the market share of the remote casino, bingo, and betting sector. This is a three percent increase from the year prior.
• There are 107,940 total employees in the Great Britain gambling industry at the moment. This is an 0.6 per cent increase from March 2017.
• Total Gross Gambling Yield
• The Gambling Commission also posted some statistics regarding the complete gross

gambling yield of Great Britain. This included the following:

• £2 billion GGY for the remote casino category – slots. This represents a 19.3 percent increase from the year prior.
• £5.4 billion GGY for the remote sector overall. This represents a 13.7 percent increase from the year prior.
• £14.4 billion GGY of the Great Britain gambling industry. This represents a 4.5 percent increase from the year prior.

Why are online casinos booming?

The editor of leading UK casino slots site – Spin Bonus says the main reason why online casinos are booming is because people can gamble from the comfort of their own home. This means that they do not need to go to a casino, which is something that they may not feel comfortable doing. Plus, they can gamble online at any time or day that suits them. However, it is also worth pointing out the advancements in technology over the past few years.

This means that we are now able to play games that we could never even have dreamt of playing before, with exciting features and stories. It has really enhanced the gaming experience, and this is something that is causing more and more people to gamble from home.

In summary, there is no denying that the casino sector is one that is booming at the moment. This is especially the case when it comes to the online gambling sector. The increases in total gross yield is significant when you look at the percentage difference from the year prior to now.

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The second half of the year is packed with sport, with a plethora of top class action taking place across the world.

Soccer, tennis, rugby and American Football are amongst a packed schedule that promises to provide fans with plenty of thrilling moments.

Read on as we point you in the direction of some of the best sport being staged over the next few months.

The Premier League

England’s top soccer league gets underway during August with a host of teams harbouring hopes of winning the prestigious title.

Plenty of fans will be keen to use their winnings from nj-casino.net to back Manchester City to retain their crown, but the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United will have other ideas.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal will also expect to be in the mix over the course of the tough 38-game season.

US Open Tennis

The fourth and final tennis Grand Slam begins at the end of August and is expected to produce plenty of drama once again.

The two-week extravaganza attracts around 700,000 fans to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

Novak Djokovic will be out to defend his title in the men’s singles event, while Naomi Osaka will try and follow up her shock 2018 victory in the women’s tournament.

The NFL

American Football takes centre stage at the start of September as the 100th NFL season kicks-off when the Chicago Bears meet the Green Bay Packers.

The entire campaign will be a celebration of the sport, with events, initiatives and programming centred on fans, players and communities.

The season will culminate with Super Bowl LIV at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, in February 2020.

Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is the game’s showpiece event, bringing together the world’s best rugby players and teams.

It is the third largest sports event in the world after the Summer Olympics and the Soccer World Cup, highlighting its importance in the sporting calendar.

Japan will host the 2019 edition, which will feature 20 teams playing 48 matches over a seven-week period from September to November.

Formula 1

The F1 season concludes in December as the best drivers in the world do battle at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of November.

This twilight race often provides plenty of drama, with the day/night timing of the event providing unique conditions for the competitors.

British star and current world champion Lewis Hamilton has an excellent record in the race, winning it four times in the last 10 years.

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Social media is one of the most important marketing tools around, with many people using the medium as their first port of call when they are searching for information.

With that in mind, it is hugely important for businesses to establish a strong presence across the different platforms.

Many firms make the mistake of not investing sufficient resources into social media management and this is an extremely risky strategy.

The task is often passed to members of staff who have a personal presence on social, but no wider understanding of the different strategies needed to make it work for businesses.

Effective social media marketing helps businesses engage with their existing customers and gives them endless opportunities to attract new ones.

However, deciding which social media platforms to use can be tricky, so read on as we look at three of the most popular ones for business use.

Facebook

Facebook is the leading social media platform in the world, with Statista reporting that it had 2.38 billion monthly active users in the first quarter of 2019.

That level of use makes Facebook an invaluable tool for businesses and adopting a successful marketing strategy on there can generate massive revenues.

Gambling operators often excel on Facebook, with offers such as nj-bonus.com helping to attract a steady stream of customers to their websites.

With a comprehensive analytics service allowing you to identify the type of content that works, Facebook should be part of every company’s social media strategy.

LinkedIn

Often dubbed ‘Facebook for professionals’, LinkedIn is a great way to build networks and connections in your chosen industry.

The platform allows you to grow your brand through your existing contacts, effectively giving you easy access to their own connections.

For businesses, the creation of a dedicated company page that contains regularly updated content is the ideal way to increase your turnover.

This type of page allows you to post business updates, promote your brand, advertise job opportunities and position your firm as a leader in its field.

Twitter

With around 320 million monthly active users, Twitter gives businesses the power to connect with a massive audience.

Twitter also allows marketers to access insightful data that will help to produce targeted content with a view to increasing visits to your website and improve sales.

The beauty of the platform is that is allows you to build up relationships with people who you would not normally have access to.

Establishing a strong presence on Twitter helps businesses grow brand awareness and makes them stand out from their competitors.

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First-time home buyers in the Philippines should follow the 36% rule as a good benchmark for debt-to-gross income ratio.

Some experts even suggest a 28% ratio as an alternative way to manage your finances. The rule applies to your disposable income. In other words, you shouldn’t spend more than P14,000 of your disposable income on debt payments if you earn P50,000 every month. The actual amount will vary based on how much you need to borrow as well as the location. For instance, a loan for a new house ‘n’ lot in Cavite may cost less than a similar property in Manila.

Calculating the Expenses

Let’s say you found a house worth P1.5 million. You intend to pay 20% as down payment, which reduces the price to P1.2 million. If you applied for a loan with a 6.88% annual interest with a five-year fixed rate over a 20-year term, you should expect to pay around P9,217 per month.

If you decide to follow the 38% rule, your monthly repayments shouldn’t cost more than P18,000 from a gross income of P50,000. Most financial experts recommend this ratio because it prevents you from overspending on housing payments, causing you to sacrifice other important expenses such as healthcare and emergency funds.

Fixed or Variable Rate: Which Is Better?

Disposable income refers to the leftover money after paying tax, spending on food and utilities among other mandatory expenses. You need to shop around for housing loan rates among different banks to determine the exact monthly payments. Choose loans with variable rates only when you understand the risks. Your monthly repayments will depend on interest rate movement. If interest rates increase, so does your loan installments.

Banks aren’t the only option for home loans. You can apply for in-house financing from the developer of your chosen house. An in-house loan requires less paperwork and faster processing, but you need to pay a bigger monthly installment because of the shorter terms. In-house loans also entail higher interest rates than banks.

Why Location Matters

You will have a hard time to look for properties worth P1.5 million in Metro Manila especially in cities like Makati and Taguig. In fact, the cost of living in Manila has increased this year based on a survey. The capital city now ranks as the 109th most expensive place in the world. While the new ranking seems low, Manila registered the fourth-biggest jump after landing on the 138th spot in the previous year.

Hong Kong remains the most expensive city worldwide particularly because of eye-watering home prices. Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul and Zurich completed the top five, while Beijing and two other cities landed on the top 10. Zurich and New York City are the only cities outside of Asia to join the list.

Conclusion

You can save money by saving as much as you can for a down payment. A higher upfront cash payment lets you reduce accumulated interest payments over the housing loan’s term. How much do you plan to borrow for your first home purchase?

 

Money, the saying goes, makes the world go round… or, should we say, go round the bend? It could certainly have that effect on you if you fail to keep on top of your financial obligations. A missed payment here and there can wreak havoc on your credit score, after all.

Image Source: Pexels

Rest easy that you don’t need to be a mathematical genius to keep track of your finances. Knowing just how to add and subtract would suffice, before you start following these tips…

Create a regular budget

How much are you spending each month? If you can only think of a “ballpark figure”, it could be significantly out of step with reality, so we would urge you to gather bills, bank statements and other documents that can shed light on your spending.

At the end of each month, calculate what you have spent that month on household bills, living costs, travel and leisure, as well as on family and friends, the Money Advice Service urges.

Continue to track your spending

Once you have drawn up your first monthly budget, regularly refer back to it during the next month to help yourself in deciding where and what to spend.

As your circumstances change, so do could your finances. For example, you might be tempted to take out a new subscription to a magazine, your household bills could unexpectedly rise or your salary could increase. Hence, your budget should be reviewed monthly.

Look for opportunities where you could cut back

If you’ve noticed that your expenditure keeps brimming over your budget, investigate where you could make cutbacks. It could be a matter of making yourself a “packed lunch” at home instead of buying food, or abandoning your membership of a gym you no longer frequent.

Savings can even be made on big projects like home improvements. Findley Roofing & Building, for example, offers flexible finance options if you want a roofer in Washington, County Durham.

Pay off loans and credit cards

If you’ve already built up a worryingly large pile of debt on loans and credit cards, be selective about which debt you focus on paying off first. Initially, look at those debts charging the highest rate of interest, such as credit cards, store cards and personal loans from the bank.

All the same, though, on all of your credit cards and loans, make sure you keep paying at least the minimum amount as required by the terms of your agreements.

Remember to save money, too

This is wise even just to account for potential emergencies, such as boiler breakdowns or enforced absences from work.

Even if you want to save up for a major purchase, The Balance points out that delaying your gratification will give you time to compare prices or even evaluate whether you really need to make that purchase after all.

You can most effectively save by monthly placing some money into a savings account. Saving can even accumulate interest and, thus, earn even more money for you, says Lifehacker.

 

 

There is nothing wrong or to be ashamed about with taking out a loan. The cost of living is always rising, and here in South Africa, it is no different. The big problem arises, not just because of the cost of living increasing, but with the fact that salaries do not rise by the same amount.

It means that even if you can just about get by today, you may not be able to do so tomorrow. For many South Africans, saving is a luxury that they can’t afford, and this means that when an unexpected cost or bill lands on your doorstep, you could find yourself in big trouble.

If you don’t have the means to pay for say a toilet or a boiler repair or replacement in your home, what can you do? You can’t do without the broken-down device, and you can’t afford to fix it. The answer, of course, is to take out a loan.

The difficulty that people face when they take loans out, is that they then run into trouble making on-time repayments. Sometimes this panics them into seeking more loans to deal with the situation, but this can turn out to be the thin end of the wedge. Once you get onto this slippery slope, it’s hard to get off again.

The most important thing when considering taking out any sort of loan is to do your comparison research properly before you take any action. There are a wide variety of different types of loans out there, and it’s important to choose the right one according to your personal financial circumstances.

For many South Africans, the possibility of taking out a bank loan is a no-no. According to the Just Money website, 32% of people in SA don’t have bank accounts, and when it comes to getting a loan, that is not a good place to start.

According to ICT analyst Arthur Goldstuck, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of World Wide Worx, a lot of those without bank accounts cannot even afford the first stage of opening an account. This opening process is something called “onboarding“, and it entails physically going to a bank’s branch to complete an application form.

Even those South Africans who do have bank accounts are often not happy, and they are looking for alternatives. One of the reasons most cited for this trend is that people feel banks charges too much by way of fees. It is leading to a new breed of “upstart” banks who are ready to take on the establishment.

Whoever you decide to apply to for a loan, as mentioned before; do your research carefully. The lender you choose should be established and reliable. Don’t pick the first one you come across. Check out several, and when you have a list of potential lenders you feel confident about, then check out the loan products they are offering.

Generally speaking, the shorter the repayment period, the better. But you still have to check out the interest rates they all charge. Things like payday loans charge high financial interest but as the repayment periods are short (typically just a few days) the total amount of interest you repay may be less than a longer-term loan with a lower interest rate.

So, do your research well and then before you sign on the dotted line; make sure you are borrowing responsibly.