Friday, March 30, 2007

Spring In Les Baux De Provence

Spring is definitely in the air and few places on Earth are as breathing taking as Provence, as the flora is beginning to bloom, the birds are nesting and new life is being born, and the sun is bringing its warm rays to the rich earth. Perhaps your soul and your romance needs to be rejuvenated as well? Then Provence will provide that needed tranquility in a mild Mediterranean climate.

Once in the heart of Provence you can drink in the natural and rugged beauty that fills the region. Within a short drive of the villages of Saint-Remy-de Provence, Arles, Les Baux and Avignon are the Massif des Alpille Mountains which stretch between the towns and are great for hiking or cycling. Once at the summit of these majestic ranges, the panoramic views of Provence are stunning. Arles is home to the famous French bull fighting, which takes place in the Roman arena. Bullfighting was first introduced in France in 1701 and has become increasingly more popular over the years. Traditional French bullfighting is a twice-a-day event that begins at Easter and with events scheduled all the way through to September…a must see event for those visiting Provence. If you love nature, you will want to take a short drive to the Camargue Wetlands, just south of Arles. The wetlands are home to over 400 species of birds, wild horses, and the famous Camaruge bulls that roam to and fro. The soil is rich delta soil, as the Camargue is located between the Mediterranean Sea and two arms of the Rhone River delta. The flora there is adapted to high saline content, and the sea lavender displays are spectacular.

For those of you who have a deep appreciation for architecture and the arts, you will want to take the time to explore ancient villages in the region. As you walk, you will be retracing the very steps that world renowned artists such as Van Gogh trod centuries ago.

The village of Les Baux de Provence is a 10th Century village, with many buildings that have been lovingly restored. It will take about 1 ½ hours to walk through the village, the ancient castle and the citadel ruins. If you visit during the month of May, there are more than a dozen neighboring estates that are open to visitors during the annual Wine Festival. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead and arrange mutually convenient times for tours.

The Palais des Papes is located in the village of Avignon, just 25 kilometers from the Auberge de la benvengudo. Built in the 1300's, it is the largest Gothic palace in Europe and offers tours through more than two dozen rooms of the palace. Visitors can enjoy courtyard performances given by the Avignon Theatre during July; as well as the art exhibit in the Great Chapel, which is on display throughout the summer. If you are visiting during the month of July, you will enjoy the Festival d'Avignon, which features French and foreign drama, dance and stage performances throughout the village.

Another nearby cultural event that takes place during June and July in the Aix-en-Provence, which is the training grounds for hundreds of musicians. During the summer months, the European Academy of Music brings together top singers and instrumentalists from all over the world and visitors to the region are welcome to enjoy the practices and performance of the musicians. Provence offers some of the most secluded and romantic picnic areas in all of France.

After spending the early morning hours exploring the area, why not go spend the afternoon lounging on a blanket and enjoying a picnic lunch of the finest of Provence wines, cheeses, crackers and fruits? Many picnic areas are just a short stroll from the roadside. As you sip your wine and enjoy the breeze of the ancient olive trees and the whispering of the cicadas, you will again feel your soul rejuvenating in the quiet wonder of a world centuries away.

Several options are available for accommodation in the region from quaint B&B to luxury hotels. Les Baux de Provence is an idyllic village and is centrally located to all of the must see attractions in Provence. Auberge de la benvengudo is one of the best Les Baux de Provence Hotels. The décor will make you feel as though you have stepped back centuries in time, surrounded by classic antiques still in practical use todya, while the modern conveniences such as Hi speed wi-fi will allow you to stay connected to the outside world. Guests can choose from an array of accommodation options, ranging from cozy rooms in warm Provencal colors to apartments complete with a fireplace, flat screen TV and kitchen.

The Auberge de la Benvengudo restaurant is one of the finest restaurants in the Provence. The renowned chefs prepare succulent meals using only the freshest fruits and vegetables, as well as Mediterranean seafood. The authentic Provencal cuisine is served with your choice of one of the fine local or regional French wines. Provence offers cooking classes to those who truly enjoy the French cuisine and desire to learn to cook the dishes at home.

The celebrated chefs from Provence restaurants partner to provide an intimate, hands-on learning environment for students. Classes are taught in both English and French and allow the students to learn how to prepare several classic entrees and desserts. Pick up a bottle of wine on your way back to your room and enjoy a quiet evening that will hearken to those of days gone by. As you talk with that special someone late into the night, make plans for a romantic day trip to the nearby French Rivera, Nice, Cannes, or Monaco which is just over the border.

Spring is here, and it is time for new beginnings. What better way to begin than to take the time to allow your soul to be refreshed or your romance rekindled? Provence provides the perfect climate and setting for both and is located just one hour from Marseille International Airport.


Monday, March 26, 2007

Find A Secured Loan

Obtaining a Secured Loan is now even easier than before, the only dilemma you will have is choosing a lender. There are literally hundreds of lenders to choose from and you don’t even have to go to your own bank, you can apply on-line and search through hundreds of lenders in seconds for a no-obligation decision on your loan, or approach a reputable Broker who will sort out all your paperwork, sometimes free of charge.

Secured loans UK are available to those who own their own home, how it works is simple and straight forward, you can borrow anything from £5,000 to £100,000 possibly more depending on the individual lender and your home is used as collateral against the loan.

In order for you to do this you will have to ensure there is either sufficient equity to borrow against, it is however possible for banks and financial institutions to approve Secured loans against properties that do not have sufficient equity, often this may be the case if you have just moved into a new property and have not made enough Mortgage payments.
If you already have a Secured Loan against your property, in order for you to obtain another one, the first one will be redeemed from any future advances.

Secured Loans are ideal for releasing cash in a hurry, whether you require the money for a business venture, new car, wedding, holiday or home improvements or you may wish to use the money purely to consolidate any existing debts, so that you will be left with one affordable monthly payment, some lenders will even allow you a six-month payment break when money is tight.

Those with adverse credit such as CCJ’S (county court judgements) defaults, mortgage arrears and even secured loan arrears can apply for a Secured Loan. The majority of lenders do not credit score and have individual plans that allow for some adverse credit.

You can even be accepted if you are self employed with no proof of income or accounts, the interest rate will undoubtedly be higher for these cases, however if you are willing to shop around, you can find an interest rate and repayment method that will suit your circumstances.


Friday, March 23, 2007

Guaranteed Personal Loans

Guaranteed personal loans can be used for a number of things from holidays to a new home amusement system. Guaranteed online personal loans can be used to pay off high interest credit cards. Many credit card companies will raise the interest fee drastically even if you lose or are late on one payment. Guaranteed personal loans might even be used to begin a small business. This would be a great investing if you have got an entrepreneurial spirit. On your clenched fist Guaranteed online personal loans, the bounds may be much lower than on your subsequent ones. Once you turn out that you will pay guaranteed personal loans back on time, you will most likely measure up for a higher amount the adjacent time.

Guaranteed online personal loans will supply you the convenience of applying for finances online without having to go forth your home. There are certain demands that you will have got to ran into to be considered for guaranteed personal loans. Most lenders necessitate you to have got got a certain income degree per calendar month as well as have a relatively high credit rating. Others may necessitate you to have got been at your current employer for a certain length of clip and will necessitate certification of this plus certification of your rate of pay. Guaranteed online personal loans may come up up with a bounds on the amount of money you can borrower and this may be affected by your credit score.

Guaranteed personal loans can also fill up the spreads that come between paydays or if you have got the unfortunate fortune of being out of work for a while. Guaranteed online personal loans are offered by most Internet lenders as well as lenders in your local area. Guaranteed personal loans can be deposited directly in to your bank account or mailed to you by check. You can also have got your repayments debited from your bank account for convenience. Be certain to do your payments on clip or you might incur further fees. Guaranteed online personal loans normally have got got lower interest rates than credit cards do.

Guaranteed online personal loans are something you could not have obtained a few decennaries ago. The Internet have brought so many options to United States consumers and those abroad. You can make so many things in a matter of proceedings that would have got previously taken you much more than clip and attempt to accomplish. Guaranteed personal loans are just one of the few things you can utilize the Internet for. It is astonishing at how we have got been blessed by technology. "Now therefore listen to me, Type O you children: for blessed are they that maintain my ways." (Proverbs 8:32)


Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Personal Finance

Personal finance is not an issue you should be forced to confront when in a crisis like so many people end up doing. Your personal finances are critical for your life, security and prosperity. Face it and don't conceal your financial issues under the rug. Learn and pattern personal budgeting. Make your ain financial fate and your life will be so much better.

You’ll have got to


know your current personal financial situation
estimate how your financial state of affairs will develop in a short term perspective
set long term financial goals, do a program to accomplish them and then carry your plan.

Get a position of your current financial situation

Collect accurate information about your personal financial situation. Calculate your your network worth, This information includes:


real estate
saving and retirement accounts
stocks and bonds
all other assets.

What is the total? Are you surprised?

Make a budget

A personal budget is information made up of your income and disbursals and the more than than accurate this information is, the more likely you are to be able to ran into your ends and recognize your dreams. An income/expenses budget should be made for at most one twelvemonth at a clip and include a listing of your monthly expenses. All disbursals must be included. To be certain of that spell through all your paid bills, check register and credit card gross to go on outgoes that recur every calendar month and outgoes that happen less frequently. Divide that entire by twelve and you have got your monthly average expenses. To be able to do good personal financial determinations and set priorities, you must cognize where your money is actually going.

Get electronic measure pay

This is a very convenient manner to wage your bills. You pay them electronically, by direct backdown from your bank account. The transaction is processed immediately. You can even associate your measure wage service to your budget, so that your outgoes are automatically entered in the appropriate category. Personal financial management can be really easy, don't you think? Check out programs for enabling this on the internet

Make an investing and finance plan

Now that the cardinal state of your personal financial security have been established, the clip have come up for the more than comfortable portion of your personal financial life. What I intend is


investments
retirement planning
loan shopping
other ways to construct a fortune.

You need to do a program of what you really desire in life that money can buy. Then you must happen out how to get the money it takes to finance it and finally begin to implement this plan. This is the long term portion of your financial life - the procedure of personal financial development from the state you are in right now - to the state you desire to be in. This journeying toward financial freedom is in my sentiment the most interesting and exciting portion of personal funding you can have.


Sunday, March 18, 2007

Budgeting the Key to being Financially Stable

Single Mother’s in need of Financial Guidance

Budgeting is key to being financially stable. A budget is a systematic plan for the expenditure of a usually fixed resource, such as money or time, during a given period. As a single mother you might groan at the thought of putting together a household budget with all your expenses, but its easy to do and will also help you become very financially organized.
Many single mothers find themselves facing financial problems every day.

A single mother faces many burdens of everyday costs for her children’s well-being, as well as her own, that at times will leave her in need of financial assistance.

Shaping up your finances is particularly important if you are experiencing a life altering experience such as a marriage, divorce, new baby or any other event that changes your finances dramatically. Whatever the state of your financial life, developing a sensible budget will allow you to stay on track.

The core of budgeting is for you as a single mother to see your monthly spending needs and habits. The purpose of a budget allows you to track your personal cash flow, which is how much money comes in and how much goes out, usually recorded on a monthly basis.

Adding up your monthly income is easy, but totaling up all your expenses takes a little more effort. First, collect all your bills, your credit card statements, your checkbook register and all your receipts, even for things you buy with cash.

If you haven't been keeping good records of your spending, you may have to get a receipt of every dollar you spend for a month before you put together an accurate budget.

Track you expenses by making entries in a notebook or learn how to in Microsoft excel which is a great tool to use when creating a budget.

Now divide your spending into fixed costs and variable costs. Your fixed costs will include such things as mortgage payments, rent or loan payments.

Your variable costs will include such things as clothing, food and entertainment.

Once you are managing your spending, you can easily decide which costs as a single mother you can cut and which you cannot. In most cases as soon as you see how much you are spending on your morning latte, snacks in the vending machine or treats for your kids, you will be motivated to cut back. Be sure to stay motivated by setting yourself goals.

Being a single mom is hard enough but it’s even harder when you are faced with financial burdens that you cannot cover alone. Living a stable and healthy life is important.


Saturday, March 17, 2007

3 Steps to Personal Financial Success - Part II: Budgeting

Spending Habits

As consumers, we spend. We spend on things that we need but more so on things that we don't need, but want. Some of that stems from the fact that we refuse to deny ourselves pleasure and we don't want it now...we want it yesterday. Marketers know this and they prey on it. They show you the product in all its glory, all of the benefits you can get from it, and what others say about how quickly they saw results. Like lambs to the slaughter, we fall for it, make the purchase, use it twice, see no results, and then let it sit in the closet for the next five years (oh, never mind that you are still paying for it!).

Now don't get me wrong, I like to spend money myself, when I have it to spend. And of course, live your life to the fullest! That being said, you still have to exercise caution when it comes to money. Living your life to the fullest irresponsibly now may have you tied to the ball and chain of debt in later years when you should be debt free and enjoying your grandkids or shuffleboard in Florida.

Your spending habits can generate an undesireable future for yourself. Would you agree? Spending on impulse, spending when you find "deals" that you haven't budgeted for, or keeping up with Mr. or Ms. Jones are terrible spending habits. A deal is only a deal when you have the money for it.

For example, say there is a suit for $200 that has been marked down to $100. You purchase the suit on your charge card because you didn't have the cash, but you will be getting paid on Friday (that's called pre-spending). Friday comes and you didn't realize the bills that you have to pay or you want to spend your money elsewhere, so you take advantage of the kind credit card people who allow you to pay just the minimum. You get into the habit of paying the minimum, and add some other charges to your card. A few months down the road...you are still paying for the suit plus the other charges on the card and have doubled the $100 price (the deal!) and ended up paying $100 in finance charges to the credit card company. Who came out on top?

It may sound far-fetched, but this happens all too often and is how people get into credit card and other debts. Their spending habits almost become insurmountable, then they reach out for help be it debt consolidation or worse, cash advance companies. Not that there is anything wrong with cash advance companies, but most people don't think wisely about how to pay this loan back or if the benefit is worth the cost. Then they get caught in the revolving door.

Creating the Budget

Go ahead. You can say it. It's the "B" word. The one word people in debt feel as if they can't do because of the debt that they’re in. Trust me: there is no better time to start. You will never see the light of day if you don't set boundaries to your spending. You will continue to impulse buy if you don't give yourself other choices for your spending. You will continue to buy things you don't need or will not use if you don't create a budget.

Next to the bible or any other religious literature you may have, your financial budget is the next piece of sacred text that you have in your home. Read it. Study it. Eat it. By doing this you will ingrain it into your subconscious. Your subconscious will alert you when you are diverting from the plan. You will feel more power because you are now starting to make informed decisions about your spending. You will be aware of the choices you have (new boots or light bill?). In short you will be able to pass on "right now" and look forward to "a little later."

So how do you budget? Well, you take everything that you spend money on and categorize it. Everything. From apples to zebra slippers, you have to put these expenditures in a category and put a set amount on how much you will spend in that category. Of course, you will need to know how much you bring in on a weekly to yearly basis. Here is a basic example:




Monthly Income: $2000




Weekly: $500




Account


Amount To Spend


Due Date




Loans:


Auto Loan: $250 a month
Student Loan: $100 a month


1st of Month
1st of Month




Rent:


WillShire Apts: $400 a month


1st of Month




Grocery Limit:


$300 a month


1st and 15th (go shopping)




Savings:


401k:$25 each paycheck
Fed Cred: $10 each paycheck


10th and 25th
10th and 25th



Clothes Limit:


$50 a month




Dining Out Limit:


$50 a month


Again, this is very basic. Your budget can be as detailed as you like. The more detailed, the better. If you decide to stop by the store and pick up a stick of gum, include that in your grocery totals. Make lists before you go grocery shopping. This keeps you on track with your budget. You may be able to pick up a few extra things here and there, but you must adjust your budget to reflect, and shuffle your money from somewhere else to cover the expenditure.

I hope I've opened your eyes to a few bad spending habits and have given you enough to jumpstart your budgeting. With just a few minor changes (and in some cases, major), you can be on your way to financial success!


Friday, March 16, 2007

Grocery Savings - Your Kitchen is a Goldmine!

Your food budget is the most flexible area of your household budget. Grocery savings will free up a significant amount of money if you need to balance the budget, or fund your savings accounts.

If you haven’t figured it out already, your kitchen is a Goldmine. There are numerous ways to reduce the grocery budget and free up funds to use in other areas.

How much should you be spending on groceries?

The USDA Food Plans at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion suggests that a family of four is currently spending about $100 to $116 per week based on the "Thrifty Plan", depending on the age of children. Anyone trying to reduce the food budget should follow the guidelines for the "thrifty plan."

This should give you at least some idea what the average family spends.
I recommend you shoot for something less than that figure if at all possible by implementing as many of these grocery saving tips as possible!

Eliminate eating out! Period! - O.K. if you’re family is screaming mad at you then take them out at least once a month.
Make it an occasion. Most of us get caught up in fast paced living and eat out at least one or two times per week. It’s just an insane waste of money.

Your family will appreciate a dinner out much more when it's not such a regular event. Consider it “quality time out”. And, remember to look for coupons good at local restaurants for additional savings.

Minimize the use of convenience foods. - You can make it yourself for a fraction of the cost, try it! Many of us are so accustomed to convenience foods that we forget we can make it ourselves.

If you already love to cook from scratch then congrats! For the rest, I know this is a scary thought. It’s hard to go back into the kitchen and actually get your hands dirty. However, I must insist you try this. There’s gold in them there hands! Use ‘em.

If you don’t have a lot of time, don’t worry there are literally hundreds of recipe books for the busy lifestyle. There are many that promote frugal living as well.

You'll find substitute recipes for everything from baking mixes to shake and bake and salad dressing. All it takes is a little extra time. Even if you had to pay yourself for doing the cooking you would come out ahead.

Do your homework! - Know what’s on sale and plan your menu around the weekly sales flyers. Investing a little extra time in planning will help maximize grocery savings and reduce the food budget!

I make it a rule to never buy meat over $2 a pound. Although I allow myself $2, I usually only spend on average 39 cents to $1.69. Occasionally, (rarely) I indulge in something special if it’s a good value.

Eat meatless meals at least twice a week. - Beans and rice are a good example. Egg dishes are a nice change in routine for dinner. Try a vegetable stir fry or casserole.

Don’t use packaged mixes. - Cake, breads, muffins, pastry, pizza dough, pancake, and waffles all come in a variety of pre-packaged mixes. Make your own for not much more effort and a lot less money!

Know what your local stores offer. - Which ones have the lowest prices? Start carrying a little memo book to record prices of items you buy regularly. You can organize trips to save time and money when planning your grocery shopping.

Who accepts coupons and do they double? Do they have a rebate program? Do they have a clearance or bargain area? Which grocery stores accept additional discount programs like ValuPage?

Build your coupon file! - It seems coupons are available everywhere now. Your newspaper is a great starting point. Pay careful attention when looking through magazines. These are easy to miss. I often find coupons in home, ladies, or cooking magazines.

Check out the free grocery coupons on-line. Be sure to do your research, many stores do not accept computer generated coupons due to the high incidence of fraud. Be sure not to waste your valuable time on this one if you don't have a local store that accepts them.

Be an informed consumer. I can’t stress this enough!
Informed consumer = More grocery savings!

Once you know where to shop, use all your resources. Combine rebates, sales, and coupons whenever possible for maximum grocery savings. This takes a bit more dedication but, you can literally get paid to purchase items if you’re willing to invest the time.

Grocery savings aren't just for the grocery store. many drugstores now have food sections where you can save on groceries.

Here's a great tip:

Always check your cash register receipt. Many stores offer a refund of full price policy for items that do not register the correct sale price.
I have cashed in on this one many times. Remember, these price adjustments are usually entered by humans. Human error is always a possibility, so cash in on it!

Because of a simple mistake, you have increased your grocery savings!

If you....

Plan ahead - Use your sale flyers to plan weekly meals.
Use what you have on hand first - Plan meals based on foods you have in your fridge, freezer, and cabinets already
Utilize your savings tips - Get more for your money using a combination of resources listed above
Make it yourself whenever possible

....You will be able to tap into that Goldmine hiding in your very own kitchen!


Thursday, March 15, 2007

Single Mother Resources Directs You Towards Success

As a parent you are jump to confront a few challenges but as a single female parent you are jump to confront challenges almost everyday. Elevation a kid is not meant to be done alone however today it is occurring more than often then traditional value holders would wish to see.

If you are a single female parent trying to successfully raise your children you are among the many. There are a huge number of women that successfully raise their children. However there is also a great number of single mother’s that must bear the load of covering their ain costs as well as their child’s, all on one income. Whether you are working full clip or going to school to break your instruction you have got to do certain your kid have proper care after school allows out or during the twenty-four hours while you are away. Whether this proper care is twenty-four hours care or a babysitter, they all come up with costs. Many households today are faced with debt so it’s not a surprise to see single parents in debt. With the emphasis of mundane life, it’s of import to not allow your debt be ignored. Managing your debt right away is the first step, which is followed by determination out ways to reduce your disbursals and paying the remainder off. Answers to your inquiries and concerns about financial issues can all be establish at the Single Mother Resources website.

There are many things you can do to make certain you remain out of debt or get out of debt fast. According to many beginnings along with singlemotherresources budgeting is a cardinal factor in helping so many people get out of debt and remain out of debt. The core of budgeting is for you as a single female parent to see your monthly disbursement needs and habits. The intent of a budget allows you to track your personal cash flow. Your personal cash flow is how much money come ups in and how much travels out. Once you do a listing you are going to recognize that you have got a batch more money going out then coming in especially on unneeded commodity such as as urge purchases at the grocery shop store checkout, or points that your children want. Instead of giving in and giving your kid what he or she is asking for, it’s best to state them the truth that you can’t afford it right now. Suggest that your kid starts or goes on doing weekly jobs and in tax return you will give them a small allowance where they can salvage up for something they want. This manner it will take the load off of you each clip they inquire for something. Once they salvage up adequate money they can purchase it themselves and then experience as if they earned it.

As for yourself and your disbursals you need to do a monthly budget and follow it. You need to have got the volition powerfulness to command yourself from purchasing unneeded points at the grocery shop store or taking your children to the up-to-the-minute movie. Go see a matinee movie instead where terms are lowered, and eat before going to the grocery shop store so you won’t desire to purchase everything in site. Set financial ends for yourself and maintain path of what you are spending. This manner if you cognize Girl Lookout dues are coming up, you can set a end to put that money aside where you might have got spent it on something else otherwise. Also by keeping path of what you are disbursement you might come up to some realisations such as as what you purchase at the grocery shop store. Name trade name merchandises are just as good as generic subtraction the name so it’s worth purchasing generic products; you’ll be surprised in how much you save. Let your children be involved with budgeting as well. Rich Person them make a listing of jobs they do and how much money they have in return. They will see how hard work pays off. Keep in head that owning something that you worked hard for makes something that no 1 can take away from you which is your pride.

Before you cognize it, you will be on your manner to being a debt free ma and able to handle your children to something special. But remember, it’s going to be hard at first and you’ll desire to give in or give up, but in it’s all worth it in the end. Single Mother Resources will assist usher you to go a debt free ma as well as a successful ma in instruction your children a valuable lesson in life; hard work pays off.


Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Vesting and Your 401(k)

Do you have got a 401(k) retirement account? Are you vested yet? Before you travel on to your adjacent job, it is critical for you to happen out if you are fully vested in your retirement account before you do the move. If you are not, you could lose 100s if not thousands of dollars in employer contributions.

Vesting mentions simply to the non-forfeitable percentage of your account’s assets. In other words, whatever you lend to your 401(k) program is always yours to maintain including any rollover money.

If your employer lends to your plan, a vesting agenda for the employer’s portion is part of the plan. This agenda neckties inch a non-forfeitable percentage to the employer’s part for each twelvemonth of service until you are fully vested – 100% – in the employer contribution.

Vesting agendas change with the employer. A sample agenda could include you being fully vested after three old age of service. After twelvemonth 1 the agenda may have got got you one 3rd vested; after twelvemonth two you could be two one-thirds invested; finally upon your 3rd day of remembrance you would have full entitlement to your employer’s contributions, thus you would be 100% vested.

In all cases, upon leaving a company your part and any rollover finances are yours to keep. However, depending on your employer’s vesting agenda only a percentage of the finances contributed by your employer may actually be yours to keep. If you go forth before you are fully vested, you stand up to lose a important amount of money. Thus, it behooves you to cipher whether the financial benefits of the new occupation outweigh any possible loss of employer parts to your 401(k) account.


Monday, March 12, 2007

95% of Retirees Retire Into Poverty!

I recently saw a Wall St advertisement quoting a startling Government statistic: “Of the 77 million babe baby boomers planning to retire in the adjacent 10 to 15 years, 95% are hurtling toward unexpected financial difficulties.”

Those “Difficulties” are that they will be not able to back up themselves without continuing to work for the remainder of their lives!

Can you imagine, after a lifetime of hard work, struggle, hardships, maybe even tragedy, you’re about to stop your life in poverty, disease and desire unless you work till you drop?

Is that all there is? Or make you desire to be in the fortunate 5% World Health Organization can retire without money worries?

What makes the Wall St advertisement suggest you make about this? Buy their small Retirement Newsletter!
1. Techniques for economy for retirement without changing your lifestyle today
2. How to construct the best portfolio for long-term income
3. How to make certain you don't outlive your income
4. Advantageous common funds, REITs and variable rentes
5. Estate-planning strategies

Let’s take a expression at their newsletter’s suggestions:
1. Economy for retirement without changing your lifestyle today? What Bull! It is your current lifestyle that got you into this mess!
2. A portfolio for long term income? Baby, you need more than income, right now. In the long-term, your butt end will be dead!
3. Don’t outlive your income? What income? They just said that 95% of you will not have got adequate income to back up yourself.
4. Advantageous Common Fund, REIT’s and variable annuities? All merchandises Wall St do committees on! Ask them what difference they will do in your retirement monetary fund in lone 10 years.
5. Estate planning strategies? What estate? Aren’t we talking about the 95% of babe baby boomers who will not be able to discontinue work?

No, male children and girls, I don’t believe their attack is going to work out your problems!

I retrieve a quote, person said that if you maintain doing the same things and getting the same suffering results, you need to make something different.

You absolutely MUST change what you are doing, your trajectory, if you don’t desire to stop up like everybody else. Here is what you must make right now.

First, figure out what you will need to dwell on, state 80% of your present take-home pay.

Check with your Person Resources Dept. for a projection of what your pension will be, if any. Check with Sociable Security to see what your proposed retirement benefits will be.

Then add in any nest egg or investings you have got including the equity in your house and how much income that would bring forth if invested at 10%.

Ten percent? Unrealistic? To some. Those who make not cognize about the tax returns available from private mortgages, tax liens and other safe, sophisticated existent estate investments.

Add up all of your proposed incomes and compare with the 80% of present return home figure.

Your problem is now identified and quantified. You have got a goal. If it is terrible as I believe it will be, you will have got to prosecute aggressive investing strategies such as as existent estate to catch up. You might even have got to “change your lifestyle.”

Otherwise, you will stop up disbursement your Golden Old Age working at the Golden Arches. How awkward to have got one of the vicinity children acknowledge you. “Hey, ain’t that Tommy’s Grandpa?” And then to throw ketchup-doused, Tater Tots at you!


Sunday, March 11, 2007

New Year's Cost Cutting

As a nation, we annually blow millions of dollars on uneaten food,
over priced clothes, unused, unneeded items, uncompetitive savings
account rates and excessive credit cards interest. American consumers
throw away money as never before and the credit card measures axial rotation in
with their record of excessive Christmastide spending. This do January
a perfect clip to begin putting your personal nest egg finances in
order.

I cognize that I happen something freeing, almost emancipating about
disbursement money away on handles for myself. It can be something as
cheap as a pad of paper of stationery with some fancy designing on it that costs
$5, or as expensive as staying at a hotel room instead of drive two
hours home after a conference. However, there is no ground why people
who salvage their money should accept minuscule interest rates or sky-
high credit card interest charges.

Spending a few proceedings now to happen a better deal will go forth you
better off by December 31. Leaving things the manner you have got left them
in the past is like setting fire to your ain money. By making a few
changes to better your accretion versus your disbursement will make
it so that the odd taxi home, the takeout food poulet or spontaneous
clothes purchase will not have got got a dramatically negative consequence on
your bank balance or credit card debt."

Here are 10 easy ways to salvage money in 2005 and every twelvemonth beyond.

1 save ON FOOD

Healthy feeding doesn't have to be expensive. Making your sandwiches
at home and taking them to work mightiness cost you $3 a twenty-four hours if you really
travel all out on the ingredient and drink. Buying a sandwich, drink, and
bits at Metro or McDonalds and you've dropped $5 - $9 plus ingested
more calories, fat, and preservatives than is healthy for you. If you
cut $2 a twenty-four hours out of your spending, and weekly or monthly put option that
money into a particular account at your bank or freezer, you will have
$10 a week, $40 a month, $500 a year. Maybe that is your Christmas
nowadays fund?

Slash supermarket measures by making a shopping listing and sticking to
it. Avoid picking up the over priced "bargain" extras placed at the
end of the aliases where they can allure you. (Tip: Leave the children at
home when you grocery store shop.) Give the store's ain trade name a try, their
value ranges can cost a 3rd the terms for name-brand points and
incorporate the same nutrition. Buy fruit and vegetables in local farmers
markets in season - terms are competitive, you cognize the people who
turn the nutrient and you get to be outside for a spot of fresh air. Brand your repasts at home and freeze parts for future meals. Often
modern times the home cookery is lower in fat, refined sugar and salt than ready-to-
eat repasts and having the nutrient in the freezer, ready to melt will
reduce the enticement to by over-priced takeout.

2 save ON daily SPENDING

Take a good expression at what you really use. Bash you have got a gym
rank that you only see occasionally but look to regenerate every
year? Bash you take the autobus or taxi to work? Save a few dollars and get
in some free exercising by getting out a couple blocks early. Leave the standard atmosphere machine card at home, and when you make usage it, take
less money out than you normally do. It's harder to blow the money
if you don't have got it in your pocket. Join the local library - you'll
pass less clip in bookshops. Shopping for purchases tin also save
money - many major supplies offer a terms promise matching any
advertised price.

3 MORTGAGE SAVINGS

Penny observation will salvage a small luck over the years, but taking
the problem to happen the lowest over-all cost mortgage available can
also salvage a small fortune. If you can reimburse your costs through a
lower interest rate in less than 2 years, travel ahead and refinance,
over the long draw that lower interest rate can salvage you some real
change.

2003 provided the lowest interest rates in 50 years, yet many
homeowners failed to switch over to a cheaper mortgage rate. 2004 was also
a twelvemonth of nice interest rates, yet many homeowners are still paying
too much interest. Instead of simply writing a check next calendar month looks
into the possibility of refinancing.

4 cut HOME INSURANCE COSTS

Cutting home insurance is also easy. Identify the degree of coverage
you need and then shop around to happen the lowest insurance premiums based on
that coverage. If you are willing to self see more than than the
criterion $500 deductible - that is wage the first $1,000 or $2000 of a
loss - you will happen a important nest egg in the annual rate. Just
beware, that many of the small things like broken windows, a few
herpes zoster off your roof will not be paid by the insurance company because they
cost below that $1,000 deductible.

Lower insurance premiums are also offered by some companies to members of a
vicinity ticker or to the people with extra security. Good quality
locks, alarms, and security systems discourage break-ins and some insurers
price reduction for that. Don't forget your outbuildings when looking for
insurance coverage. Many of the points in your garden cast are
expensive to replace if they disappear.

5 cut CAR COSTS

Your car can be expensive to operate. Fuel, maintenance, and
insurance can cost per mile more than the current 37.5 cents the IRS
states a vehicle costs to operate. Depreciation can number nearly 60% of
a new cars cost in the first 2 years. Keeping your tyres properly
inflated, the filters clean and the starting and fillet to a
minimum will increase your mileage and lessening expenses.

Using the Internet will assist you cut your insurance costs
dramatically if you travel online to shop for a better insurance rate. Another thing that volition aid with your insurance fee is keeping your
drive record clear of moving vehicle tickets - don't speed.

6 save ON utility BILLS

Depending on where you dwell the deregulating of gas and electricity
intends providers have got competition now and deals are available if you
travel looking. Consumers stand up to salvage nearly a 3rd of their gas bill
if they dwell in countries with competition and are willing to shop around
and inquire for the savings.

You can salvage even more than with energy-saving measurements like drawing the
drapes at dusk, turning the television off rather than using standby,
buying energy-efficient light bulbs and turning the thermoregulator down
just one degree, at nighttime or while you are away during the day. When you travel to regenerate your cell phone - store around. The enactment of
United States Congress mandating the option to take your phone number with you has
proved many cheaper rates and more than inducements to get you to switch
from one carrier to the other.

7. LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance rates have got fallen the last few years, especially for
the term rates. At a minimum bargain adequate insurance for your partner to
be able to dwell without employment until the children are old enough to
travel to school. Get on the internet and search for the best rate you
can find. You won't even have got to deal with an insurance salesman.

8 save ON CREDIT AND BANKING

Credit is a manner of life today, and many of us are paying through the
olfactory organ for millions in unsecured personal borrowing on credit cards. APRs can attain almost 25 per cent for in-store credit, and many
battle to pay the interest, adding punitory old age to the borrowing
term.

Instead look at low-cost loan to consolidate debts, or a new credit
card with an introductory rate of zero per cent on purchases and
balance transfers. You can even switch over your borrowing from one card
to another as the free introductory rate expires. The cardinal is to hold
your payments level, even as the minimum required drops. Doing this
volition cut 20 old age off most repayment times.

Competition intends better banking deals, though you might need to
happen a small bank to get the best rates of interest or lowest cost
for services. Always wage attention to what your degree of service is
going to cost you, what makes a box of reduplicate checks cost, and if
you accidentally resile a check what is the overdraft charge and how
much you'll be charged to have a transcript of your paper checks.

9 INVESTMENTS

Always do certain you are getting the interest rate you rate for
whatever nest egg you've got. The rate will depend on your degree of
comfortableness dealing with the internet, telephone banking or if you need a
unrecorded individual to deal with. Online banks offer a higher interest rate
because they have got less operating expense costs than a brick-and-mortar bank
staffed with unrecorded humans.

Check rates regularly - banks be given to be slower to raise their
payment rate than when raising the cost of borrowing. Don't forget to
max out your IRA, 401k, or whatever nest egg vehicle you have got that is
tax deferred or tax free.

10 cut TRAVEL COSTS

Using a website like www.travelocity.com tin intend you salvage a batch of
money when purchasing a package deal. The nest egg can be really huge if
you are willing to shop online at the last minute. Shop around for
sensible priced travel insurance - an annual insurance policy may
be cheap if you take respective trips a year. Try to wing an airline that
is not in bankruptcy problem so you can be confident they will
probably still be in business when you need to travel


Thursday, March 08, 2007

Uranium to Head North of $500/Pound?

Legendary stock picker James Dines recently compared uranium stocks to the high-flying net stocks of the halcyon days of the Internet expansion era. While the much-hyped and fleeting Y2K crisis never materialized, the U.S. energy crisis for highly sought uranium has been developing for more than twenty years. Still early in the current bullish uranium cycle, investors are scoring triple-digit returns on what some are calling a ‘renaissance in nuclear energy.’

Just as investors caught the curve of a new paradigm in communications and commerce with Internet stocks, many early birds have already begun investing in the nuclear energy story. The nuclear story pitch is simple: How do you accommodate a massive rush for electrical power demand while faced with the dire threat of carbon dioxide emissions and its direct impact on global warming? The growing consensus is that fission-based nuclear power may become the significant stop-gap energy alternative for this century and possibly until reliable technologies can effectively provide the means for renewable-sourced energy.

Nearly 2 billion people across the planet have no electricity. The World Nuclear Association (WNA) believes nuclear energy could reduce the fossil fuel burden of generating the new demand for electricity. The WNA forecasts a 40-percent jump in worldwide electricity demand over the next five years. The world’s most populated countries, China and India, are in the process of creating the largest energy-consuming class in the history of earth. Both plan aggressive nuclear energy expansion programs. Dozens of lesser developed countries, from Turkey and Indonesia to Vietnam and Venezuela, have announced their eagerness to pursue a civilian nuclear policy to benefit power needs for their burgeoning middle classes.

In a nutshell, global utilities are going to need uranium to help feed the increasing number of nuclear power plants proposed over the next twenty years. Herein lays the crisis: the world has been living off rapidly dwindling inventories since the last uranium up cycle. Uranium is now in shorter available supply for civilian energy use than ever before. Over the next decade, as demand continues to outstrip supply, analysts are predicting utilities will snap up known uranium inventories sending spot uranium prices to record highs. During this launch phase, investors have taken notice, chasing up the stock prices of many uranium producers and exploration companies.

Uranium Prices May Reach “Unbelievable Highs”

Toronto-based Sprott Asset Management research analyst, Kevin Bambrough, told STOCKINTERVIEW.COM, “There is a good possibility of a supply crunch that could drive uranium prices to unbelievable highs.” Various analysts predict price targets for spot uranium, in the near-term, above $40. Canadian Augen Capital Corp’s managing director David Mason speculated, “$100 (US) a pound is within reason within the next year or two.” Sydney-based Resource Capital Research is half as generous, forecasting $50/pound by 2007, explaining another 40 percent jump in spot uranium prices will be “driven by end users in the power generation market which is urgently trying to secure supply into the future.”

How high could spot uranium prices run? Kevin Bambrough made a hypothetical case for uranium trading north of $500. “It’s a ridiculous price,” Bambrough confided. “It’s hard to speculate if this is even going to happen.” While he admits that price would not be sustainable, Bambrough makes an interesting point about the concerns facing utility companies, charged with providing us with our electricity. In his futuristic scenario, Bambrough speculated, “There’s a chance that some facilities will have to choose shutting down their nuclear plants (if they can not obtain uranium to fuel the facility).” On that basis, Bambrough calculated the operating costs of a nuclear facility versus the operating cost of a competing fuel. In his conjectural model, Bambrough used natural gas priced at $5.

Bambrough explained, “Assuming that the coal-fired plant’s operating capacity, before you would basically shut down a nuclear facility, you would be comparing it to what you would have to bring on, which would be natural gas. If there is a shortage there (with natural gas), what price would it take before I am willing to shut down my nuclear facility? If you were to shut off the nuclear capacity, and fire up more gas to replace it, it would send gas prices through the stratosphere.” And that doesn’t factor in the cost of shutting down a nuclear facility, itself an exorbitant process. The analyst said he reached his calculation of “north of $500/pound” for spot uranium, under an extraordinary emergency supply crunch, by answering this question: “How much would people pay before they shut it (a nuclear plant) down if there is a shortage of uranium?”

Bambrough’s point illustrates that, unlike coal or natural gas, the cost of uranium in the nuclear fuel cycle is minimal. Thus, uranium is subject to an ever greater price rise without the blowback of consumer panic found in rising fossil fuel prices. Uranium prices might have to approach the level of Bambrough’s hypothetical forecast before even registering concern on an ordinary consumer’s radar.

Despite the recent parabolic rise in spot uranium prices, Bambrough doesn’t foresee the uranium frenzy peaking until the years 2013-2015. What will happen then? “There’s a good chance that the HEU agreement won’t be renewed,” said Bambrough. “Russia may not be selling their uranium. The Russians may want to hold onto what they have.” And if they do sell, they may not sell to the U.S. In 2004, U.S. utilities imported more than 80 percent of their uranium supplies from foreign sources. “It could be that the Russians are interested in trying to build nuclear plants for other countries and be in that business,” he suggested. “That may go hand in hand with ‘we’re going to build you the facility and we can guarantee you supply.’ And Russia would be using the balance of that uranium for their domestic needs.” Bambrough also cited the problem of mines expiring in the face of a potential new demand.

He concluded, “There are time lags to bring new production on versus what needs to be replaced in that 2013 period.” The International Atomic Energy Agency forecast nuclear electrical generating capacity to soar by more than 40 percent by the year 2030, which may further drive demand for tight uranium resources, especially during the period of Bambrough’s forecasted period.

Historical cycles support spot prices higher than $40/pound, a level above where uranium may hover for several years. The current cycle of rising uranium prices closely parallels the leap which occurred between February 1975 and April 1976. Spot uranium prices soared from $16 to $40/pound during that 15-month period. During the 1970s cycle, uranium steadily rose from $6.75/pound in November 1973, peaking in July 1978 at $43.40/pound. Uranium held above $40/pound for nearly four years from April 1976 through February 1980. In this cycle, uranium prices bottomed at $6.40 in January 2001, creeping higher into 2004. Since late last year, spot uranium prices soared with the same momentum seen thirty years ago. If history repeats itself, spot uranium prices should trade above $40/pound this year, and stay above that level until the end of this decade or perhaps for a longer stretch.

The key yardstick in determining how much higher uranium prices will climb is by keeping track of the number of new nuclear facilities being constructed or proposed. Estimates vary wildly, from as few as thirty by 2020 to more than 150 before 2050. “A few years ago, when we first started investing in uranium,” Bambrough explained. “There were very few plants being proposed. The numbers have doubled for proposed facilities. And for every one you hear about, there’s a lot more being planned.” That puts uranium miners into an enviable position. Bambrough added that utilities have to secure their fuel supply for up to six years out, once they decide to build a nuclear facility. “The fact is the supply is just not there,” warned Bambrough.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Cumulative unfilled uranium requirements for U.S. civilian nuclear reactors for 2005 through 2014 were reported to be 365 million pounds U3O8e. The quantity of maximum deliveries of uranium for the same period under existing purchase contracts totaled 181 million pounds.” Nearly 67 percent of the maximum anticipated market requirements for uranium lack a contract. Over the next decade, U.S. utilities will need to newly purchase more than 36 million pounds of uranium oxide each year, on average, in order to keep their nuclear power plants running. According to the Department of Energy website, contracted purchases from all suppliers precipitously falls in 2007 below 40 million pounds. By 2008, the amount of contracted uranium sinks below 20 million pounds.

In short, U.S. utilities may soon be scrambling for uranium inventory to fuel their nuclear reactors, or face the “ridiculous price(s)” research analyst Kevin Bambrough warned about. An excerpt from The International Atomic Energy Agency’s booklet, Analysis of Uranium Supply to 2050, bears out Bambrough’s thesis, “As we look to the future, presently known resources fall short of demand.” The deficit between newly mined uranium and reactor demand has averaged about 40 million pounds annually over the past decade, cannibalizing existing inventories. As we begin 2006, the supply/demand imbalance has reached a critical phase.

Where Will the Uranium Come From?

In his September 2004 presentation to the World Nuclear Association, Thomas L. Neff of MIT’s Center for International Studies, stated, “The net result of nearly twenty years of inventory liquidation is that existing higher-cost suppliers were driven out of business, new mines were discovered from starting, and exploration was neglected.” Neff warned in his conclusion, “The problem is the one to two decades that will be needed to expand (production) capacity and build the flow of nuclear fuel that meet the expanding requirements horizon.”

The 1970s price spike in uranium was limited because existing uranium mines were quickly ramped up to supply utilities with fuel. Neff noted, “This is not the case today and a longer period of high prices could prevail.” In Neff’s analysis, uranium prices would have risen well above $100/pound in the mid 1970s, using constant 2004 US$. On that basis, Bambrough’s hypothetical forecast above $500/pound may be not too far out of reach. Neff summarized why the problem has reached a critical stage, “We are currently facing the consequences of what may be the largest sustained divergence between expectations and reality in the 60 year history of uranium.”

Kevin Bambrough offered some slight relief for the uranium inventory problem, “There are a number of mines coming on, and there are talks of expansion.” He gave Australia’s Olympic Dam as one example, and added, “There’s lots of talk about big production coming on in Kazakhstan, but I’ve also heard reports saying that’s very optimistic.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is less sanguine, “Lead times to bring major projects into operation are typically between eight and ten years from discovery to start of production. To this total, five or more years must be added for exploration and discovery.” The IAEA doesn’t foresee relief until 2015 to 2020.

For the time being, U.S. utilities are forced to bide their time while they continue to rely mainly upon newly mined uranium imported from Canada or Australia. Once the world’s largest uranium producer, the estimated recoverable reserves in the United States now ranks but eighth in the world with four percent of known global reserves. Those 125,000 tonnes of uranium would supply 250 million pounds of uranium, far less than the unfilled maximum requirement for U.S. utilities over the next decade. The majority of domestically mined uranium now comes mainly from Wyoming, Texas and Nebraska. Permitting operations are progressing in New Mexico, once the country’s largest producer of uranium, which may become a significant uranium supplier later this decade.

“For people who want to bring on new (nuclear) facilities and contract for it, it’s very difficult to do that,” said Bambrough. “You have to go to mines that are not even there yet in order to try and contract supply.” In this light, it appears the greatest opportunity will appear with the junior uranium companies, which obtained known uranium resources during the last down cycle, and whose operators abandoned such properties because of low prices. As Neff warned in his presentation, “Uranium prices have recently reversed a twenty year decline, apparently surprising many buyers and sellers.” Buyers will be combing the same company lists investors scan. Just as investors will be racing to find the best uranium juniors for investment purposes, utility buyers and uranium traders will be scrambling to identify which company could provide them with a long-term uranium supply.

How Can Investors Profit?

Bambrough recalled compiling a worldwide list, in 2003, of a mere 25 companies involving in uranium mining and exploration. “I cut the list down to around ten that looked to be promising,” said Bambrough. “I’d say that today there are still less than 30 uranium companies that present a good reward-to-risk ratio considering the massive move the sector has made.” Depending upon whose list you believe, the number of companies now mining or exploring for uranium stretches to about 200. The majority trade on either the Canadian or Australian stock exchanges.

So how do you separate the potential winners from the also-ran’s? “People in the industry sort of know who’s real and who’s not,” said Bambrough. “I think a lot of the pure exploration companies are more likely to fall on tough times.” Bambrough cautioned, “I think there will be a real separation between the have’s and the have-not’s, those who actually have uranium and economic deposits. A lot of exploration companies are more likely to fall on tough times. Those are the ones that will get hurt because they don’t have anything to fall back upon. They have to go to market to keep raising money to do the expensive drilling that needs to be done. It costs so much.” Miller added, “It will take exploration funds, good geology, and some luck to find new uranium deposits in these frontier areas. The success rate of each individual prospect will be far less than 1 in 100.”

What sort of companies has Sprott Asset Management invested in? Bambrough responded, “We have preferred to invest in companies that have acquired properties that were once owned and were actively being worked by majors at the end of the 70’s bull market.” He added, “The cost of uranium exploration is so large there is great value built into many of these properties. Specifically, millions of dollars worth of drilling work and data have been collected on some properties. In some cases, mining shafts have been built that only require rehabilitation at a fraction of the cost of starting fresh with a green fields project.” Another example of what he does and doesn’t like, “The guys that picked up stuff in the last year, when they saw the uranium boom, they just said, ‘I’m going to go grab some land.’ I have greater confidence in the guys that have been there for a longer period of time, bought things when they were being thrown away at the lows, and waiting for the uranium price to rise.”

Bambrough shared a few of his favorite uranium stocks. “Of the companies that we own, we own a larger percentage of Strathmore Minerals (TSX: STM; Other OTC: STHJF) than almost any other company,” said Bambrough. “We think they’ve got some great properties. They were guys who got into the game very early, and who have skills as they do with David Miller (president and chief operating officer of Strathmore Minerals) in understanding the uranium business. And they have a very large amount of databases, as does Energy Metals Corporation, which is extremely valuable in understanding the properties.” Both Strathmore Minerals and Energy Metals have properties in New Mexico and Wyoming. “I think the future for New Mexico is quite good,” Bambrough noted, “as well as ISLs in Texas and Wyoming.” Said Strathmore’s president, David Miller, “Strathmore is the only company to open an office up in New Mexico dedicated to bringing properties into production. The office is staffed by two veteran uranium men, John Dejoia, VP of Technical Services and Juan Velazquez, VP of Environmental and Government Affairs. They have a number of subcontractors doing various required work to bring projects forward to obtain permits to mine.”

Another Sprott Asset Management favorite is Tournigan Gold Corp (TSX: TVC). “You look at a past producing region,” Bambrough pointed out. “They went and got old mines.” Tournigan recently drilled the historic Jahodna uranium resource in Slovakia, once drilled by the Russians. The company also holds uranium properties in Wyoming and recently acquired uranium properties in South Dakota. He also likes Western Prospector (TSX: WNP), saying, “Western Prospector has gone through areas where in some cases, there are shafts there that were dug by the Russians. A lot of work was previously done.” Others rounding out Bambrough’s preferred list of juniors include Paladin Resources (TSE: PDN) and Aflease, now trading as SXR Uranium One (TSE: SXR). “We also have a bit of investment in the Labrador area, and very small, mainly in Altius (TSX: ALS),” added Bambrough. “It’s something we’re watching. We think it’s a promising area.”

Where the Action Is

The more adventurous price action may be found in the ongoing consolidation within the uranium sector. Bambrough observed, “There appear to be a few aggressive junior uranium companies that seem to be moving forward and working to build a ‘major’ company.” In November, one uranium exploration company, Energy Metals Corporation (TSX: EMC) began takeover procedures to acquire two other uranium juniors, Quincy (TSX: QUI) and Standard Uranium (TSX: URN). Standard Uranium has since traded nearly 70 percent higher. “There are people who have neighboring properties, and it makes sense for them to come together,” advised Bambrough.

In late December, another of Bambrough’s favorite uranium companies, Strathmore Minerals (TSX: STM; Other OTC: STHJF), announced it had “engaged National Bank Financial as its exclusive financial adviser to review transaction alternatives to maximize shareholder value from its uranium assets.” Questioned about this news release, CEO Dev Randhawa told StockInterview.com, “National Bank has the best technical team and will help us reach the right decision to maximize the benefit to our shareholders.” In a December 7th note to his subscribers, Canaccord’s David Pescod wrote, “We talked to Dev Randhawa of Strathmore Minerals because Strathmore seemed to be the one company on most people’s list as an obvious take-out target. When we talked to Dev, obviously he wouldn’t be adverse to a take-out as long as the price is right, and he even gives us a 50/50 bet that they won’t be around in the next six to twelve months.” In a 2005 research report, the Cohen Independent Research Group set a price target of C$4.29/share for Strathmore Minerals, based upon the current spot uranium price.

How does Bambrough envision the uranium bull market unfolding for investors? “I think the market could really use more large cap uranium companies, since large fund managers currently can really only look to Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) and Energy Resources of Australia (ASX: ERA) to get exposure to the uranium market,” said Bambrough. “There are several junior companies that should come together to form large uranium companies to leverage their extremely valuable skilled personnel, lower the exorbitant costs of permitting and exploration, and achieving other economies of scale.” How soon would it be before a larger company, combining some of these promising juniors, reaches listed status on the New York exchange? “I would guess that a NYSE listing may not come until 2007 or 2008,” responded Bambrough. “I think that when the tap comes for a lot of these companies, it will come to those that are in production. You’ll be able to see a nice production profile, several projects, diversification, cash flows, and a nice pipeline of projects.”

As for the approximately 200 uranium exploration companies that have sprouted up in less than two years, Bambrough advised, “I don’t understand why people would put so much money into grassroots properties when there are properties that were (already) worked on, and you can continue on their work. The idea is we are continuing on those projects rather than going grassroots. It’s the logical place to go for me.” Bambrough is still enthusiastic about the uranium sector and closed his remarks, saying, “I expect that we will see a great out performance by quality uranium companies as they move their projects forward. We still see some incredible values and are still actively investing in the space. We are still in the early days of the uranium bull market.”


Monday, March 05, 2007

Become a Saver Not a Spender: Become a John Frugal and not a William Spendall!

Our personality and lifestyles impacts our ability to save. Most every action we take (including those not immediately related to purchasing something) is based on whether we are likely to pass money or salvage money. We need to change our manner of thinking.

Ask yourself this question: Make you believe you have got saved money when you bought the new brace of blue jeans at 20% off?

No you didn’t! The problems lies with the fact money was spent in order "to salvage money." After the transaction, you may have got got a nice brace of jeans, but you also have less money to your name. The conception of "Saving Your Manner to Success" is based on not disbursement to salvage or economy to pass but economy to salvage money—to save, collect and go financially successful. You will never attain financial success if your conception of economy is the "Christmas nest egg plan" where you salvage money in order to salvage money for Christmastide shopping. That is not a program for saving—that is a program for spending.

This makes not intend it’s bad to salvage money when you purchase a new brace of jeans, if you really needed the new brace of jeans. You are being financially savvy if you can purchase something at a cheaper terms than most people pay. But realize, you are financial worse off, no matter what you paid, because you now have got less money. This is especially of import if you trying to get out of debt or are in your "infant years" of economy money.

Saving your manner to success is about 80% personality and lifestyle and 20% knowledge. You make not need to be a financial guru or survey tons of investing books to go financially successful. It matters small how much we know, if our day-to-day wonts and lifestlye work counter to our ends of economy money and accumulating wealth. By economy your manner to success, you allow your money work for you. But you need to change your wonts and lifestyle. Start incorporating economy money into your day-to-day life. You need to begin life like a Toilet Economical and not like a William Spendall.

Start economy money with the end of accumulating wealthiness and achieving financial success. Don’t autumn into the misconceptions of debt is good, supplies sales that lure you to buy, buy, buy, or "save money, purchase now" gimmicks, or the traps of "get rich quick" plans. Become financially savvy. Learn how to begin thought like a saver. You should never have got to pass money in order to salvage money, especially if it is money you are saving and accumulating with the thought of achieving financial success.

Start taking action NOW to go a saver, or change yourself into a rescuer from a spender. If you are more than of a William Spendall than a Toilet Frugal, it will take clip to change course of study and word form the wont of saving, but you can make it! You can learn more than about changing your lifestyle at http://www.savingyourwaytosuccess.com


Saturday, March 03, 2007

Net Worth Nympho

There are plenty of people who are in love with their bank books. In life, there will always be extremists.

None so utmost as the ‘Net Worth Nympho’s’, World Health Organization can check their bank account or investing balances 24/7 via their cell phone, computer, PDA, or absolute worse lawsuit scenario ‘telephone banking’!

Technology have permitted the former check book fanatic, to now live, eat, and take a breath their finances in millisecond, existent time, ESPN style coverage. You may have got met this type of person; you might even see them every morning time when you are brushing your teeth.

So when makes obsessing over 1s assets cross the line, between a small excessive compulsive, and truly becoming a behaviour that perverts from what society happens acceptable?

Well, first off who cares what society thinks?

What we are talking about here is addiction, apparent and simple. Just like a nymphomaniac is addicted to sex, many, many people have got go addicted to money.

You would be surprised how many people are out there. The X-Korn guitar player admitted being addicted to money, Millard Buckminster Fuller the laminitis of Habitat for Humanity, rapper Chow D, and even the recent eBay swindler Prince Charles Stergois, sentenced to six old age in prison, admitted he was indeed addicted to money.

There is a very clear difference between success and wealth.

Although they often travel manus in hand, I believe many people get their wires crossed, and allow world to steal away.

The chief watercourse mass media certainly hasn’t helped, and advertisement today would challenge almost anyone’s mind to believe we should all be drive Mercedes’ Benz.

Most people can state the difference between right and wrong, but often in one’s chase of success they can begin to concentrate on the incorrect things.

You may need aid if:

1. Your compulsion with money is affecting your work, household life or relationships.

2. You have got lost your ability to concentrate, as your ideas always swerve back to your account balances, existent estate portfolio or stock account.

3. You pass too much clip or money online in search of your financial fix.

4. You are going into too much debt in chase of increasing your nett worth.

5. Person stopping point to you states you there is a problem.

6. You are lying or denying, to your loved 1s or yourself, to cover up your financial activities.

If this is you, or person you know, delight seek out expert assistance. In the USA, we would highly urge visiting a professional like Heiko Ganzer of Money Addicitions of America (www.heiko.com)or person equally as qualified. In Canada, the Center for Addiction & Mental Health’s website (www.camh.net) is a great start to happen help. The internet may be portion of the problem, but it also may go the top resource to happen healing.

So, if it goes an investing statement, bank account, or existent estate portfolio that brands you experience successful, then that is absolutely fantastic. Keep up the great work, and enjoy your wealthiness to the fullest.

Just don’t forget to concentrate on the other countries of your life that have got been with you through thick and thin.

Consider this… “You can’t take it with you when you’re GONE!”

by Spike Lee Raito, CFP, FMA
Co-Author of Business Sexcess


Thursday, March 01, 2007

Real Estate Terms - From Home Inspections to Personal Property

When buying or selling a property, it always helps to have a basic understanding of real estate terms. In this on going series of articles, we take a look at definitions starting with “home inspection.”

1) Home Inspection – an inspection of the condition of a home. They are done item by item, from roof to foundation, and include looking closely at things like plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sinks, tubs, and faucets, and any appliances which convey. The general concept is that the home inspector is trained to spot problems that typical Susie and Sammy Homebuyer are likely to miss. They are not usually intended to bring up discussion about items Susie and Sammy can easily see for themselves like the color of the wall paint or what the carpets look like.

2) Home Warranty Policy – an insurance policy which pays for repairs to the working systems (heat, air conditioning, plumbing, etc.) and appliance repairs during the first year of home ownership. Details vary. Usually there is a deductible amount. They can be bought by the buyer or by the seller for the buyer.

3) Limited Power of Attorney – a writing which gives another person the legal ability to act for and sign papers for the buyer or seller in connection with the purchase and sale of a specific real property. (An example of this happened last summer when a friend of my son’s gave his wife a limited power of attorney to enable her to finalize the sale of their home after he left for Iraq with members of his National Guard unit. A happy postscript is that the young man has now returned home.)

4) Personal Property – appliances which are not built-in, play equipment which is not attached, furniture, plants in containers.

As you can image, there are many real estate terms for which you have a general understanding. In our next article, we continue with the terms starting with “Pre-Approval Lender Letters.”


This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?