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December 31st, 2008

Changing the World… One Book at a Time

Posted in New Age, Occult, Esoteric

Ever read a book that’s changed your life? Most of the today’s most beloved authors and spiritual teachers can recall a book that started them on the journey toward spirituality and success.

In fact, that question has become the foundation for a new book club called the Transformational Book Circle (TBC), created by bestselling author and relationship expert Gay Hendricks.

Hendricks says the inspiration came from a gathering at the home of Chicken Soup for the Soul author Jack Canfield’s one evening when there happened to be many transformational leaders gathered. “The subject of books that changed your life came up and everyone had one,” recalls Hendricks. “Their eyes would light up as they recounted the wisdom from these books and began to relive the story about how these books changed their lives. It was fascinating, especially since a number of the people there were authors who had also written bestselling books that have changed the lives of millions.”

Just thinking about the powerful transformation that books had brought to the lives of so many of the people in the forefront of spirituality today, Hendricks was reminded of the great power that is passed from generation to generation in books that are sometimes forgotten over time. He was curious to know more about how books of the past had inspired the people who inspired millions today.

So Hendricks set out to ask Jack Canfield, Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue, Barbara DeAngelis, Kenny Loggins, Debbie Ford, Bill Harris, and many other transformational and spiritual leaders this question: “Which book changed your life?” And the answers surprised him.

“Every person I asked told me a remarkable story about how one or more books had opened the gateway to a new dimension. Nearly all of these books were virtually unheard of and many were hard to find,” explains Hendricks.

What began as a curious conversation evolved into the Transformational Book Circle, designed to be the world’s first transformational reading community with books devoted to creating powerful changes in our lives. Hendricks asked many to suggest a book that the Transformational Book Circle could republish each month, along with additional inspirational material to further illuminate the lessons of the book. Says Hendricks. “Our goal is to build a community of people around the world who are reading the same book at the same time. This is a potent way to create change.”

The bestselling authors participating in this project are people who have devoted their lives to assisting others in transformation, so they are delighted to pass on the wisdom of the ones who came before them.

Louise Hay, author of many bestselling books and founder of Hay House Publishing, attributes the genesis of her success and evolution to a book that changed the way she views life. “Many years ago I read a book by an author who opened my eyes, and my heart,” recounts Hay. “I believe that her book helped make me who I am. Her work is obscure, not easy to find these days, but her message is just as powerful today as it was many years ago. As someone who has great respect for the power of the written word, it is a thrill to see her work come to life again through the Transformational Book Club.”

The book that changed her life, ultimately, contributed to helping her change millions of lives… and will continue to do so. Same is true for Neale Donald Walsh.

Millions of people have read his Conversations with God series, yet Walsh credits a certain other book for preparing him to receive the messages he has shared with so many. The Transformational Book Circle offers its members an exclusive edition of The Power of a Single Thought, available only to its members.

“Some authors more than others inspire us to honor the true voice within,” says Walsh, the modern messenger who helped shape the way we commune with Divine Source. “Some authors open us up and clear us of doubt while filling us with hope. I was blessed to read a book that helped prepare me to receive insight and empowered me to share it.”

Walsh is happy to share the book that helped shape his own life’s work with his faithful readers, and newcomers, through the Transformational Book Circle. And so is Kenny Loggins. As one of the most successful singer/songwriters in the world, his powerful, soul-stirring songs such as “This Is It,” have changed many lives. “Music is a universal language, yet sharing the message of a special book is a powerful way to unite people and create change in ourselves and our world.”

The Transformational Book Circle couldn’t come at a better time. In a world beset with so many challenges, inspiration is a welcome friend to members who join the circle. Each month they receive one life-changing book along with a CD that features exercises to bring the book’s material to life, spoken by the famous author who recommended it. Members will also have access to a web-seminar with the transformational luminaries, learning from them how their lives were changed and improved by the book. Most importantly, everyone who is part of this circle becomes part of a growing community seeking and devoted to transformation. (To find out more, please visit www.transformationalbookcircle.com)

“This is a way to create communities of people who believe that personal and global transformation is possible,” says Hendricks, who is also co-founder of home delivery DVD club, The Spiritual Cinema Circle, which is dedicated to movies with heart and soul (www.spiritualcinemacircle.com). “The written word is a power tool for changing ourselves and our world.”

Arielle Ford has long been devoted to bringing the work of top transformational authors to the public. She has worked with icons such as Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson and Jack Canfield. She is author of seven books including Everything You Should Know About Publishing, Publicity, Promotion & Building a Platform: A Step-by-Step Guide for Authors. http://www.EverythingYouShouldKnow.com. She is a founding partner of The Spiritual Cinema Circle: http://www.spiritualcinemacircle.com and the Transformational Book Circle. http://www.transformationalbookcircle.com.

December 31st, 2008

Is Science Advancing too Fast for Humanity, Society, and Civilization?

Posted in Video Resources

Some say that science is moving way too fast. It is true that the fast pace of advances is in fact increasing and exponentially too. Human civilizations and society are already out pacing evolution by 100-fold. Can the human species handle the fast moving future? Many say that we are quickly approaching the replacing of God, where humans become god and modify ourselves and advance our evolution as we see fit? Many decry this and are afraid of change and point to biblical quotes to show why it is wrong.

Many say they want no part of it themselves and do not want anyone else to have the modern advances of science either. But anyone who says that they do not want to be more fulfilled, happier, healthier, smarter or stronger is not telling the truth or being honest with them selves. That is to say no one wants to be a human with Diabetes, Cancer, bad knees, fractured disk, Parkinson ’s or living with the energy of an 80-90 year old taking Viagra, if you could be young again. Everyone would you prefer to be 30 something, happy healthy, energetic, fully engaged in mind, body and soul with a brain working at its peak with a multiple of 3 to 5 or 10, or 100, right?

If science can do this and you can remain human wouldn’t you do it? And if later on you decided to trade out parts, because you reasoned with your smarter brain of 10-fold, maybe then you might change your mind and rather enjoy such modification. You might consider the comments about human modification rather shallow at that point. I see that scenario unfolding, a transition, but it maybe faster than we think. Not the 200-400 years Sci Fi Authors talk about, but 30-50 years and yes that will mean in our lifetime and we may all live forever or until we wish to no longer exist in this realm? Think on this.

Lance Winslow - EzineArticles Expert Author

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

December 29th, 2008

Master!

Posted in New Age, Occult, Esoteric

I was reading my Bible after a particularly trying day, and one thought led to another. Finally I was guided by the Holy Spirit to a passage wherein Mary, weeping and searching, at last finds Jesus.

How tenderly and lovingly He must have spoken her name! Mary, whose sins this Man forgave, turned to Him and said, “Master.” Jesus had many encounters with all types of people, but this meeting touched a chord in my own heart. I thought, how many times He must call to us each day with the same compassion and affection that caused Him to forgive Mary!

But we don’t hear His gracious voice because the din of the world’s demands and pleasures drown out the pleading of the Master. His gentle invitation will not be forced upon those who will not listen, for He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. He places a condition upon us so that we may know Him.

Surely He speaks our name when we are confronted with the daily temptations of anger, pride, disbelief, covetousness, slander, hate, and whatever else the devil sees fit to throw in our path this day. That twinge of conscience is God’s voice saying, “My dear child, I died for you and I was resurrected from death that you might have life. Listen to Me! Only I can fill your hungry heart, forgive your sins, give you that which you ask, and heal your hurts. Come to Me, and I will give you peace and rest.”

What a comfort to know that our name in on the Master’s lips!
December 29th, 2008

Anam Cara - Losing your Religion

Posted in New Age, Occult, Esoteric

I am sitting before a window of morning light “losing my religion.”

I feel fine about this. I was not aware that I had a religion. All the better then that I am losing it. I have a deep love for religious teachings. I love the words from the Bible, The Upanishads, The Bhagavad-Gita, the Dhammapada and many other beautiful books of love. All these words are useful. They are like the support wheels on a child’s bike. They help. They give confidence. They give re-assurance. They call. They lift the heart. They help us embrace the invisible.

Only to “be religious” you have to let go of all words.

You have to lose “your religion” so that you become “religious.” You have to take the risk that without the support you will find balance. Letting go into the heart with trust and faith you will find you can support yourself. Rather than be a “religious person” you become a being of light. You drop belief in order to “be life.”

Many of us who profess faith fear loosing it. We fear that one day “our faith” will no longer be there. This is because it is “our faith.” We are the ones who cling to it for “dear life.” Ask us to give up the support of the wheels on each side of our life and we fear we will fall into and abyss. We might even end up in hell.

When you let go into real faith and trust you fall into balance. You can flow with life. It is already holding you up. You cannot fall out of life no matter how hard you try. With “your faith” you are like a fish in the ocean looking for water. You hold on to the extent that you miss. Many of us who are “religious people” do our religion. We do the practice. We engage with the ritual. We belong to a group. The more people we have in our group the more it seems that the truth of what we “believe in” is manifested. Assuredness in “our faith” becomes a numbers game.

Losing “your religion” is a requirement of the seeker.

This is the one who wishes to know the full experience of love and life eternal. Your religion will eventually have to go. Everything has to go. In the end the very idea of God has to go. In this letting go of all that you think you are “love is.” The Beloved is seen and you return to your original face. You and the dance of life are one.

Does the mean we do away with all the Churches, Temples, Mosques and other places of worship. These places are not the issue. It is the attachment to such places and their teachings that are the issue. The teachings are needed. They help take you beyond. Only rather than liberate they themselves often become the prison. We get attached to our “religious” label and then anything can be and is justified in the “name of God.”

Losing your religion is a great cause for celebration.

You become an individual. For one moment you are free. You only need one moment. The experience of the Divine opens up to the unidentified heart. The surrendered heart is waiting in the moment to be fulfilled. It is filled with the experience of love eternal. There is only the experience and nothing but the experience. There is no ego getting in the way to step between you and the dance. For one moment you are life and not someone having a life experience.

For one moment you relax into being life.

You are not Tony Cuckson (to use myself as an example) having an experience of life. You are life itself. You are life experiencing the joy of living. Life is only moment-to-moment and you know that life is love. There is no problem. Tony Cuckson is the problem. Our identification with ego is the problem.

To lose your religion you need strong ego boundaries.

You need to be able to stand-alone. You need to be able to be comfortable in your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. You need integrity. You need to be one body. You flow toward discovery that you are integral. Then at one time you are integral. You are certain. Certainty comes. This is not something that is cerebral. It is total. It is whole. It makes you whole and holy.

This is the religious experience.

The religious experience is not dogma. It is not fixed for eternity. It is forever in flow. Dogma is the stagnant pool that too many drink from and espouse as being “the water of life.” They live far from the river and even further from the ocean.

In the religious experience one becomes knowing. One goes beyond the issue of believing in God. What to believe when you know. Belief is a hindrance. It holds you back. Belief, as I understand it, is an instruction to “be life.” This is the key to the door of the prison of illusion.

Somehow this word “belief” has been devalued. It has come to be understood as an attitude of mind. It has become something that one chooses rather than one becomes. Yet we use the words “beyond belief” to describe the most extra ordinary experience. This is the “religious experience.” This experience as we know has and always will be “beyond belief.”

The experience of the Beloved is “beyond belief.”

Beyond belief you are a life of being. The Beloved comes and dances. You and the dance are forever one. What if you stop believing? What will happen to you? If you are lucky you will begin to disappear. You will feel empty. The wheels supporting “your life” have been removed.

Do not confuse “belief” with “non-belief.” Each is the other side of the coin. Each is a choice. ” With belief” and “non-belief” there is still the ego. There is still the tension of the ego. The one who knows needs no belief. The one who knows goes beyond the limitation of ego. There is only the knowing. There is the delight of knowing “one is.”

So here I am writing in my corner and “losing my religion.” These “religious teaching” have been companions and a support along the way. These teachings have been a vehicle for “going beyond.” They have been a vehicle to carry “little me” beyond belief. This is so that “little me” disappears into the knowing of love.

This is not such a loss.

For many, religion has become a burden. They carry this burden on their backs much of their lives. I have, as a child, been taught by many who have carried such a burden. I have seen the burden of religion carried by many people in the country of Northern Ireland. This is the country into which I was born. This is a county were religion rather than the religious experience has and still reigns. This is no different to most countries.

Religion for many has become and issue of comfort from the fear of death. It is an issue of security. Many belong to a religious group “just in case.” For some this is because of feelings of deep unworthiness and self-doubt. Rather than be lifted up they carry the additional weight of a religious book. This often becomes a prison rather than the key to liberation.

“Religion” as a word means, “to bind. The word “religious” means “reverence.” One keeps you tied and the other gives freedom. You are either a “religious person” or you are a “being of love.” One can be a satisfactory ego identity and the other is the experience of peace beyond understanding.

Lose your religion.

Become the experience of reverence and surrender. Christ was not a Christian. Buddha was not a Buddhist. Mohammad was not a Muslim. They were all living experiences of Universal love manifesting within time, space and culture. Each is the knower of eternity. Theirs is the living teachings beyond belief.

© Tony Cuckson

Tony Cuckson is an Anam Cara. This Celtic term means “Soul Friend.” He specializes in providing insight for the spiritual journey, Blessings for YOU, words of wisdom and finding inner peace. Visitors to Irish Blessings Matter website and Tony’s Blog get the opportunity to develop a purpose driven life through articles, newsletters and other programs.

Get your free report called “7 ways to it’s a wonderful life” at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.com/, or go to Tony`s Blog at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.info/
for YOU Blog, where you will find links to information related to spiritual parenting, spiritual coaching and spirit in business.

December 27th, 2008

War, Disasters and All is Well

Posted in New Age, Occult, Esoteric

It is not very often that I have an issue with writing an article or even a book for that matter. There are so many things to write about, the world is a goldmine of information and stories.

It is 7:35 am on a Sunday morning and I have been staring at my keyboard for over half an hour without typing a single line of text. My mind has been racing over all the possibilities and has not been able to focus on any particular subject.

All is well in the world, it is perfect the way it is and I can see the beauty in all of its circumstances. The wars in our homes, our communities and around the world have purpose, they are being fought because there are two sides that have agreed engage in war with each other and both have freedom of choice and opportunity to do so.

I see and hear about natural disasters around the world and I can witness the beauty in them. They are people powered and it is right and proper that they should happen. Disasters do not have a mind of their own and are created by intelligence, our intelligence. I can see the perfection in how this works and do not feel compelled at this time to change it.

I personally know people who are struggling and I read about others in the newspapers and see the struggles on TV. These are individual stories of tragedy and suffering and I can see the beauty in the struggle. I don’t care to change how I experience these stories at this time.

As I write this article I noticed that I have focused on all the negative stuff that is going on in the world at this time. I am aware that I have a tendency towards doing that. The positive side of the observations in what I am really experiencing is freedom, unconditional love and compassion.

At the very deepest level of spiritual understanding, one would know that humanity creates its own circumstances and is not the victim of God’s wrath or anyone else’s. Humanity creates its own drama, its own struggles and its own natural disasters. I cannot at this moment think of a greater display of unconditional love than what I am witnessing in the world right now.

Humanity has been given absolute freedom to experience anything that it can think of in the physical world. Man can destroy man, women can destroy women and the spirit will survive, our survival is guaranteed. The ego has carte blanche to destroy its body and others that would participate and yet it will still live. The tragedy appears to be only in the minds of men in loosing the body, and even that cannot be destroyed but transformed.

At this moment the greatest love that I can give the world is to recognize how beautiful it is and not experience the drama. The ugly side of humanity has its own beauty. For the moment I have chosen to dwell on a deeper beauty and recognize the love and compassion that it represents. To try and change any of it would be trespassing or spiritual malpractice. Every life is purposeful and has its own meaning. It is only my thinking that would allow me to experience it one way or the other.

All is well in the world at this moment unless I decide differently. It is my place to experience it in the way that I choose to. I do not deny that what I see represents the dark side of man. But I also observe the love and light that allows it to happen and at this moment it is shining through.

EzineArticles Expert Author Roy Klienwachter

Roy E. Klienwachter is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. A student of NLP, ordained minister, New Age Light Worker and Teacher. Roy has written and published five books on New Age wisdom. Roy’s books are thought provoking and designed to empower you to take responsibility for your life and what you create. His books and articles are written in the simplicity and eloquence of Zen wisdom.

You may not always agree with what he has to say. You will always come away with a new perspective and your thinking will never be the same.

Roy’s style is hard hitting and comes straight from the heart without all the metaphorical mumble jumble and BS.

Visit Roy at: http://www.klienwachter.com

December 26th, 2008

A Century of Hope

Posted in New Age, Occult, Esoteric

What would one initially think about someone who dropped out of school at the age of 16? Would there be any hope for this person? This person is Bob Hope. Comedian Bob Hope starred in over 50 movies and lived past the age of 100 years old.

Hope was born in England and his family moved to the United States when he was four. What can we say about our past? Have we let things from our past get in the way of achieving what we want and living a life we love? Where you came from is out of our control. Where you’re going is up to you.

1. Bob Hope held many odds jobs before becoming a comedian

Long before Hope became a successful comedian, he held many odd jobs selling newspapers, was a delivery boy, worked in a soda shop, a shoe salesman. Newspaper reporter and was an amateur boxer.

Many of us have had to work at odd jobs in order to make money. Working at odd jobs gives us opportunities to discover what we want and don’t want to do as a career. The skills you obtain through your experiences of working at odd jobs may prove to be valuable in your future career. For example, any job that can strengthen your communication skills is invaluable.

2. Hope took dancing lessons

Hope received on-the-job training while appearing in vaudeville. To hone his skills, he took dance lessons. Hope was such a good dancer, that he took over some dance classes to help his teachers.

Do you have a passion that you would like to expand? Do you like to write or draw, but don’t know where to start? Do you like to play a particular sport or instrument, and want to get better? There numerous classes that are offered to help those who desire to improve oneself in a particular field and topic.

3. Bob Hope was versatile

Bob Hope was a successful dancer, singer and actor and comedian. Bob Hope was an enormously successful comedian. His ability to dance, sing and act very well made him a much better comedian because his options broadened on how he could entertain people.

Many of us are good at what we do in our careers. Becoming versatile could only make us better.

4. Hope entertained Military Troops from World War II to Operation Desert Storm

Hope did a major service to increase morale among military personnel. For almost sixty years, Hope toured many countries to show his appreciation for the men and women of the armed services.

Is there something that you have been considering to give back to your community? Is there a charity in which you would like to raise money for them? Would you like to encourage youngsters to explore a particular career? Bob Hope was a great example of giving back to his community. Bob Hope was a great example of not settling to be great in only one area. He was a success at so many areas in entertainment. Bob Hope did not let his past dictate what he could do in his future.

Sean North primarily helps writers gain focus, motivation, remove mental blocks that help to unblock the writing process. EVERYONE who writes has been stuck at some point in his or her career. You do not have to accept these mind-boggling roadblocks!

seannorthstn@aol.com

(586) 216-7516

December 25th, 2008

Case Closed

Posted in New Age, Occult, Esoteric

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 27, 2003

I met my boyfriend on an online dating service four months ago. About a month ago I went to the dating service website to take my profile off. Out of curiosity I looked his up, and it was still there. When I mentioned it to him, he said he would take his profile off because he wanted to be with me.

Now I know I should have trusted him, but something told me to test him. So I created a fake profile with a picture of an attractive woman and e-mailed him as the other woman. When he didn’t respond, I e-mailed again. He still didn’t respond. I realized then he must have canceled his membership, so I looked him up on Instant Messenger and inquired if he was the guy on the dating site.

I told him I was new to the site, thought he was attractive, and maybe we could meet for a drink sometime. When I asked if he was seeing someone, he said he met someone who could be serious and had a lot of potential. I asked again if he wanted to meet, and eventually he said maybe.

That broke my heart. I got my girlfriend to phone him as the other girl. When she got him on the line, he was suspicious but hesitantly agreed to meet her for a drink. At that point I told him I was the girl who didn’t exist. He said he thought it was either me or some kind of prank.

I am not a jealous person by any means, but I wonder if we can get past this.

Eva

Eva, the law does not permit entrapment. Entrapment occurs when the idea for a crime is suggested by the police, the police talk a person into committing the crime, and the person was not previously willing to commit the crime.

Once you realized your boyfriend canceled his membership you should have stopped. He is innocent of any crime, but you have proven you are by nature a jealous person.

Tamara

Favorite Son

My husband’s parents own a dairy farm, and his brother works full-time on the farm and draws a wage. My husband has a very demanding job, yet he is expected to work on the farm each weekend, count cattle in the morning, and does not get paid even for gas.

Our family time is nonexistent. The phone rings and my husband runs. The only time we get together is when I book a holiday. I really think my husband is frightened of his parents. They say his brother needs time with his child, but what about me and our children?

When we go away, my husband is so burnt out he is ill for the first few days of our break. But when we are away, he is like a different person. I’d do anything to save my marriage, but I’m not sure how much more I can take.

Mona

Mona, there is a South American bird with two subspecies, one which builds a nest on the ground and one which nests in a tree. Occasionally a male of one subspecies will get together with a female of the other.

When this happens the birds live in great confusion. One puts nesting material on the ground, while the other continually moves it to the branch of a tree. The two never succeed in building a proper nest and usually this results in a mating failure. Occasionally, however, they do struggle and successfully raise chicks.

Good parents raise their children to be independent and self-sufficient, knowing that love is the bond which will hold their children to them always. Some parents, however, use demands and obligations to tether their children. That is your husband’s problem.

There is no resolution to this problem unless your husband decides he wants to build his nest with you.

Wayne

About The Author

Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com.

Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.

December 24th, 2008

How to Get Out of Debt

Posted in Uncategorized

Every year consumer debt in the UK increases and so more and more people are asking themselves the question “how do I get out of debt?”. At this point it may seem like an impossibility which is why this article provides some very sensible guidance to help you get your-self out of debt and the financial nightmare that you are presently in.

Currently interest rates are low due to the low state of the bank of England base rate. This has encouraged people to take on more and more credit in the belief that these debts are affordable. What this actually means is that at present even those people that think they can afford the repayments of credit may begin to struggle should interest rates begin to rise which is what they are predicted to do shortly according to leading experts in this field. If however, you are already struggling with your debts the situation is only likely to get worse.

Today is the time to begin to think about how you are going to get out of debt and build an action plan to reach your goal of making yourself ‘debt free’.

Congratulations! The very fact that you are reading this article means that you have made the first step to facing the problem and getting rid of your debt. Make no mistake your credit is your debt. You should begin to call it this as this will help you to realise your situation.

How bad is your debt situation?

The next step is to build a table of your current financial situation. List on the left hand side all your monthly incomings including your wages (after deductions like tax and national insurance), benefits, rent and any other income you have. Next on the right hand side list all your monthly outgoings apart from your debts. This should include your mortgage, rent, bills, food expenses, car or travel expenses, insurance, childcare and any other outgoings that you have. Now deduct your total outgoings from your total incomings and the figure that you have is your ‘maximum disposable income’ (MDI). Next write down all your debts and your monthly repayments. This may be scary but the sooner you face up to these and acknowledge these the sooner you can begin to do something about it. Now compare your total debt repayments to your maximum disposable income figure (MDI). You will find yourself in one of the following three situations;

1) Your MDI figure is more than your monthly debt repayments.

Should you find yourself in this situation you should consider increasing your debt repayments. Do not increase them to more than your MDI figure or you will be over committing yourself. However, by increasing your repayments you will pay off your debts sooner and so will pay less overall interest. This is far more cost effective that putting this extra money into a savings account.

2) Your monthly repayments exceed your MDI figure.

If you are in this situation you will be in a ’state of increasing debt’. This is a worrying and scary place to be. You are probably struggling with your repayments which are likely to be causing you significant stress. If not, you are perhaps only at this stage realising the situation you are in. Don’t panic as this is the time when we will begin to recontroll your finances effectively. Often those in this situation resort to drawing cash on one credit card to make minimum payments on another. This is what we call ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’.

STOP!

his is not effective management of your finances - don’t kid yourself. In fact what you are doing is making the situation worse. Credit card companies charge high fees for withdrawing cash from cards. You are also paying interest on this money twice. You are therefore getting yourself in more debt and this will snowball your finances further out of control. Let’s have a look at how to turn this around.

3) The two figures are more or less the same.

Don’t for one moment congratulate yourself. You are in debt. You are just about managing to make your repayments. You need to ask yourself some of the following questions;

• Where is money going to come from to deal with emergencies? Your credit card is not the answer.

• How would you cope if interest rates rise? This will increase all your repayments.

• What would you do if child care costs rise.

• What would you do if your travel costs increase train, petrol and insurance prices?

Any of your outgoings could and probably will rise. Wages don’t tend to rise at the same level as rising interest rates. They mostly tend to get left behind with inflation. You could soon find your self in situation number 2. You are effectively walking a tipe rope and need to get yourself on safe ground.

Let’s have a look then at how you can improve your situation with the following guidance.

Guidance - Increasing your income

• Ask for a pay rise. If you don’t ask you won’t get!

• Consider working more hours or doing regular overtime.

• Look for a promotion or to change jobs to higher paid employer.

• Look for a second job to supplement your income.

• Claim every state benefits as you can - call the benefit enquiry line on 0800 88 22 00.

• Consider a lodger - a great source of additional income to the household.

• Sell any unwanted items. This could be through a car boot sale or over the internet on www.ebay.co.uk or www.amazon.co.uk/marketplace

•

Guidance - Reducing your outgoings

• Reduce your food bill by buying stores own branded products instead of more expensive brands.

• Use supermarket vouchers and coupons and take part in their award schemes.

• Cut down on takeaways - these are expensive and unnecessary.

• Take a packed lunch to work. This is far cheaper than buying lunch from the local sandwich shop every day.

• Give up smoking - this will save you a small fortune.

• Cut down on child care costs by asking friends and family to help.

• Switch utility providers. Shop around for the cheapest deals on phones, electric, gas and water - it costs nothing to change suppliers.

• Set up direct debits. This can gain you substantial discounts particularly with utility companies.

• Shop around for insurance - you will be surprised at the savings you could make.

• Ask yourself ‘do you really need all the things listed on your outgoings list?’. Cancel things like gym memberships. It is a lot cheaper to pay for the facilities at your local authority leisure centre when and if you use them.

Guidance - credit cards

• Cut them up! Remember a credit limit is not money you have to spend it is the amount that the company is willing to get you in debt. Don’t use them again.

• Cancel any cards with nil balances. They are only a temptation for the future to get back in debt. You are moving forward not backwards.

• Transfer your balances to those companies that offer 0% on balance transfers - and change them again a month before your 0% offer changes. Watch out though for those companies who have begun to charge fees for doing this.

• Use your savings to pay off your credit cards. There is no point in getting 3% interest on your savings and meanwhile paying 10% on your credit card balances.

• Pay more than the minimum payment on your credit card balance if and when you can. The longer that balance stay there the more interest you are paying.

• If you have more than one card pay off the most you can afford on the card with the highest interest first. Pay the minimum payments on the rest. When the highest interest card is paid off cancel the account and move on to the next. This way you minimalise the overall interest you are charged.

• If you cannot afford the minimum payments on any of the cards contact the companies and make arrangements to pay lower monthly repayments and include a budget planner of what you can afford. Ask that they freeze your interest while you get yourself out of the situation that you are in.

Guidance - Loans and consolidation.

Consolidating all your credit into one loan can be beneficial. It can provide a simpler way to manage your finances. It will prevent you having many different repayments going out of your bank at different times of the month and never being able to see how much you actually have to spend. It can also sometimes mean reducing the overall interest you are paying. However you need to be careful;

• Check that your repayments are decreasing due to the interest rate reducing and that your debts have not just been spread over a longer period.

• Check the early repayment charges on your other credit/loans as these can be high and sometimes mean the consolidation route is not cost effective.

• Shop around for the best rates. Use a broker who will shop around for you but ask about any fees that they may charge. Ask if the brokers that you speak to are quoting you on the best rate that you qualify for or quoting you on a typical rate. If they are quoting you on a typical rate it is likely that you will be turned down or the rate will change when you send off all your application to them.

• Ask about early settlement penalties on this loan if you could afford to pay it off early and/or pay extra payments.

Guidance - credit ratings

There are two main credit reference agencies in the UK. These are Experian and Equifax. You can write to these and request to see a copy of your credit file. Under the Data Protection Act you can ask to see any information companies have on you at any time. These two agencies normally ask you to send a £2 cheque for administrative purposes with your request for the file. Go through your file carefully. If there is incorrect information on the file about you there is an appeal process you can follow to get this information removed. You can also ask that notes be entered on your file therefore giving explanations to issues that show on the file. Visit their websites for more information.

If you have exhausted the above advice and guidance and you are still struggling with debt you may find the following contacts useful;

• Citizens Advice Bureaux www.adviceguide.org.uk

• Consumer Credit Counselling Service 0800 138 111 www.cccs.co.uk

Please note that this article does not constitute financial advice under the Financial Services and Marketing Act 2000.

Written by Emma Nelson BA (Hons) FPC CeMap for Personal Loans. Emma is a freelance journalist for e-magazines and UK newspapers.

December 24th, 2008

Corporate Debt Management - Perspective on the Why

Posted in Uncategorized

Entrepreneurs have a tough time in their formative years. They try too many things to get a foothold on this competitive business climate, and that too they try them too soon. When they enter into new fields that have great promise and bet on new products they run the risk of costly failures. New product launches are costly and sometimes may take time to click. Risk is one factor which keeps the Businesses spinning new concepts and makes money out of it. It is this risk that keeps the uninitiated away. If you can’t risk and make some bets in business then it is no field for you. But sometimes folks go a little far on investing more and more in a failure with hopes that one day they may click. It is the greatest for a selected few to know when to invest further and get out soon sometime. But for the rest of us it is mostly trial and error. This is where debt shows its gory true form.

Businesses take loans and enjoy good credit, but at some time there is the point of repayment. You should have taken loans and credit which suit the business model you have adopted. If your know the business you are in is going to take time to get out of the red, then you should be finding the right repayment terms accordingly. More so often it happens that during the periods of loan application people do some crazy stuff and they are more interested to secure it quick. These are the folks who get caught in the endless maze of debt. But there is help from many for profit and non-profit companies in every nook and corner of the world. You got to make a good informed judgment based on your situation “Who can help you with the corporate debt management”. There are many factors to consider while choosing the right folks to deal with the debt management. The first and foremost is the breadth of offerings available from a company. There are many aspects that the debt management company has to take care for you. They should be able to directly deal with the creditors and try containing the situation. Once you have your creditors on bay it gives you enough time to focus back in your business and bring the much needed revenue and profits to payback your creditors. Sometimes the problem is worse than you had anticipated or the business model is flawed to bring in any revenue. In such situations you need these companies to be capable of handling bankruptcy and liquidation.

Here is one company that offers a comprehensive portfolio of debt management services right from creditor negotiation till bankruptcy and liquidation related work.

For the best resources on MRCP and MRCPCH please visit 123doc.com, some of author’s freelance work is available in the website.

December 24th, 2008

Bryan Ellis on Virtual Real Estate Investing

Posted in Biz Ops, Real Estate Center, The Marketing Way

A relatively new concept in the online world is “Virtual Real Estate Investing“. What is meant by “Virtual Real Estate Investing” ranges from online games like SecondLife (where real profit can be made) to the use of internet technologies to make normal real estate investors more profitable.

In order to figure out the truth of the matter, I sought out Bryan Ellis, whose experience in the fledgling industry is truly impressive.

When I began using the term virtual real estate investing in the late 1990s, I did so because I saw clear parallels between the strategies used for profiting from physical real estate and those that would create income in the online world, said Ellis.

One example of the parallels between virtual and physical real estate Bryan Ellis cites is the similarity between the monetization of domain names versus physical property. “These types of assets - websites and physical real estate - can be monetized in very similar ways like buy lo/sell high, leasing/rental and advertising opportunities” he says.

I must admit: Its easy to see the parallels. Consider: A valuable piece of real estate is valuable largely due to the interest that other people have in that specific location. Likewise, if you own a desirable domain name, others will find value in it because it serves their purposes. In either case, you could sell or lease the asset and turn it into cash.

In our next installment of this series on virtual real estate investing., Bryan Ellis will share the internet analogies to the physical concept of real estate development.

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