When it comes to car insurance, there are a couple of traps you can fall into. The contracts are complicated and extremely difficult to understand, and that’s if you even have the time to read them. The fact is that most people don’t read insurance contracts and there is a significant information shortage when it comes to consumers and the contents of their own insurance contracts.
One of the problems with this information gap is that it can lead to wasted money. Every time you rent a car you are asked what kind of insurance you would like. The options are generally to take none, which costs nothing, or you could cover liability insurance, which should cost about $10 per day. Then you have a variety of options to cover the rental cat itself, prices for which vary from company to company and state to state. The full coverage option, which includes liability, passengers, and the rental car usually, comes to about $25 to $30 a day. Most people genuinely don’t know what option they should be taking.
Liability
Liability insurance is the only insurance you are required by law to take out. All the others are optional. That’s the first and most important thing to remember when you’re at the rental desk, and the total price for your two-week vacation car is quickly adding up and up. The other thing to know is that in many cases, you will be covered, to some extent by your existing car insurance. You will have to check your insurance policy to make certain, but for the vast majority of drivers, they will have liability insurance by virtue of their own car insurance, and this will carry over to the rental car.
It is however, unlikely that full or comprehensive coverage will carry over from your own car insurance. This is because comprehensive insurance is calculated based on the value of your car. Insurers don’t want to be in a position where they set your policy based on your say, $15,000 vehicle, and then have to pay out when you crash a $40,000 rental. So your policy will state that only liability insurance is provided when you rent.
Credit Card Cover
You may still require no insurance from the rental company however. This is because many credit card companies, including both visa and MasterCard, offer this insurance if you pay for the rental with one of their cards. This is a major benefit of using a credit card and should not be wasted. Again you should check with your credit card provider what they cover, but the bottom line is, if your own insurance covers liability, and your credit card covers the rental car, why pay a couple of hundred dollars for extra insurance when you’re already covered?
If you are in doubt as to your insurance, it is wise however to take the rental company’s policy, especially liability.

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By Joseph Kenny

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of car insurance in the UK.

Can anybody tell me what is so important about the next four weeks? Christmas and New Year's Eve parties do not count as valid answers. Instead, you are given a few last opportunities to get your 2003 finances in order to minimize the tax bill you'll pay next April.
We all know about mortgage deductions, and charity giving being deductible and a few other things like that. We also know about the standard deduction, home business expenses and other stuff that you can learn from software programs like Turbo Tax (not an endorsement). But what about the lesser known deductions - medical savings, and others that I am not going to get into because I am not a tax expert. I do know who to recommend you go to talk to: a financial planner.
Preferably a Certified Financial Planner.
Okay; here's a short test - all True or False answers.
1. T or F Financial planners are the same as stockbrokers
2. T or F Financial planners are primarily investment advisers
3. T or F Rich people are the only ones who can afford financial planners
4. T or F Financial planners aren't worth the money you have to pay
5. T or F You should only work with fee-only planners
6. T or F You can develop your own financial plan
Tally up your totals. How'd you do? If you have more than 5 False marks you're doing great. Anything less, read on and learn what you can about how to improve your year end financial planning.
1. False - the Financial Planning Association notes that a stockbroker, insurance agent, and other financial sales personnel have the function of selling financial products. These days just about anybody can hang out a shingle claiming to be a financial planner.
A good planner's job is to help you identify your financial goals and working with you to develop a plan to reach those goals.
2. False - investment advice is just one part of what a planner does. Financial planners are supposed to look at your entire financial picture - debt, taxes, retirement, savings, estate planning and insurance.
3. False - an increasing number of planners are working with modest- income clients. Go to www.fpanet.org to look for a financial planner.
4. False - sometimes you get what you pay for. A planner is an objective third-party who can help you budget better, reduce taxes, or even prevent a costly financial catastrophe.
5. False - with a caution. Fee-only planners can cost $100 an hour and so can be prohibitively expensive. If you have a planner who also sells financial products, beware of high-pressure tactics. Financial planning won't help you if the planner pressures you into buying products you can't really afford or aren't what you need.
6. False - with a caution. This depends on what kind of person you are. If you are good at planning your financial future you won't need a financial planner. If, however, you are like most people you don't have the time or inclination to figure out how best to use your money then you really should consider hiring a financial planner.
So in the last four weeks of this year you need to sit down and decide what financial moves you can do to best help yourself. If this requires the use of a planner, don't hesitate to contact one. At the very least, sit down for an hour with all your paperwork in line and see if they have any suggestions as what you can do. With the power of the Internet behind you there is little reason why you can't improve your financial situation in this remaining time if you just know what to do.

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By Roger Sorensen

America's Financial Guide can be found at ==>http://www.Slave2Work.com Subscribe to Money Basics via http://www.slave2work.com/ezine.html

Low risk investments are those investments that historically have proven to rise over time with low downside volatility.
Many people believe that the lower the risk the lower the return, however there are exceptions to the rule and one of these is investing in land.
UK Land – A Low Risk Investment
When most investors think about low risk investments they don’t think about land - they normally think of bonds, money market funds, savings accounts, and blue chip stock mutual funds.
Land however has proved itself as a low risk investment, and in the right location, land can yield a return far above traditional low risk investments.
With a 920% average growth over twenty years, UK land values have provided much better returns for astute investors than most discretionary asset advisors - even in high-risk investments such as growth mutual funds.
The Advantages of Buying UK Land
The advantage of buying UK land is that demand is out stripping supply and this scenario looks set to remain in place for the near future.
Many international investors are now buying into UK land - here are five reasons why:
1. The UK needs 4,400,000 new homes over the next 20 years.
2. Houses in 90% of towns in the UK are unaffordable for first time buyers, and low cost housing can rectify this.
3. The UK is the second most densely populated country in Europe and has a fast rising migrant population creating strong demand.
4. Over the last 30 years, the demand for new homes has increased by 30%, whereas over the same period house building rates have dropped by over 50%.
5. Action is now urgently required to address the acute shortfall in affordable housing.
Low Risk Investments and Diversification
Most asset advisors recommend spreading your investment portfolio into several different asset classes to maximize income and capital growth potential, and land can provide the perfect diversification.
Land is an easy to understand investment, unlike stocks or equities, you own something that’s real, and it has historically risen in value. Many investors believe that buying land is expensive and in the past, this was true, but now there are many companies catering for the smaller investor.
What’s the Catch?
All investors want to make big money and get rich quick, but most sensible investors know there is no such thing as money for nothing and they are correct.
The location of the land provides the risk in land investing - to make capital growth from land investment and maximise capital gains you need to buy land that is ripe for development. This means the land to built on is located in a sought after area. This requires research and homework, but there are many reputable companies offering this service so you can rely on expert advice in planning your land investment strategy.
Maximising Risk and Reward
Of course, a hedge fund investment could provide you with greater growth potential, but land, taking into account the risk / reward, makes it a very attractive addition to your portfolio.
We quoted an average gain of 920% in UK Land values over twenty years, and the important point here is that this was the average. With careful selection of the location in which you buy your land, gains could of course be much larger.
In conclusion, land gives you above average gains combined with low downside risk, and you should consider making land a part of your low risk investments strategy.

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By Stephen Todd

to learn more about investing in UK land and other low risk high return land investments please visit our web site: http://www.lpgroupinternational.com

For the next twenty years, personal security is the finest investment we can make. Make a two year plan. A five and a ten. Never sell your investment. Hold it no matter what appearances are. I want such fine camping equipment I can starve to death anywhere in the world, in total comfort. Then I can focus on eating.
I too live in a place where the odds are better than even, I will have to give up my home. How about you? How will I be travelling? What and who will I want with me?
After comfort I look at food. How much should I carry for each person? Will I need to move more than a hundred miles? Will I need fuel to move, or can I move what I want with a bicycle and trailer? This means camping. Over nighters, week enders, Summer camps, etc. Can I be comfortable with 40 pounds of worldy goods? Can I start with more and shed as I go?
So I think of food storage in the event I get to stay home. I think of what food to carry if I don't and I plant a kitchen garden in total optimism. I plant seperately to generate seed stocks of the things I want to grow next year. A well set up and run kitchen garden gives me superior food year round with great convenience.
Next I invest in super immunity. The coming plagues will kill people like flies because the antidotes will only follow the death and destruction. Can you hear and feel the fear in the media? When you take responsibility for your own super immunity and for those close to you, you have taken appropriate action against a threat far more serious than terrorism. Be Prepared! - No joke.

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By Ed Howes

Ed Howes sought and found. Knocked and entered. Now he sees things differently. To see more of what he sees, please visit http://www.justanotherview.com

Part of being an effective marketer is being an effective time manager. The little time suckers in our workday can collectively add up to a LOT of time taken away from our core functions and billable work. One of the biggest time drainer is our In-Box.
Tame your e-mail beast by mastering the art of email management. This will reduce your stress, streamline your workflow, and improve your efficiency. Here are some strategies you can implement:
1. Avoid Constant Interruptions: Turn off your auto send/receive or set it to a reasonable timeframe, like every hour or two. Some people find they are most productive at certain times of the day - like early morning. If this is true for you, regularly block out that chunk time and DON'T check your e-mails until afterwards. You will be amazed at what a huge difference this one change will make in your workday.
2. Respond with Brevity: If possible, reply with an action-oriented 1-2 line response. Always keep your messages under 10 sentences. Communicate your main point in the first sentence or two. Then delete or file the email, and get back to work!
3. Use Proper Grammar: Do NOT bypass standard grammar and punctuation. Create a well-written message. It will save your recipient time, as well.
4. Break Up Topics: Use separate paragraphs or bulleted lists when possible to save time for your reader. Get in the habit of doing this and people will tend to respond in kind. It saves time when you can scan lists quickly.
5. Use the Subject Line: Make sure you are very descriptive in the subject line. Or, use the subject line for the entire message: Meet 10:00, 5/30 Ok? You can establish agreements within your office to use codes in the subject line like NT for No Text and NRN for No Reply Needed.
6. Don’t Break for E-zines: If you are like me, you get a lot of professional e-zines. These are interesting and important for our continuing education. However, they can also serve as easy distractions from the task at hand. Instead of taking the time to read each one as it is received, stick them all in a folder labeled “Ezines” and reserve time each day or even each week to read them all at once.
ACTION ITEM: This week, take 3 steps toward taming your e-mail monster! Ideas: Talk to your office and set up agreements with internal e-mails. Create e-mail folders that will help you organize your inbox. Reset your auto email send/receive.
I hope this gives you some great ideas to reduce inbox clutter and streamline your communications. I’m not a natural organizer, but the more I create new time management habits, the more I find time for creativity and my core business strategies.
Work smarter, not harder!
Copyright 2005 Kinesis, Inc.

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by: Wendy Maynard

Wendy Maynard, the Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a weekly ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and have more fun, get your FREE TIPS now at http://www.gomarketingmaven.com.

Financial Security is a false concept that developed in American society based on the idea that security comes from the perceived reliability of a regular or planned paycheck. Many people, believing in the commitment of their corporations to their well-being, have found themselves downsized, layed-off, outsourced, transferred, or, in some cases, even fired. The immediate reality becomes harshly apparent and sadly disappointing.
The bottom line is that Corporate America will always be focused on the bottom line. As a dependent corporate employee, you are subject to the whims of the corporation. You have absolutely no control over how much you earn, where you work, the longevity and reliability of your income, or your position. You are simply a number. At any given moment, some nameless pencil-pushing number-cruncher, can deem that you are no longer an asset to the company and, rather, have become a liability. At any given moment, it can be deemed that you no longer factor into the profitability of the corporation - and your OUT. They don't care if you have a mortgage to pay, 3 kids in college or a new shiny car with a hefty payment. They don't care that you've come in early for the last 9 years or given 20 years of your life to them. The bottom line is that you don't effect the bottom line in a positive way...so you're OUT.
Corporations no longer hold value in employee commitment or dedication. Each day, companies are choosing to cut costs by outsourcing to less expensive countries with cheaper labor, downsize, and reduce costs by eliminating cost of living increases, benefits and retirement guarantees. Recently, the media has been focusing on the deliberate actions of corporations that cost employees each year. The Christian Science Monitor, on November 7th, 2005, featured an article, “Workers Face Paycheck Pinch”. In the article, the author, Mark Trumbell, details the lag of Corporate America to maintain pay increases with inflation:
"For all its strength, the current economic expansion is not boosting the American worker's paycheck. Wages have been rising nominally: Average pay rose 8 cents last month to $16.27 an hour, according to a government report Friday. That's not fast enough to counter inflation.
By one common measure, average pay for an hour's work has less purchasing power than it had four years ago - when the current growth cycle began. It's a pattern of weak wage growth that's now several years old, but the trend has worsened in recent months. Wages for the most recent quarter were 2.3 percent lower, after inflation, than workers received a year before"
Time Magazine recently featured an article entitled “Broken Promises”
"It was part of the American Dream, a pledge made by corporations to their workers: for your decades of toil, you will be assured retirement benefits like a pension and health care. Now more and more companies are walking away from that promise, leaving millions of Americans at risk of an impoverished retirement."
"Corporate promises are often not worth the paper they're printed on. Businesses in one industry after another are revoking long-standing commitments to workers." (Bartlett and Steele, October 31, 2005, p. 32-33)
So, how do you achieve Financial Security in this changing global economy? Employers aren't even keeping up with inflation and are doing everything in their power to reduce benefits and retirement income. The days of being rewarded for loyalty to corporations are long gone – it’s now every person for themselves. In addition, loop holes in corporate law enable companies to restructure, file bankruptcy and maneuver their way out of promises to employers to provide benefits.
In reality, true Financial Security is belief in yourself and your ability to instinctively create income for yourself at any time, anywhere. Entrepreneurs understand true Financial Security. They’re self-reliant, creative, independent and solution focused. We know that at any given time, regardless of the economy, trends, timing, etc. that we have the skills, know-how, and guts to create our life. Entrepreneurs refuse to be dependent on or subject to the whims or decisions of corporate America, rather establishing themselves as corporations, producing their own incomes through commitment, service and sheer motivation. We are responsible for our own retirements and count on the promises of no one. Entrepreneurs ARE financial security and as such we reap the rewards.
There are many opportunities for people to become successful entrepreneurs. Thousands of people have made fortunes on the internet alone. Decide what type of business you want, what your ultimate goal is (time, money, leisure, etc) and go from there. A common misconception is that businesses take thousands of dollars to start. It is true of some, but there are many lucrative opportunities available for nominal start-up costs. Once you make the decision to be self-employed, do your research, find the right business for you and move forward from there.
Copyright 2005 Shannon Lavenia

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by: Shannon Lavenia

Shannon Lavenia is a premier trainer and business educator in the field of wealth creation, entrepreneurism, and internet marketing. She can be contacted at http://www.trueprosperitynow.com or 800.303.2580.