11 Thesis Writing Tips That Will Help You Graduate

Writing a thesis is one of the most difficult challenges you will have to overcome in your life as a student. By the time the thesis proposal rolls in, you’re most likely brain-fatigued from all your other university requirements and pressures from daily life.

To give you a hand, here are some crucial thesis-writing tips that will help you finish your paper and graduate successfully.

Know Your Topic

Try to choose a topic that you already have a wealth of knowledge on. If not, make sure it’s a topic that you can do a lot of research on. If not, it’s going to be extremely difficult to form a powerful thesis statement, let alone write an entire paper. Take a few minutes and reflect on any personal experiences that may help you tie your entire paper together.

Be Specific

Some papers have a broader topic range. If this sounds like yours, pick one or two specific areas and focus on them. A broad topic will usually result in a long and rambling paper, and you need a focused, precise, and concise finished paper. Do research on your chosen topic and narrow your areas down.

Have a Logical Thought Sequence

When people wonder, “How am I going to write my thesis?”, they generally don’t use a logical thought sequence. For example, your introduction should present your argument in a clear and compelling way. From there, each paragraph below it should build on any evidence you have to support your introduction. Don’t forget to use case studies to add to your credibility.

Remember the How? Why? and So What? of Your Paper

Never assert statements in your thesis without having evidence and proof to support your claims. Clearly explain the how’s and the why’s of any argument or point you make. Have someone review your paper and ask for their main takeaway. If they have a so what moment, you want to connect any stray ideas back to your main argument.

Start With an Outline

This point goes along with having a logical thought sequence to your paper. Take a piece of paper and create bullet points. Your argument should be at the top. Each bullet point below that is a paragraph. Each paragraph should have one supporting fact or study that you build on. Concentrate on this one idea per paragraph and connect them all back to your main argument.

Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Proofread your paper once to yourself. Second, put it into a program that will read it back to you because it’s a lot easier for most people to catch errors when they hear them. Next, get a friend or colleague and ask them to proofread your paper for you. It should have at least three or four proofreading sessions before you feel comfortable enough to turn it in.

If your colleagues are too busy to help you out for free, there are paid services that can help you edit and review your paper. Check out these Edusson reviews as an example of such services.

Brainstorm Your Topic

When you get your topic, start with a brainstorming session. Get a blank piece of paper and write down anything and everything that comes to mind about your topic. Look for any new connections. Try to sort your ideas into categories. You can take these categories and use them to form the bare bones of your paper. It only has to be a few words because you’ll flesh it out later when you start writing.

Make Your Thesis Reader-Friendly

Even if you’re writing an academic paper, it should be simple enough for anyone who picks it up to understand the point or points you want to get across. You can write your first thesis statement with your peer group or targeted audience in mind. Once you have this, go back and rewrite it to be more reader-friendly.

Establish Credibility

What sets your paper apart from just anyone? The answer is credible sources. People like to read things that have facts, trials, and clinical references to back them up. Every statement you make in your thesis should have one or two credible sources behind it. Don’t just blurt out anything and expect people to believe you. Give them so much evidence that they don’t have a choice but to believe what you’re saying is true.

Be Clear

Your thesis should be straightforward and crystal clear to your readers. To do this, you want to avoid vague language and things like “interesting,” “difficult,” or “exciting” in your writing. Also, you want to avoid abstract words like “values” or “society.” They don’t give your reader any information unless you carefully explain it to them. For example:

• Vague Thesis Statement: Although the black bear is a reclusive and timid animal, people are systematically exterminating it. (If it’s reclusive and timid, why are people exterminating it?)
• Revised Thesis Statement: Although the black bear is actually a reclusive and timid animal, people are systematically exterminating it because they wrongfully believe it to be a savage killer.

Ensure that Your Thesis is Original

You want to avoid having generic arguments in your thesis statement. Although they work well to get your rough draft up and going, they’re a very easy way to bore your reader. You want to keep revising your thesis until you’re sure that you get your point across in an engaging and interesting way. You want to pull your reader in and compel them to read the rest of your paper.

These 11 thesis writing tips can help you craft a masterful paper that will surely get you a more than decent grade. It’s essential that you take your time, do your research, and put a lot of effort into your writing. If you do, you’ll end up with a compelling thesis that sucks your readers in and makes them see your point of view.

See Also: How To Publish Your Thesis Into A Book In 4 Steps

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How to Become a Better Photographer

In our current day and age, everyone enjoys clicking pictures. But, if you are relatively new to photography, then you will understand the struggle of capturing perfect shots.

Becoming a professional photographer or taking some amazing shots does not happen overnight. Photography is an art which needs practice. You can work towards improving your pictures by incorporating certain changes to your photography style.

There are a lot of niches that you can explore in photography – food, macro, still, street and so much more. All you have to do is learn how to capture the perfect shots.

Before you walk on the road and start capturing noteworthy shots, here are some tips on how to become a better photographer.

Capture the same shot in different angles

As a beginner, the need to explore different subjects is at its peak. You will want to capture everything that looks interesting to you. However, if you want to become a better photographer, take pictures of the same thing every day.

When you start clicking pictures of the same subject every day, there are a lot of things you can learn. For instance, you’ll understand how to work with different angles and how natural or artificial lighting can affect your shot.

As a photographer, it is necessary to understand how light, angles, and weather conditions will impact your photography and how you can overcome these minor hindrances to capture an amazing picture.

Look for Inspiration

As a photographer, you need to think outside the box. You need to look for inspiration in places you would have never thought of.

If you walk from your house to work every day, then look for inspiration in the buildings. Similarly, you could also photograph the cup of coffee that you grab on the way to work. It is all about looking for inspiration in places you would not have thought of previously.

It does not matter where you live, photography has no limit. All you need to do is explore and get creative with your shots. Doing this will help you understand how to make a random subject beautiful.

Experiment with Light

Light plays a major role in photography. It can either make or break your shot which is why it is extremely important to understand how to work with light. It’s important not only to get clearer shots but also to show the details in your photograph.

Additionally, lighting also contributes to the mood, tone, and atmosphere of your picture. If you learn how to work with light in the right way, you will also be able to capture vibrancy and textures.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Are you too comfortable clicking nature shots or still shots? You need to explore beyond your comfort zone to improve your skills as a photographer. If you take a lot of portrait shots, then try capturing nature-centric pictures for a change.

Similarly, if you are more into still photography, try to indulge in street or wildlife photography. There are different types of photography that every beginner should explore before they set their mind to a particular photography type.

When you try photographing things that you are not used to, your mind immediately comes up with new ideas to create a hood shot. Also, this is a great way to explore the different settings on your camera.

Keep Your Shots to a Minimum

There’s a difference between trying out different shots and trying the same shot till you get it perfect. Don’t overdo anything. Continuously clicking hundreds of shots based on a single subject until you get a perfect picture is not the right way to go about.

Firing away shots limits your creativity. When you limit yourself, you spend more time working out the composition, exposure, and lighting before you hit click. The whole purpose of limiting yourself is mainly because you tend to think before randomly clicking away.

Pick a Color

If you want your creative juices to flow as a photographer, then pick a color and only focus on that color while clicking pictures. By choosing a particular color, you are always on the lookout for some innovative shots.

For instance, by picking the color orange, you can capture sunsets, sunrise, a field of marigolds, and a lot of other things in nature. Likewise, you can also look for textured walls and standalone objects/subjects in the chosen color of your choice.

If this activity is helping you become a better photographer, continue doing it with other colors.

Look for Unique Perspectives

Most often, people tend to click pictures of what is in front of them without looking at it from a different perspective. If you want to become better at the art of photography, then think of new angles and perspectives.

Move around a bit, think out of the box to capture a shot that’s different from what you are seeing in front of you. Do not let your feet bind you to a particular spot. Be prepared to walk, climb, bend, and move if it means getting a perfect picture with a unique perspective.

See Also: Pictures and Pennies: How To Make Money From Photography?

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Want Better Workouts? Hit the Sack Early

We’re overextended and exhausted, but we have weights to lift, miles to run, and muscles to build.

The problem, though, is that the only time many people have to achieve fitness goals often overlaps with (what should be) bedtime. It’s a Catch-22.

Sleep isn’t something to tamper with. It’s serious business. We need at least seven hours to lower our risks of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. On top of that, getting enough sleep keeps us from dealing with energy-draining hormonal changes.

Plus, when gymgoers miss recovery or rest for the sake of fitting in a workout, they risk losing momentum because muscles recover during sleep. In fact, a lack of muscular definition might have less to do with the weights you lift and more to do with the z’s you get.

So are we doomed to become fit zombies, or is there a way out of this self-afflicted sleep deprivation?

Why We Sacrifice Sleep

Most of us love to sleep, yet we willingly keep ourselves from getting the right amount. We think, “If I can just get enough sleep to function and still get my workout in, I’ll be ahead of the game.”

That’s the wrong outlook.

Without sleep, we start to exhibit negative behaviors. We can’t wind down, concentrate, or regulate our appetites. But just one night with a full eight hours of rest can start to reverse these issues. Still, that can be a tall order for fitness aficionados who are locked in a sleep-deprived cycle.

Bryan Cole, our company’s team manager, knows and understands the power of sleep. After decades of working in the nutrition industry and with elite athletes, he sees sleep and exercise as a two-way relationship. He operates under the philosophy that exercise promotes better sleep and that sleep promotes better exercise. GoPro skier Chris Benchetler and the first free climber of the Dawn Wall of Yosemite’s El Capitan, Tommy Caldwell, are among those who share Bryan’s philosophy.

Bryan aims for nine hours of sleep every night but sometimes settles for eight. Consistent rest keeps his work and athletic performance at optimal levels. Haven’t reached this caliber of discipline quite yet? All is not lost — even if last night’s sleep was.

Training Your Brain for Sleep

Realign your priorities and incorporate these strategies into your habits for successful snoozing and better workouts:

Drink enough water

Simply staying hydrated will ensure you feel like you’re in top shape when it’s time to hit the hay. The National Sleep Foundation notes that people low on hydration don’t sleep as deeply, making them more susceptible to groggy, moody mornings.

See Also: Top 5 Tips On How To Stay Hydrated

Eat dinner early

Eating a big meal before bed is a bad decision. A stomach focused on digestion is not a stomach focused on staying asleep. Need to eat late? Resist the temptation to eat anything resembling a heavy meal. Instead, opt for light foods with fewer sugars and carbs, such as pumpkin seeds, turkey, and avocado.

Limit alcohol

Ever gone to sleep exhausted after drinking a glass or two of beer only to wake up wide-eyed at 3 a.m.? This is why some athletes avoid alcohol altogether. If you do enjoy a drink with dinner occasionally, go easy and stop drinking within four hours of bedtime.

Limit caffeine

Many athletes swear by caffeine in all its forms, from energy drinks to super-robust coffee. Although it can boost their stamina temporarily, it can also destroy a nightly routine. As with alcohol, stop drinking caffeine at least four hours before you climb into bed.

Adjust your sleeping space

Think dark, cool, and quiet when designing a sleeping space. If you’re on the road, a white noise machine, earplugs, or an eye pillow can help. At home, choose pillows and a mattress that offer support. Keep the ambient temperature at 67 degrees, and make sure to keep the electronics out of the bed.

Go to bed at the same time every night

Heading to bed at the same time each night gets you into a sleeping groove. Plus, it makes waking up early less difficult. Don’t make weekends an exception. If you stayed up late on Saturday, force yourself to get out of bed early on Sunday rather than sleep in. While it might not be your most mentally sharp day that week, you’ll stay in sync.

See Also: 9 Sleep Hacks to Elevate Your Mood and Improve Your Health

Sleep without clothes

Climbing into bed without wearing clothing allows you to be freer to sleep soundly and comfortably. Worried you’ll get too chilly? Cover your bed with breathable sheets and blankets. It’ll be less difficult than you think to get used to sleeping in the nude.

You’ll never hit your fitness A-game without enough rest. Resolve to place more importance on slumber and kick your athleticism into high gear.

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3 Reasons to Ditch Your Leather Wallet and Go Digital

Despite the cool factor, Americans have been slow to make the switch to digital wallets. As you might expect, younger consumers lead the way: Fifty-four percent of Gen Z consumers use digital wallets. Still, even though user numbers increased in all age groups in 2018, many are only dabbling in digital while holding on to their worn-out leather wallets.

What’s behind the reluctance? If you were paying attention to high school physics, you’ll remember that inertia is a powerful force.

A lot of it comes down to what we’re used to doing, and what we’re used to is handing over a plastic card. Scanning your phone or smartwatch instead is different, and human behavior is hard to change. Case in point: Only 31 percent of mobile payment users even remember to use their digital wallets when it’s an available option. It’s just not an automatic reflex at this point.

Changing How You Pay

In the not-too-distant past, credit and debit cards were the new payment methods, out to replace the wad of cash or the checkbook in your pocket. Over time, the credit cards gained acceptance by being convenient and offering financial incentives.

In the early days, card companies like American Express and Visa practically gave away money in an attempt to make their cards attractive to consumers — they offered a better deal than paying with cash.

The same thing is happening with digital payment options. People who try out Venmo get cash back, plus some more when they get someone else to try it. Apple Pay offers incentives like the Father’s Day promotion, which gives users a $20 credit for spending $100 in the Nike app. Other digital wallets offer free Google Play credits or will pay for some percentage of your purchase.

So far, one of the biggest shifts to automatic digital payment behavior is happening at Starbucks. If you’re a regular at the coffee chain, you probably pay for your flat white through the Starbucks app. The retailer is marrying its loyalty program with in-app purchasing and is upping the convenience and incentives for consumers to make digital payment a part of their coffee-buying routines.

Incentives work. But to make digital wallets the go-to payment method, the user experience will have to be better than anything else we have.

3 Reasons to Ditch Your Wallet

If you’re not exploring digital wallet options, you probably figure that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, the traditional wallet has some definite drawbacks that paying with your phone or smartwatch would solve — and then some.

Convenience

Ever stand at the counter shuffling through your plastic cards looking for the one that will give you extra travel points for hardware purchases? Ever hear the heavy sighs from the people behind you in line? (Hey, at least you didn’t pull out your checkbook.)

A digital wallet retires the card shuffle. You can put as many different cards as you want in a digital wallet. Instead of shuffling, it’s a simple flick and tap to select the one you want. That’s it. The payment is complete. Instead of sighs and eye-rolls from your line mates, you’ll just get envious glances.

If you’re paying online, it’s even easier. No typing and then re-typing your card number and that annoying three-digit code. You simply tap the payment method in your digital wallet and hit submit.

Speed

Paying your credit card bill online seems instant. It’s not. Electronic payments, which typically process in overnight batches, can take up to three business days to post. When you go the old-fashioned route and mail a check to your credit card company, it’s even slower.

Wouldn’t it be nice to make payments in real time? With a digital wallet, there’s no confusion about what your balance is. Every transaction — no matter how you paid — is consolidated and available at your fingertips.

Security

But is it safe? So many people’s resistance to digital wallets comes down to security concerns. According to a survey by the American Bankers Association, only 12 percent of consumers trust the security of digital payments over their traditional payment methods.

However, security is where digital wallets really outshine their analog alternative. When you hand your card to a waiter, do you really know what’s happening while he has it? Even when you swipe the card yourself, it’s dangerous: Hidden “skimmers” at gas station pumps can steal your information after you pay.

In contrast, when you make purchases using your digital wallet, your card number isn’t ever shared. Instead, your payment information is replaced with a unique token. Even if someone manages to skim the information, it can’t be used for transactions at other places.

As an added layer of security, digital wallets have multifactor authentication. You have the phone or smartwatch, you know the PIN, and your face or fingerprint are recognized, making it difficult for anyone but you to authorize a purchase.

See Also: 13 Online Banking Security Tips You Should Know About

Here’s the bottom line: There are easier, faster, and safer ways to pay than handing over your credit card or a wad of cash. All you need to do is reach for your phone instead of your wallet.

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Using Tech To Give Your Pet A Better Quality of Life

How To Calculate Salvage Value Of An Automobile

When a vehicle is damaged beyond repair, automobile insurance companies declare it a total loss. Now, if that’s the case with your car, don’t throw it out just yet.

While it may not be cost-effective to repair the vehicle, it still retains some salvage value. In addition to the value of its scrap metal, the vehicle may have some serviceable parts that can be removed and sold as repair parts for other vehicles. In some cases, older cars with minor damage may be written off as the cost of repairs exceeds the current value of the vehicle.

Calculating the Salvage Value of Your Car

The salvage value of an automobile will vary depending on the state as well as the year, make, model and condition of the car. Here’s a guide on how to calculate it:

• Look up the retail and wholesale value of a similar vehicle using resources like the Kelly Blue Book and National Automobile Dealers Association Used Car Guide.
• Add these two figures together and divide the sum by two to get the car’s current market value.
• Contact your insurance company for the percentage of market value that it uses for determining salvage value. Although the percentage can vary, it is typically 75 percent of market value.
• Multiply the car’s current market value determined earlier by 0.25 (1.00 minus 0.75) to find its salvage value.
• The result of this calculation will always be lower than the current market value of the car. If the cost of repairs exceeds this amount, the car is written off as a loss.

Knowing Your Options

When a car is totaled, owners can elect one of two options.

The first option is to collect a settlement check from the insurance company, which is the market value minus any deductibles, and sign over title to the insurance company. The insurance company then sells the car to a salvage yard.

The other option is to keep the vehicle and collect a settlement from the insurance company. It’s equal to the market value of the car minus deductibles and the salvage value of the car. In this case, you are buying the car back from the insurance company.

The Department of Motor Vehicles will issue a new salvage title for the vehicle. You can keep vehicle, repair it or sell it to a salvage yard. Perhaps, you’ll receive a higher price than what the insurance claim calculated as the value of the vehicle.

See Also: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Car Insurance

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5 Ways To Create the Foundation of a Long-Term Relationship

Every relationship has its peaks and valleys. Sometimes, the valleys seem so deep and wide that it feels like you’ll never get out of them.

Some couples never do.

They either choose to go their separate ways, file for a divorce or have a legal separation. A long-term relationship is definitely one of the most adventurous journeys that anyone will ever willingly choose to travel, but we do so because the rewards at each peak are tremendous.

My spouse and I have been married 13 years and together 17 years. Like most couples, we have experienced many challenges over the years. She’s Catholic, I’m not. I’m an extrovert, she’s not. If given the choice, I’ll watch science fiction. She’ll watch cop shows endlessly.

We are two very different people who have come together. Most people who meet us for the first time wonder how we’ve managed to craft a long-term relationship.

Above all else, if there is only one piece of advice that could be offered, it would be this: relationships are investments, not trades.

Trading, in financial terms, looks for huge profits in a short amount of time. It takes more risk and the chances of losing everything are much greater. Investments, on the other hand, grow slowly over longer periods of time and are a virtually guaranteed way to grow your wealth – assuming you’re willing to keep putting new funds into your account.

That’s what a long-term relationship is all about. You’ve got to put in deposits, make smart investments, and only take a withdrawal when absolutely necessary.

Having a love that lasts a lifetime is a little more complicated than just a banking metaphor. You need to create a strong foundation for a long term relationship so that it can withstand the pressures of a career, debt, children, funerals, and all of the other stresses that come with the modern relationship.

A strong enough foundation can even help a couple survive infidelity, if both parties are willing to keep working at their relationship.

My goal is to spend 70 years with my spouse. I plan to be one of those people who share a room at the nursing home well into my 100’s, holding hands with my loved one. It’s not going to be an easy journey to walk. We both know this. We’ve also learned some lessons over time that have helped us craft a stable foundation upon which we can always rely when times get tough.

Some of these lessons might seem like common sense, but there is a tremendous difference between reading something and experiencing something. Sometimes you’ve got to learn things the hard way to really grasp what the words you’ve read really mean.

You have to work on your relationship every day

In today’s culture, we tend to stress the big occasions. Large gifts at Valentine’s Day, Mother’s or Father’s Day, and especially Christmas become a point of emphasis to show meaning in a relationship. The only problem with this is that having 3 days per year to show how much you love someone isn’t good enough.

Love must be experienced every day so that it can bear and believe all things.

It’s the little things in life that show love. Opening a door for someone, giving up the baked potato from your meal because your loved one wants it or spending an hour watching a cop show you can’t stand all show love. Flowers are nice, but time is better.

It’s not up to them; it’s up to you

There are days when it feels like you’re the only one putting in work into your relationship. Sometimes,that one day of solo work stretches to feeling like a week or two. The truth is that a relationship might be one unit, but it is made up of two people.

People need space sometimes and that space sometimes requires a person to take time for themselves.

The goal is to love others as much as you love yourself.

You cannot love your partner fully if you do not love yourself fully. A relationship or a marriage will never last if you don’t spend time on yourself. It also won’t last if you don’t put your partner first sometimes. It can be a tricky balancing act but it’s an important one to have at the forefront of your relationship.

It’s not up to the other person but it’s up to you. You control what you do and you can choose to be happy. You can choose to love.

It is important that you make these choices every day so that you relationship can last. After all, the choice to stay in a relationship is also something you decide every day.

Communication must happen

Nothing frustrates me more than when my spouse comes home three hours late from work without letting me know. First of all, the kids are clamoring about when they’re going to see their mother. Secondly, the dinner I’ve made doesn’t taste as good in the microwave as it does when it is freshly made.

There’s also this realization I made one day: I was brought up in an environment where not communicating something like this meant that you were unloved.

We must communicate with each other to make a relationship last. Having too much communication will always be better than not having enough. I’ve talked about how it makes me feel when I don’t know she’s going to be late. She’s talked to me about how she’s not used to communicating these things because in her family, it was common to just come and go as needed and grab food when you had time.

When you have all of the information available, you both can make a better decision for your relationship that works for both of you. We have two nights where she guarantees she won’t be late so we can have dinner together as a family. I don’t take it personally if that doesn’t happen.

There must be a spiritual component to your relationship

I’m not going to spout some religious dogma about prayer, meditation, or the amount of time you spend in your preferred faith. I will say that the amount of time you spend together exploring your spirituality is important, even if you come from two very different faiths.

There is always room for compromise, but there is no compromise on the need for spirituality.

I’ve gone to mass and made a fool out of myself more than once. Apparently not being Catholic means you don’t take communion? Didn’t know that at first. She had a similar culture shock with my faith. What we do, however, is study our faiths together at the same time and ask each other questions that we believe are important.

• What does love mean to you?
• How can we come together to help others?
• Is there a way we can continue to grow.

Let me be clear: when I speak of faith, I also speak of atheism, agnosticism, or even a reliance on scientific evidence only. Your relationship has a soul, just as you do. Feed it and you will build a firmer foundation.

Make sure there is time to have fun

Some weeks I put in 70 hours at the computer. There are weeks when my wife puts 70 hours at work. Even though you might be tired, it is still important to emphasize the lighter side of life for your relationship to flourish.

Schedule time to spend with your partner or spouse if necessary to make sure you have time for fun.

One of the best ways to have fun is to experience something you both have never done before. Go visit a new national park. Book a table at a restaurant you’ve never tried. Take a drive somewhere you’ve never been. These all work.

We also define “fun” as making sure we go to bed at the same time every night. Even if we’ve been apart all day, this still gives us a chance to check-in with each other, bear each other’s burdens if necessary, so that the two components of our relationship, her and I, come together at least once per day.

Has it been an easy 10 years? Not always.

We have had our joys and our sorrows over this time. By making sure we’ve built a firm foundation for our relationship and that we keep working on that foundation every day, we will experience many more joys and sorrows if fate allows.

You can do the same thing.

Is it hard work sometimes? Yes. Does it get lonely sometimes? Yes. Are there moments when anger will flood your soul and make you wonder what you were thinking? Yes.

In the end, however, we’re all left with one question: Is life better in a long term relationship or is it worse?

For me, life will always be better with my partner, even if we’re stuck in a deep valley. At the very worst, at least I’ll have someone with whom I can share the darkness.

See Also: 10 Tips for a Long and Happy Marriage

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8 Methods to Eliminate Credit Card Debt

Huge credit card debt can feel like a crushing, impossible burden that you need to carry for months, years, or even a lifetime – but it doesn’t have to be.

With a few simple steps and a good deal of discipline, credit card debt can be whittled down, paid off, and eventually eliminated for good. Just imagine how good it’ll feel to not owe your hard-earned money to a credit card company. Instead, you’re free to save it or even spend it however you want.

Here’s how to eliminate credit card debt:

Cut Up or Cancel the Cards

The absolute first step to eliminating debt is to avoid accruing more debt!

For those who have fallen into excessive spending habits in the past, an absolute spending freeze on credit cards is generally the best remedy. Rather than just telling yourself not to spend, go further – eliminate the ability to use credit cards by rendering them useless.

While calling your provider and cancelling the card can work, many providers will offer extra rewards to entice cancelling customers to keep the card. To avoid this, a great option is to simply cut up the card and throw it in the trash. Just be sure that it is also removed as a payment option from any online stores and recurring subscriptions.

Negotiate with Providers

While the word “negotiate” makes most people automatically cringe, this vital skill can save those in extreme credit card debt.

When a credit customer has high outstanding debt and hasn’t been making payments, the credit card company may start to assume that they will never get their money back. Your angle for negotiation is promising that they can at least get some of the money back if they are willing to offer you more favorable terms or a balance reduction.

If your card has an extremely high-interest rate, start with negotiating that down, as this can often prevent the need for a balance transfer. Negotiate with the company’s representatives over the phone and try multiple calls if needed. Just be sure to get any agreement in writing or many companies will claim they have no record of the deal you worked hard to make.

Note: There are debt reduction companies that will offer to negotiate for you, but beware of scams and hidden fees if you pursue that option.

Consider a Balance Transfer

For customers with very high credit card balances, a balance transfer to another card may do the trick if the original card’s terms aren’t favorable. This method involves finding a new credit card with a lower interest rate and paying off your existing balance with the new card.

Those who signed up for their original cards due to a reward offer are often in a great place for a balance transfer, because high-reward cards often also have high-interest rates and high annual fees. One important thing to note is that most cards have separate terms and conditions for balance transfers, so be sure to read the fine print before making this move!

Highest Interest First

Now that you know the exact balance and terms you will need to pay off, it’s time to make a plan.

If there are multiple cards making up your debt, plan to pay off the highest interest rate first. Then, keep moving to the next-highest until all the debt has disappeared. This will decrease the total amount you have to pay over the lifetime of the debt.

However, to save your credit score from additional negative remarks, be sure to pay the minimum payments on all your cards while focusing any extra payments at the card with the highest interest rate. Consider paying your online loans immediately.

Get On a Budget

If your household is not currently on a budget, this is the most important step on this entire list.

List all your income and all expenses and see what’s left over at the end of the month. Be sure to fill in honest estimates for necessities like groceries and leave a little spending money to avoid blowing the rest of the budget on small luxuries.

Additionally, make sure to include budget lines for infrequent but expected expenses – like yearly insurance fees, back to school expenses, and Christmas gifts. There is an incredible variety of budgeting advice available online, as well as apps like Mint or EveryDollar to automate the process. Of course, your budget needs a category for credit card payments!

See Also: How to Stick to your Financial New Year’s Resolution

Look Critically at “Necessities”

This step is essentially Budget 2.0.

Once you’ve worked with a budget for two or three months, it’s time to take a closer look at the extra categories you budgeted for. See what money can be moved to paying off credit card debt.

As you look critically, consider whether you would rather have each “necessity” or you would rather be free from debt. Perhaps your weekly yoga class can switch to an at-home practice until you’re debt free. Maybe you can sacrifice Saturday night restaurant dinners to try a new recipe at home.

One extra tip for this step is to pick a target monthly payment on your credit cards and challenge yourself to reduce other categories to meet the goal – instead of starting with other expenses and putting whatever’s left over into your card category.

Pick Up Extra Work

A budget has two sides – income and expenses.

While you’ve hopefully decreased your expenses already, you can also increase your income and put the increase towards paying off credit card debt. Extra work doesn’t just have to be bagging groceries or delivering pizzas, either.

Overtime at a full-time job, if available, is generally the best option. Outside of overtime, consider your skills.

Someone with a truck can make money helping people move, someone with a college degree could tutor students in their field or a stay-at-home mom could volunteer to babysit while she watches her own kids. Choosing work according to personal qualifications can generally earn a much higher hourly rate than going for the first “now hiring” sign you see.

Sell Your Junk

This final step is pretty simple – sell anything extra at a yard sale, on the curb, or online. Some things that sell might even be things that were purchased with credit cards in the first place!

While selling extra possessions certainly won’t eliminate your debt alone, it can be extremely helpful as a boost when you’re close to the finish line, or as a kickstart when you first commit to paying off debt. As a side bonus, you’re decluttering your home at the same time.

See Also: 30 Easy Ways to Save Money You Probably Aren’t Doing Yet

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13 Online Banking Security Tips You Should Know About

Banking online is fast and convenient. This is what makes it so popular with people all over the world. However, it also exposes you to more threats. We want you and your money to stay safe, so we’ve put together a list of the best online banking security tips available.

Don’t Use a Public WiFi Network

Never access your banking information over an unsecured or public WiFi network. Since they’re usually not encrypted, it’s easy for hackers to get in and steal information. Instead, save your banking and account checking for when you’re at home. Your own network is private, and there’s a low risk of getting your information stolen this way.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is another security layer that you can add to all of your banking information, including the best checking accounts. Every time someone tries to log into your account, your bank will automatically send you an email or text alert. This alert will contain a unique code that you have to put in before you can log into your banking account.

Don’t Click an Email to Log into Your Account

Your bank may periodically send you emails about your account. However, you don’t want to click them and allow them to route you to your bank. Instead, go straight to your bank’s website and log in through there. You can access your paperless inbox and look at any emails you receive. This will reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a phishing scam.

Create and Use a Strong Password

Although you may be tempted to create one password and use it for everything, you want to have a unique and strong password for your banking information. You want to use uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Additionally, you should plan on changing this password regularly.

See Also: 6 Foolproof Tips for Creating Powerful Passwords

Monitor Your Accounts

Check your accounts at least once a week. Look at all of your transactions and make sure that they’re legitimate. You want to have authorized them all. Make sure that you report anything suspicious to your bank. If you routinely shop online from your bank account, double check it after every purchase. This will help to ensure that everything is correct.

Use the Mobile App for Your Bank

Did you know that your bank encrypts their mobile app? It’s less open to attacks than the bank’s website, and it’s most likely more secure. Download your bank’s specific app and use this to check your accounts. Just remember to download any updates that come through because this will help to ensure that the security certificates are up to date.

Lock Your Devices

Even though your banking information is usually secure, always lock your devices. This includes your phone, laptop, tablet, or anything you use to access your banking information. You can use a password, fingerprint, or PIN to do this. Remember, the more difficult it is for someone to access your information, the less likely it is that someone will be able to steal it.

Switch Bluetooth Off When It’s Not in Use

One of the newer ways thieves are gaining access to information is via Bluetooth. They simply hack into your device through your Bluetooth connection and take control of certain functions. You can avoid this by switching your Bluetooth off every time you’re not using it.

Disable Automatic Login

Even if you’re the only one to access a device, you want to disable the automatic login. Also, disable autofill and remembering passwords. You never know when someone will get into your device will ill intent. Clear all of your saved information and disable autofill for your bank. This will make it more difficult for someone to get into your account.

Check for a Secure Connection

Always use a secure connection when you access your sensitive information. This includes looking for a little green padlock in the address bar. It should also show “https” instead of just “http.” This will help ensure that you’re on and using an encrypted connection. They have more layers of security than a standard connection.

Keep Your Devices Current

Yes, downloading constant updates can be time-consuming. But, you’re usually downloading the newest security features and patches each time you update your device. Instead of putting it off for weeks, update it straight away. Do this consistently to keep all of your devices secure.

See Also: 8 Easy Steps To Your Browser Security And Privacy

Always Log Out

Most banks have an automatic feature that logs you out after a set period of inactivity. However, you don’t want to rely on this. Instead, get in the habit of logging out each time you finish with your banking session. This will prevent someone from simply sitting down at your device and moving things in your account.

Use Anti-Virus Software

Having a licensed anti-virus software installed and running on your computer can help prevent malware or spyware infections. Set your software to routinely scan for updates. However, you do want to manually update them because you’ll be able to double check that all of the updates are legitimate.

Bottom Line

These 13 online banking security tips can help to ensure that your sensitive information stays private and secure. We advise you to take all of them and incorporate them into your everyday routine to help ensure that your hard-earned money stays safe.

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How Do I Manage My Expenses After Getting Married?

Getting married is an exciting time for any couple. It’s the beautiful prospect of waking up every day next to your best friend and sharing your lives and home together. But there are some tricky avenues of a new marriage to tackle, such as learning to live with each other’s house-habits.

Another area that may be a little tricky to talk about is how to merge your finances.

Some couples may feel uncomfortable talking about how much money they make or how they like to spend it. Others are completely open about their financial lives. How easy it is for you depends on how well you and your spouse are able to communicate with one another.

In this article, we’ll share with you some great tips about financial-planning-for-newly-married-couples.

Talk about your finances

To get the ball rolling, you and your spouse must be willing to open up about your personal finances. It can be very helpful to talk about your spending and saving habits and how you grew up viewing money. Having this discussion can help couples understand what financial standpoint their spouse is coming from.

Talking about money also means talking about any debts you have accumulated.
This can be uncomfortable or even embarrassing, but it’s important for your spouse to know what, if any, debts you are bringing into the marriage.

Not only is this helpful for circumstances where your debt becomes a shared debt after marriage, but it can also help you decide as a couple how to pay off anything that you owe as partners.

Figure out a money management system

What financial advice you follow regarding money management is different for each and every couple. Do you have a “what’s mine is yours” attitude about finances or would you prefer to keep separate bank accounts? There are pros and cons to having a shared bank account vs. keeping things separate, and vice-versa.

You and your spouse need to find out which works best for you.

If you decide to keep your accounts and income separate, you must decide how you will split bills, mortgage, insurance, and other monthly payments for your marital home.

Decide on a monthly budget

In order to have a successful merging of finances, you and your spouse need to sit down together as a couple and decide on a monthly budget. Markdown your shared monthly income as well as a list of your monthly expenses. Take groceries, gas, and date night into account when making your realistic budget.

After deducting your expenses from your income pool, decide how to ration what is left. Many couples opt to use any leftover money for personal savings.

Remember not to forget about your monthly spending allowances when making your budget. This “fun money” allows you and your spouse to have a measure of financial freedom. This money can be used to pursue hobbies and interests or order takeout without having to share every purchase in detail with your spouse.

Start saving money

One of the best pieces of financial advice for after getting married is to start making a shared high-interest savings account.

Newlyweds are eager to plan their lives together and they will need money to make their dreams a reality.

• Starting a family – As of 2017, the average cost of raising a child from birth to eighteen years old was $233,610. Putting away money for starting a family can be very beneficial in reducing financial stress once the baby arrives.
• Buying a home together – Whether a couple is planning to start a family or not, many dream of the day when they will be able to buy their first home. Saving for the down payment on a home together is a wise course of action.
• Retirement – One excellent piece of financial advice is to start saving for your retirement as early as you can. Match your employer’s deposits so that you and your partner will be guaranteed a fantastic retirement to spend together.
• Saving for a new car – You may already have a vehicle, but no car lasts forever. Having money saved for a newer car can help you upgrade into something that is safer and more cost-effective.
• Putting money aside for emergencies – You never know when an unforeseen occurrence such as sickness, natural disaster, home repair or sudden loss of job will affect your family income. Having money saved for the unexpected will help you and your spouse feel safe and secure about your future.

See Also: 5 Financial Emergencies Everyone Must Be Prepared For

Keep communication open

Deciding on a budget is the easy part, sticking to it is where things get hard. Make sure you practice open communication and don’t shy away from talking to your spouse about money matters.

Many couples find it helpful to have a monthly “financial marriage check-in” to see how things are going financially. Here you can celebrate small victories you’ve made in saving money, paying off debts or spending less that month.

A monthly check-in is also an opportunity to look at money coming in and out of the household. It can help pinpoint which areas could still use improvement.

The subject of money can be awkward, so make sure you approach potentially uncomfortable topics with love and respect.

Work as a team

After getting married, you and your spouse are officially partners in all things — love, life, finances. Keep this in mind when communicating about money matters. Learn how to problem-solve effectively.

Overview

Getting married is all about healthy communication.

Therefore, the best financial advice you can take from this article is to have a regular, open, honest discussion with your spouse about how you’re handling your money. Set small financial goals you can reach as a couple, stick to your budget, and learn how to problem-solve respectfully.

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5 Tips to Convince Your Overprotective Parents to Let You Travel Alone

A lot of parents aren’t comfortable with the idea of their children traveling abroad, particularly if they plan on going alone.

They think it is unsafe and simply a waste of time and money. It may potentially take away their focus on what’s really important in life, like education and career.

However, you and I know that traveling is actually one of the best ways to learn and grow.

By going on a solo travel, you encounter new and diverse experiences that are not always comfortable. It forces you to take responsibility for yourself and grow into your own being.

Even research has shown that students who have taken a year off to work, travel and explore other interests are now being recognized by universities like Harvard and employers as valuable in helping students be more successful in their lives, studies and careers.

So, what can you do to get your parents to allow for this to happen?

Do your homework and share your plan

You need to have a plan to prove that you have really thought this through. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What is your goal or what do you want to experience and accomplish when you are abroad?
• How will this contribute to your life and your career ambitions?
• Why is this important to you?
• Where do you want to go?
• How long are you going to go for?
• What are the safety measures you are going to take?
• How much have you saved?
• How much do you think it is going to cost?
• What is your budget?
• Where are you going to get the money to support you?

All these questions are important for you to answer as it’ll demonstrate you have done your research and know what you are doing. Try and tie it back to how it can help with your career goal and how it can give you a competitive edge in the future. Show them how you are going to be financially responsible and pay for the trip and support yourself.

Back up your research on the benefits of traveling and working abroad

Help them see how traveling will contribute to building your resume and your life skills. Use the information I provided to you in the introduction to share with them time has changed.

Nowadays, employers and schools value individuals who know how to work with diverse people. They favor those who can speak more than one language and are able to think outside the box. Find more examples on Google that further backs this up.

Share examples of other family friend’s children who have traveled on their own

Our parents often like to compare us with their family friend’s children and use them as examples, saying we should be more like them. You know how they always say, “Did you hear about so and so… Why not do the same? Did you hear so and so just got back from Europe and because of his/her experience got a job working for xyz or got into the xyz university?”

So, who do you know have been able to convince their parents to let them go travel on their own and came back more successful? Call them up and find out how they convinced their parents. Ask what have been the biggest reservations their parents had to let them go off on their own.

Even if you don’t know of anyone, ask around. Expand your network and find someone who have gone through the challenge you are facing and get some advice from them.

Reassure them you will stay in touch

One of the biggest things our parents worry about is our safety. They worry that they are not able to protect you and care for you when you are so far away.

The reality is bad things can happen just as easily if you were to stay at home. Also, they won’t be around forever to protect you. Nothing lasts forever in life and what happens around us is out of our control.

The only thing we have control over is how we choose to prepare and respond to what goes on in our lives. So, give them as much information as you can about where you will be staying or where you are going to be. Work with them to agree on how often will you check in and stay in touch with them by Skype, phone or email.

After all, the only way you can learn how to manage ‘life’ on your own and thrive is if they give you the opportunity to spread your wings and face new experiences in life by yourself.

Be patient and don’t give up on your dreams

Know that there is always a way. Be patient, gentle, and persistent. Be willing to compromise if you must.

So, maybe instead of traveling on your own, you agree to join a group or a youth exchange program organized by the government. Check out Go Overseas to find reliable information about various programs abroad.

Ultimately the decision lies within you. It is your life. Don’t waste it on living out someone else’s.

See Also: 6 Ways Traveling Alone Makes You Stronger

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10 Tips to Develop Both Sides of Your Brain

Each side of the brain performs certain functions.

The right side focuses on the visuals and the “big picture” of something. It’s the side from which creative thought springs. The left brain, on the other hand, is the linear, detail-oriented, and logical part.

Many people tend to have a left or right brain dominance which is a factor in what they might choose for their life’s work. With that, an artist would never consider accounting for a career and vice versa.

The brain works best, however, when both sides are activated and involved in learning and activities. When both sides are engaged, neural connections are made and that allows them to work better.

Here are 10 simple exercises anyone can do to develop both sides of the brain

Visualization and Hands-on Activity Together

Visualization is a right brain function. If nothing is done beyond that, the left brain will not engaged.

To engage both sides, take up a hands-on project of some sort- perhaps making some shelving or creating your own garden. Let your right brain visualize the end product. Then, engage the left brain by identifying all of the steps necessary to complete the project.

Games

Some board games will engage both sides of the brain because there is a visual component to the game and also a strategic element. Chess and checkers are excellent examples of these types of game.

Players must keep in their heads the visual of the entire board while developing strategies for their moves. Sometimes, they have to come up with several moves in advance. Jigsaw puzzles offer the same coordination.

See Also: The 5 Benefits of Puzzles Solving for Adult

Learn How to Play a Musical Instrument

Playing musical instruments is very much a right hemisphere activity. However, learning placement of the fingers to achieve certain sounds and reading music engages the left hemisphere.

Set Up a Physical Environment that Engages the Other Hemisphere

If your work primarily involves left brain activity (bookkeeping, report writing, law research, etc.), set up physical space with art that reflects nature and music of different varieties. Having those things around allows the right hemisphere to engage, too.

Learn to Juggle

Juggling requires eye-hand coordination and forces both sides of the brain to work together.

Practice the Colored Pen Exercise

Take several pens of different colors and use each one to write the name of a color. However, the color name written must be different than the pen’s color. Now, instead of reading the words that are written, state the color. Your right brain sees the color, but your left brain must engage to remember not to read the word.

Practice using your non-dominant hand throughout the day

This will offset the habit of using one side of your brain more than the other.

Use Mind-Mapping Tools for Projects

A mind map is a visual representation of the components of a project. Creating one stimulates the creative brainstorming and visual strength of the right brain. But words must be inserted into the map and then they must be organized into categories – a left brain activity.

There are many free apps for the creation of mind maps and they are actually great starters for project work.

Find Apps That Will Force Hemispheric Cooperation

There are loads of apps to test brain skills and many of them will force both hemispheres into action. A good example is the color tile moving game.

Players must move tiles to create a color palette – easy enough until the added caveat of only having a certain number of moves in which to do it. Then, the left-brain strategy must kick in.

Solve Math Problems in Multiple Ways

Solving algebraic equations is a linear brain function. Drawing pictures of equations takes those math problem over to the right hemisphere. This works for ration and proportion, percentage, rate, and time mathematical computations, as well.

The more connections made between the two brain hemispheres, the better problem solvers and innovators we become. Taking the logical, linear, detail-oriented cognitive functions of the left and being able to massage and manipulate them with the more creative, big picture of the right is something we all should strive for.

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Medicare – What’s New in 2019?

Wedding Tips for Introverts Planning Their Wedding

Your wedding day and the preparations before it are obviously going to be extremely taxing and troublesome. Not only do you have to channel your thoughts and try to get them on paper, but you also have to be responsible for handling several tasks at once. With many guests coming over to your marriage, it can be relatively easy to mess up and get the whole thing wrong.

While looking over all affairs before the marriage is quite taxing in itself, the problems can further exacerbate if you’re an introvert and don’t like socializing much. You now have to meet, greet, talk to, and be courteous with strangers that you aren’t comfortable with.

Knowing the problems that most introverts go through while planning for their marriage, we have made a list of wedding ideas for introverts you can use when making plans. From the jewelry store to the wedding vows, this list will help you plan accordingly.

It is imperative that you realize the importance of planning a wedding that is in congruence with what you want. Do not succumb to ideas that others have and end up messing up your own thoughts of an ideal marriage.

Consider a Casual Celebration

Rather than having a grand and exuberant event, you can celebrate your marriage in a casual manner. Things that you would have to change for hosting a casual marriage are:

• Reduce the number of guests coming to the event
• Go for a brunch wedding with toned down menu items
• Add a low-key feel to the event, so that all of your guests and you, yourself, are at ease.

Keep Bridal Parties Small

The last thing an introvert bride should be made to handle is preparing a bunch of other women alongside her for her special day. Big bridal parties can often be a hassle to manage.

Looking after all the girls, fixing their hair appointments, trying to find the same dress for everyone, heading to the jewelry store for jewelry with everyone, and keeping everyone in check are just some of the responsibilities that fall on the shoulders of a bride with a huge bridal entourage with her.

Now, rather than burdening yourself with this pressure, you can go for the safer and more reliable option of a smaller bridal group. Nobody wants the extra chaos, so just surround yourself with the people who truly matter to you.

See Each Other Before the Vows

Introverts don’t really resonate with the idea of seeing their bride or groom only when they walk down the romantic aisle. While this notion is fairly popular and it is considered extremely romantic, there isn’t much harm in suggesting that you would want to meet your spouse-to-be beforehand.

You can plan a private first look event before the actual ceremony begins. That way, you’ll be more comfortable and in your groove. Meeting your spouse-to-be before the event might also help loosen the nerves a bit since both of you will understand each other.

Try Sitting

We cannot help but focus on how important it is for introverts to avoid being the center of attention at all times. They don’t like seeing everyone focused on them or being prominent, which is why the thought of a wedding scares them.

The most intimidating part of the wedding, for any introvert, has to be the process of taking their vows. The process is further exacerbated by the fact that they have to stand in front of everyone and be the literal center of all attention while their legs tremble.

You can avoid all those things if you decide to have your vows while seated with your husband or wife-to-be. The couple should discuss this proposition beforehand so that they are on the same page on the day of the wedding.

Plan Activities Other Than Dancing

Hitting the dance floor is perhaps the most dreaded part for the introverted bride or groom and for the introverted audience as well. While there isn’t any issue with moving to the beats of your favorite song, you would be better off seated at the table and ignoring everyone around.

So, if you’re an introvert, the best you can do is to plan for the other introverts present at the wedding. Have multiple table games set up for anyone who isn’t looking to dance in the limelight. Make sure that everyone is comfortable in their skin and that you, too, are enjoying the evening.

Set up a Quiet Area

The dance floor with all the hubbub and commotion isn’t the perfect spot for you to be at. You’d soon get tired of the random requests for a dance and everyone being fixated at you, so the only good thing to do is have a separate quiet area set up away from the dancing floor.

This quiet area can be set for small conversations between people who’d rather not dance. If all goes well, this area would be more likely where you’d spend most of your time at. You’d even get to meet and greet more of your guests here than on the dance floor where noise can be a distraction.

Have a Special Spot

An introvert bride or groom would be dying to meet their special person, their now partner for life, in solitude just after they have taken the vows. Expecting this, you can have a pertinent special spot for the two of you, near the main sitting area. It can be a room or a secluded area outside of it, but regardless it has to be a place where you can just go and cozy up with your loved one.

This meeting will give you a secluded spot to go to, rather than awkwardly looking for a place to chill with your significant other at your wedding, which is literally impossible.

Having heard from couples, we can tell how hard it is to sneak in a minute of secluded time with your special one in a crowded wedding setting. So, plan for yourself accordingly and enjoy your wedding the way you would want to.

See Also: 5 Tips for Creating A Wedding Budget

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What is CFD and Why You Should Trade Them

You may or may not have heard of CFD in regards to trading. However, they can be a valuable resource in the financial world. If you’ve never heard of them, this is for you. What is CFD? We’re going to cover the answer to this. Additionally, we’ll talk about how trading works, costs, and benefits.

Defining CFD

CFD is short for Contract for Difference. This is a flexible financial market or instrument that allows traders to participate in several different markets. You can speculate on whether or not the global financial market’s values will rise or fall and trade accordingly. This market includes things like shares, commodities, treasuries, currencies, and indices.

You’re able to quickly and easily sell (go short) if you think the market’s prices are going to drop, or you can buy (go long) if you think the market’s prices are going to rise. Additionally, CFDs are tax-efficient in the United Kingdom, and you’re able to use any CFD trades to hedge your existing portfolio. However, they don’t exist in the United States.

How CFD Trading Works

If you’ve never traded CFD accounts before, you want to find a broker that is open and friendly to beginners. If you need a broker, easyMarkets is an example of a beginner-friendly broker. You may want to take a look and make your first few trades here.

When you trade CFDs, you don’t sell or buy any underlying assets like you would with normal trading. There’s no commodity, physical shares, or currency pairs involved. Instead, you’ll buy and sell a number of units for the particular market you want to trade in. You could choose currencies or treasuries, or there are other markets available.

Additionally, there isn’t a maximum or minimum amount of CFDs you can get at one time. Unlike standard trading where you have to buy a minimum of 500 or 1,000 shares, you can buy a single share with CFD trading. This makes it very accessible for beginners, and you don’t have to worry about taking large losses if it doesn’t go your way.

For every point the CFD’s price moves toward your favor, you’ll get multiple units of the CFD you sold or bought. For every point the CFD’s price moves away from you, you take a loss. Trading this way doesn’t actually put an order in for you each time you pick a market. Instead, it puts a trade on one side or another on a set price.

See Also: Trading Tips For Beginners: Are You Emotionally Ready to Trade Online?

Margin and Leverage

Now that you know what a CFD is and the basics of using this trading route, we’ll get a little more specific. Our goal is to give you a thorough understanding of CFD trading, and this means that you have to know what margin and leverage is.

Every CFD you have is a leveraged product. This means that you’re only required to deposit a fraction of the trade’s full value in order to open a position. This is called a margin requirement or trading on margin. Margin requirements allow you to magnify the amount you get in returns if you do well. However, it also magnifies the amount you lose because your lose total comes based on the CFD’s full value.

CFD Trading Costs

When it comes to CFD trading, there are three main cost points you have to consider. As long as you know about them, you’ll be able to ensure that you have enough money to cover them when the time comes.

• Commission – Depending on where you are in the world, which markets you trade on, and what you trade, you could pay commission. For example, certain platforms charge a commission on applicable shares. If you choose to trade these particular shares, commission typically starts at 0.10-percent of the full cost.
• Holding Costs – At the end of every trading day, any positions that you have open in your account may incur a holding cost. This cost can be either negative or positive depending on the holding rate and which direction your position is in. Also, the end of the trading day is 5:00 p.m. in New York time.
• Spread – You’re required to pay the difference between the buy and sell price of all of your CFDs. This is the spread. You get a quoted price when you enter to buy a trade, and exit the trade using the sell price. The shorter the distance between these two prices is, the less the price has to move in your favor before you make a profit or a loss if the price moves the opposite direction.

Benefits of CFD Trading

There are several benefits associated with CFD trading, and this is what makes it so popular with people who don’t have a lot of money to invest but who want to start trading.

Benefits include:

Dozens of Markets

You’ll gain access to a huge variety of markets with this type of trading. Currently, you can pick from over 15,000 markets all over the world. Also, all of your trades stay under one central login. You won’t have to worry about keeping track of which trade is on which market.

Exit Any Time

Unlike the regular stock market where you can’t exit until normal business hours, CFD allows you to exit your trades in the middle of the night. This is excellent news for people who believe that their shares are going to plummet and cost them.

Ability to Go Short

Going short means that you’re able to trade on a market that is currently on the way down in terms of pricing. So, you’d trade on your buy price if you think the market is going to go up, and you’d trade on the sell price if you think the market on your share was going to drop.

See Also: How Has Trade Changed Over Time

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How to Stick to your Financial New Year’s Resolution

At the start of a bright and shiny new year, the first few days of January are the easiest to get through. You’re full of motivation to make a big leap and get started on your resolution to save more money.

But as the weeks go by, you start to lose momentum, falling for the temptation to stray from your goal and debating whether you should just give up. According to U.S. News, 80 percent of new year’s resolutions fail by mid-February when people lose their motivation or get overwhelmed by the magnitude of their goal.

Choosing to improve your financial situation is always a great idea, whether you’re hoping to stock up your emergency fund, get out of debt, or give your budget a boost. If you want to avoid the post-January slump and stick to your financial new year’s resolution, follow these tips:

Start Small

One of the reasons why people fail their new year’s resolutions is that they bite off more than they can chew — picking a goal that’s vague, unrealistic, or far away will always be an act of self-sabotage.

The first thing you should do is give yourself a specific number as your resolution. Saying you want to “get rid of debt” or “add to your savings” isn’t enough. Choosing to take $2,000 off of your debt and add $900 to your savings account are clear goals.

You should also cut your timeframe into smaller pieces. A faraway deadline leaves room for procrastination, so you don’t put money away until the date looms closer and you start to panic. The lump sum is intimidating, so you will get discouraged before you even reach the halfway point.

Researchers Leona Tam and Uptal Dholakia recommend that you save money in short cycles to reach your goals, instead of aspiring to make one large sum over a long period of time. Telling yourself to collect $40 a week for a year will be much easier to accomplish than telling yourself to get $2080 by the end of the year. Both goals give you the same results, but the former is more likely to be successful.

See Also: How to Budget Using the 50/20/30 Rule

Automate Your Savings

When you get overwhelmed with work or life events, the resolution could slip your mind. Instead of missing out on a contribution and dropping further away from your end-goal, a mobile app can automatically put money aside for you, so you can make progress without even trying.

An app like Digit will analyze your spending habits and transfer money from your checking account into a specific savings account, which earns a 1% annual savings bonus. Users can save for multiple goals at once, directing money into accounts for things like emergency funds, credit card debt repayments, or vacations.

Saving money isn’t always a solo venture. If you’re trying to reach the resolution as a couple, consider an app like Twine so you and your partner can contribute to a joint account with automatic deposits.

Trick Yourself

If the idea of tackling your finances feels far too intimidating, you can always pick another goal that just so happens to save you money. You can check out these money saving 2019 New Years resolutions to see how you can quickly improve your finances without having to think about budgeting.

For instance, limiting your alcohol consumption can help you reach a substantial savings goal. Cutting down one $5.00 drink a day can give you $1820 by the end of the year. You may be focusing on fixing one bad habit, but you’re also filling up your bank account.

See Also: 9 Unconventional Ways to Save Money

Making money-saving your ultimate goal for the year is a commendable plan. The extra money can be used to stock up your rainy-day fund, just in case you deal with an emergency payment. After all, you don’t want to notice your pipes have frozen overnight when you can’t afford to call a plumber.

If this ever happens to you and you have no emergency fund to dip into, you can contact a lender like MoneyKey to apply for a payday loan. The process of getting an online payday loan will be fast and hassle-free. All you have to do is fill out an application, sign the loan documents, and get approved. Then, the money you need can be in your bank by the next business day. While savings are designed for these types of problems, it’s important to know that you have an option when those funds aren’t available.

Don’t get discouraged by the high rates of New Year’s resolution failure. Using these techniques will help you stay on track and reach your end-goal. If you make a mistake or fall behind, you don’t have to wait until 2020 to make another resolution. Pick yourself back up and work to better your finances, again.

The post How to Stick to your Financial New Year’s Resolution appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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