At the beginning of 2014 small businesses accounted for 99.3 percent of all private sector businesses in the UK, according to the Federation of Small Businesses. Small and medium sized businesses employ upwards of 15.2 million people and have a combined turnover of 1.6 trillion. Looking at such figures it is easy to see why small businesses are so important to the UK economy. But it can be tough to be a small business. With a low individual turnover, particularly in the first years, it is hard to build a brand and expand. That’s why business loans are so important for small business. Here are four ways you can access a crucial funding resource.

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As finance experts, we get asked one question over and over again: what should I invest in? For beginners, the investment market is a confusing and daunting place. How can you possibly predict what will happen next? Which stocks are good? What markets are flourishing? There a a hundred and one questions involved in making your first investment. So how exactly do you spot a great opportunity? Today we’ll show you what we think you should put your money in right now.

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Technology

Many have been predicting the burst of the tech bubble for years now. But, most experts agree that there is still a long way to go yet! The biggest new companies to hit the stock market this year are all in the tech sphere. Think about Snapchat, Pinterest, and Spotify who will all float on the stock market this year. Tech companies are in rude health. They are altering human behaviour and that brings huge cultural change. These companies are in it for the future, and so should you.

Currency

Currency is always a fairly safe investment choice. There is enough fluctuation in currency value to make good money here. We like to use online trading to rearrange currency investments. The Euro and the Dollar fluctuate on a daily basis. If you can buy and sell at the right times, you stand to make a good amount of money. What better place to invest than money itself!

Property

We love property investments simply because they are so fruitful when done right. Not to mention, deals on property for sale northern beaches and likes sometimes seem to be irresistible. Moreover, we are just emerging from one of the biggest properties slumps this country has ever seen. So right now, is the perfect time to buy. Prices are on the rise, fast. In some major cities like London and New York, prices are rising up to 100,000 ($150,000) in a year. If you buy property, you’ll ride the market values upwards. You could even buy abroad and tap into emerging markets.

Any large strong business

We always advise new investors to start with something strong and solid. Investing is all about playing the long game. Pick a company that posts regular and consistent growth year on year is a good choice. It’s no get-rich-quick scheme, but it pays dividends in the future. A company like Apple or Ford are a great first investment. They show you how the market works and make you a little money.

Airlines

Okay, so you want some more specific advice? One very hot property on the stock market right now is air travel. Almost every airline on the planet is posting large profits. More and more aircraft are being built and the industry is on the rise. This is a global industry that isn’t going anywhere and shares are in rude health. Take advantage.

We hope this article has helped narrow down the field for you. Remember, investing isn’t about immediate results. It’s about finding safe, secure and lucrative stock. Play the long game and invest in companies with a strong future. Best of luck!

There are thousands of articles available online that offer amazing tips on getting out of debt quickly. However, most of them use the same information.

They tell you to get in touch with a debt consolidation company, throw your credit cards away, and reduce your monthly spending. The trouble with that advice is that it is common knowledge. People already know they have to do that to satisfy their creditors. So, we thought it was about time someone thought outside of the box.

Our suggestions today are by no means the same as those you might receive from a financial adviser. Even so, they have been proved to work in a number of instances. These ideas are for people who’ve tried everything else and seen poor results.

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Invest in debt –

Presuming you still have some savings in the bank, you could play the debt collectors at their own game by making an investment in public debt. Tax liens are often issued when people fail to make their payment to the government. Once a lien is in place, it can be sold on the public market to anyone with cash to spare. You could make a huge profit and get yourself out of trouble by making an investment in other people’s debt. Best of all? The return in almost guaranteed. If that idea sounds appealing to you, it’s wise to search for a complete guide to buying tax liens online. Just like any other investment opportunity, you don’t want to rush in head first without doing some research.

Sell your home –

Selling your home might seem like a rather drastic move, but it could give you enough capital to get rid of your debt. Once you have paid the creditors, there is nothing stopping you from getting a new mortgage and buying the home back. So, you just need to find someone who is willing to purchase your house for a couple of months. This can be done with the help of real estate professionals like the ones at Finlay Brewer, who can provide you with the correct valuation of your property and help you to sell it without incurring much hassle. You can avoid any interest charges associated with the process of selling if you act fast, but there is no way of getting around all the fees involved in a property sale. However, it’s worth paying those fees to help settle your debt quickly. This is particularly true if you owe a substantial amount of money. Selling your home is a wise move if you are in debt by more than $100,000.

Auction your valuables –

For those of you with minimal debts, it makes sense to go through your possessions and see if you have anything valuable. Debt collectors will be unwilling to accept paintings or jewelry to settle the amount owed. However, there is nothing stopping you from selling them at auction and collecting the cash. Maybe a deceased relative left you their prize possession? Perhaps you have an extensive collection of comic books? Either way, you could be sitting on a gold mine without even realizing it. You can, of course, check online to find out how much each item is worth. Who knows? You might be surprised.

While those methods of debt reduction are slightly less formal than you might have liked, they could be the only concepts stopping you from losing everything. Failing to pay your debts will mean they increase at alarming rates. It’s a vicious cycle, and one you need to break as soon as possible by using your head.

There are hundreds of different insurance policies that individuals and businesses can take out to protect them in various ways. Lots of different things could result in you losing money or receiving a bill for something you can’t afford to pay. Whether you need cover that’s essential for everyone or you have needs specific to your lifestyle, you’re likely to have at least a couple of necessary policies. Everyone will need different types of cover at different stages in their life, so if you’re unsure you can read the information below to work out what you need.

Medical Insurance

Everyone should have medical insurance for themselves and their children. Regardless of your age, occupation or how likely you think you are to get ill or injured, you need to have protection. Medical bills can be crippling if you don’t have adequate insurance, so if you can only afford one type, it should be health insurance. Under the Affordable Healthcare Act, all Americans can get access to health insurance. It’s one of the policies should have your whole life although you might change provider premiums and other details throughout your life.

Andrew Steinmetz

Auto Insurance

Anyone who owns a vehicle needs to be insured to protect themselves and whichever mode of transport they choose. Accidents on the roads happen all the time, even if you think you’re the most careful driver in the world. Taking out an insurance policy for your car (or truck, motorcycle etc.) will protect you against other drivers if you get into an accident. The rates vary depending on your driving history and other factors, such as your age and vehicle.

Life Insurance

When you start to grow your family, you should think about taking out a life insurance policy. Expert at companies like NobleOak Life Insurance know how important it is to protect your family if the worst happens, and you die. If you’re the primary earner at home, and even if you’re not, the loss of your income can be a further devastating blow after your death. Make sure your family can survive when you’re gone with good life insurance cover.

Pet Insurance

Medical expenses for humans might be expensive, but so is health care for your pets. If you own any animals, especially a dog, cat or something larger, you need to be able to pay their veterinary bills. If your pet is injured or becomes ill, the costs can be astronomical. It’s especially difficult to pay for their care if they have a lifelong condition, such as diabetes, or if they become very ill with something like cancer. If you love your furry friends, you should make sure you can pay for their care.

Homeowners or Renters Insurance

If you own your home, you need to protect both the building and your possessions with a homeowner’s policy. But don’t think that because you’re a renter you don’t need to insure yourself. Renter’s insurance will help you out if you need to replace your possessions or need to stay somewhere temporarily if anything happens to your home.

Don’t risk your financial stability by neglecting to take out the right insurance cover for you. You can plan ahead for the future by thinking about the valuable things in your life you need to protect.

The business world is a tough one. I always have to know how to outperform or out maneuver the competition. If something doesn’t work one hundred percent, I know it’s time to let go. The features of my old mobile phone may have helped me with my business a few years ago. But if upgrading my mobile phone can increase my earnings four times over, then it’s time to invest in the latest gadget with better features. I want to send email faster, more applications to choose from and more space to use! Expensive gadget you say? Well, if you follow one simple trick, you can save a lot of money too – sell your phone! That’s right! Selling old mobile phones and using the cash to purchase a new phone is a great idea.

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Being in debt is a horrible feeling. You need money to live, and emergencies can quickly arise. This means you get into more and more debt until you just can’t see a way out of the mess. The important thing to do is remember that you CAN get through this. Follow these steps to getting out of debt as quickly and easily as possible:

Contact a Financial Advisor

First thing is first; contact a financial advisor. They are professionally trained and will have a good idea on how you can get out of this bed you’ve made. Places like the Law Offices of David Offen will have seen plenty of situations like yours before, so they’ll have a good idea of how to sort yourself out. Book an appointment ASAP and it might help you to clear your head.

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Decide Which Way to Tackle Your Debts

There are a couple of ways to tackle your debts, the two most popular being the snowball and snowflake. The snowball method involves you looking at your debts as whole, listing them from smallest to largest and then paying them off that way. Ignore the interest involved, just start paying them off. You’ll start to build up momentum and feel good about paying them off. The snowflake method involves you paying off larger debts with smaller chunks of money. You simply keep hacking away at them, so your overall balance of debt is continuously getting smaller and smaller.

It’s totally up to you which way you choose to tackle these debts; whichever way makes you feel the most confident, comfortable, and able to continue. The sooner you start paying them off, the better.

Cancel Credit Cards and Accounts

If you have any credit cards or accounts, stop using them immediately. This step is so important. Cut up the cards or bury them in the garden. If you continue to use these accounts, you have a much deeper problem than debt. Get counseling for addiction.

Cut Back on Luxuries

Cut back on as many luxuries as you can and just buy the essentials. Before buying anything, ask if yourself really need the item. If not, leave it. Make the most out of what you already have and make new healthy spending habits. You’ll need them for when you’re out of debt anyway!

Find Ways to Save on Essentials

You still need to buy the essential food and toiletries, but find ways to save on them. Save up coupons and points to get money off. Shop the cheaper brands rather than the most expensive, because more often than not they’re just as good. In fact, you could scour new supermarkets to see if you like them better.

The important thing to do is remain consistent and don’t lose sight of why you’re doing this. Make a list of things you’ll be able to do once you’re out of debt. If you want to buy a luxury, think of what you want most over what you want now. That should help you to move forward.