Thomas

Does Happiness Come With a Price Tag?

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

Close your eyes and imagine the first mouthful of that ridiculously expensive, inordinately delicious dessert you have been eyeing for a while and finally told yourself you have earned. You are not sorry to pay the bill afterwards.

Because that instant is something you can classify as that most elusive of states of mind –happiness. It is ironical indeed that you can also have a hit of the same feeling – happiness! – sipping cold, bland coffee with your friend while having a blast talking about everything under the sun. Which brings us to that brooding question: does money make you happy?

Of course it does!

If you have to worry about where your next meal is coming from or how to pay off the bill after a medical emergency, chances are, happiness is not one of the defining characteristics of your life right now. Studies have in fact deduced the amount of money you need to make you happy: it is somewhere between $70,000 and $80,000 a year.

At that level of income, your basic needs are met, you own most of the material possessions you aspire for and still have enough ambition to spur you forward. Beyond this point, apparently it is just more money. And that excess does not do anything to make you happier than you already are.

But what are the things money can do to make you happy?

Regardless of how you look at it, the following are some of the things money can do to make you happy.

– It eases off the anxiety of paying bills and taking risks

– It gives you the satisfaction of buying what your heart desires, travelling wherever you fancy, eat what you crave and pamper those around you.

– It allows you to think about, indulge in and nurture your passions or causes you care about

But can it, really?

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel does not think it does, which is why he turned down a 3 billion dollar acquisition offer from Facebook. He considered it a short term gain’ compared to the lifelong pursuit of building up a company he was proud of. Of course it helped that he already had enough money to have tasted all the happiness that money could bring him.Being in command of yourself, finding purpose in life and steering that life towards your goals, in a manner that builds up your self-esteem can make you far happier than the figures in your bank statement.

Consider these factors:

– The rich, especially the salaried rich, need to keep working themselves to the bone to stay rich.

– They have as many insecurities, failures, jealousies and negativities as anyone else.

– Their entire sense of self-worth may be linked to their ability to keep adding to their wealth

Here’s how to grow your happiness, with or without money

Whether money is involved or not, your happiness can still grow if you nurture your relationships. Indeed, there is nothing that brings more happiness than the feeling you are at peace with everyone that matters to you.

You may also need to invest in life experiences that will always be a source of satisfaction – it can be anything from planting a tree in your garden and watching it grow, to travelling the world.

And to that old-age adage, try to make someone else happy. Happiness is a mutual affair and as long as someone, especially those near and dear to you are happy, then you will no doubt be happy.

At the end of the day, it is safe to surmise that it’s not about the amount of money you have but about the expectations linked to the money you have. Keep them realistic and don’t allow money to define who you are. Because smiling and making someone else smile, costs nothing.

5 Lifestyle Tips To Help You Save Money

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

If you are thinking about how you are going to be able to save money then you might want to consider making some smallchanges that will help you to see some benefits. Setting some goals will help you see how much you can achieve. Saving money can be a choice. If you are looking for some lifestyle tips to save money then keep reading.

Avoid spending more when you have more
You might have found yourself with more money with an increase in wages. But you also wanted to spend more on your lifestyle. It is important to consider if there are benefits from spending more and if it really is a necessity. There might be some things that you absolutely have to do but there are others that you will do because they are convenient. The wardrobe upgrade might be really nice but probably is not a necessity. And you also need to avoid getting caught up in buying the next exciting new gadget. You will often find that what you have will work perfectly well and costs you no extra.

Look for better deals
Do comparisons on your regular household costs. You may be able to find a cheaper provider for your phone and internet services. Check to see if you can find a better price for your insurance. Many people just pay their bills without checking alternatives and the companies enjoy this arrangement. But there are usually offers out there that will save you money if you are prepared to spend a little time researching.

Be creative with your time
Instead of sitting and snacking you might want to have an activity to do. There are many small activities that you can do which will involve others like a walk in the park or even a board game. Instead of going to the cinema have a movie night at home with homemade popcorn. Think about trying some DIY. There might be small jobs and repairs that you can do. And the internet is just a click away with all kinds of videos to help you out.

Do not splurge on discounts
It is so easy when you see something massively discounted to take advantage of such an incredible offer. You certainly should take advantage of discounts but it is also important not to splurge. You probably do not need ten of those grocery items and stocking up on clothes for the next 2 years may not be such a good idea. Take advantage of good prices and buy needed items on sale. Purchase supermarket deals that will help you reduce household food costs but be wary of becoming overenthusiastic in your purchasing.

Cook at home
Get yourself organized with cooking and eating at home and you will save a substantial amount of money. Planning your shopping so you do not waste food will help as well. Making lunches instead of buying them can be a massive saving. When it seems easier to get take-out maybe try a quick recipe that is easy to make. Instead of getting that pizza think about an alternative. Maybe you can even make pizza at home. There are many cheap ways to cook good meals and a wide variety of recipes to explore. You do not have to completely stop going out or getting take-out but if you cut right back you will make a substantial saving.

Making lifestyle adjustments requires a little thought and planning. You will be going through a process of change and it is important to recognize that this will impact on how you live your daily life. But with good planning and a sense of commitment, and maybe a small reward for achieving your goals, you will find making the changes beneficial and enjoyable.

5 Most Affordable Tech Gadgets

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

So what happened to last year’s hatchimals? And what is going to replace those this year? What do your parents want as gifts, really? It is that time of the year when there are only two questions on everyone’s mind: what do I buy? And how much is it going to cost? Why not leave behind the clichés this year and go the tech route? Here is a list of the coolest gadgets you can lay your hands on right now without breaking the bank.

Streaming devices

If you don’t own a streaming device yet, wait no further! There are now a wide range of devices available on this platform though Amazon Fire Stick with its voice controlled remote and Google Chromecast are best known. But the fact is almost all streaming devices are under $100, most are under $50 and all are known to do their job effectively. Catch your favourite shows and movies on your favourite platforms – be it Amazon, Netflix or Hulu and also many more smaller and lesser known apps exclusive to each device.

Fitness trackers

Forget the days when you dismissed fitness trackers as an expensive indulgence. Now you can get most of the advanced features like sleep analysis and heart rate monitoring on trackers under $100. They can also monitor different movements including gym repetitions and swimming strokes. You can even get one with LED lights that indicate your progress towards your daily fitness goal. You can snag a cool tracker from $20 upwards.

Object tracker tiles

This is one of our favourite gadgets of the season – those cool sleek tiles that help you solve the mystery of where you forgot your keys – or your mobile phone! The tile is attached to the key ring (or whatever object you most frequently misplace) and long range Bluetooth tracking allows you to locate the item which lets out a loud beep if you are within range of it. And the reverse – if it is your mobile you can’t locate, pressing a button on the tile makes your mobile ring. Get relief from the stress of misplaced items at less than $50.

VR Headsets

Virtual Reality is the entertainment of the future! Sure there are limited options in content right now but you know that is a field that is going to explode. So why not take that first step and get your hands on a virtual reality headset? Ditch the DIYs and invest in one of mid-range headsets that offer a great entry level experience for before you venture into higher end models at a later date. For now you can try out various models from $70 upwards.

Chargers

Is there anyone out there who hasn’t run out of battery power on their phone at a critical juncture? Our lives have been taken over by devices that run on battery power – from our phones to our tablets, Bluetooth headphones and speakers. Multi USB port chargers can save you from the bother of lining up gadgets to be charged one after the other. You can get yourself a six-pronged USB charger for under $30.

Think of someone whose life could be better with these cool and affordable gadgets. They will not only thank you for the gift, you will also gain brownie points for the most thoughtful and useful gifts this season!

The 5 Most Common Extra Costs When Buying A House

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

When you are buying a property it is important to remember that it is not just the list or negotiated price that you will be paying. There are extra costs when buying a house that will be part of the arrangements for finalizing the purchase. You may be able to put in place a loan agreement where some of these costs are absorbed into your loan which reduces what you pay directly out of your current funds but it still increases your loan amount. The following lists five of the common additional fees that you could encounter in this process, and there may be more that could come up in your transaction.

Home Inspection Fee
Part of your usual property purchase arrangements will be a detailed property inspection and the provision of an inspection report. The inspector will go over the property, its structure and systems to ensure that any problems that are going to need repairs are identified. The cost for these tends to range from around three hundred dollars up to five hundred dollars. Having a detailed inspection by an inspector who has some qualifications and suitable experience may cost you more but it will be beneficial if they identify any potential problems before you have purchased.

Property Title Search
The title search will identify if the seller has the right to sell the house, that there are no other outstanding liens or mortgages on the property that will not be finalized with the purchase, or if there are any easements that give someone else access to the property. There are specialist companies that will undertake the title search providing you with relevant documentation and
details for the property. The title search will usually cost from around seventy-five dollars up to one hundred dollars.

Property Appraisal
An appraisal is undertaken to provide a professional estimate of the market value of the property taking into consideration the value of other properties in the location, the condition of the property that is being purchased and if there are any particular characteristics that will influence the price. Appraisals are undertaken by a certified professional appraiser who is not affiliated with the lender as these are intended to be objective and unbiased estimates of property value. The cost of an appraisal will usually vary between around four hundred and fifty dollars and six hundred dollars. The appraisal is undertaken to provide information to the lender but you should make sure you are supplied with a copy as well.

Property Survey
The property survey will confirm that the property boundary details listed in the documentation are accurate. This will be done by a professional surveyor with relevant certification. The cost of a survey tends to be between around three hundred and seventy dollars and five hundred dollars.

Origination Fee
This is the fee charged by the lender to the person taking out the loan which is to cover all of the administrative costs that are incurred in processing and underwriting the loan. The origination fee will vary from State to State. The lender may also include other third parties fees with this such as credit reports. The origination fee will usually be around 1% of the loan amount.

The process of purchasing a property incurs a range of additional costs. It is important to be aware of this when considering your purchase. It may have an impact on the total amount of your mortgage if you roll these into your loan. The details for these fees should be provided to you by any company or professional providing you with services and you are able to confirm that you will be getting what you need for the fees that are being paid.

How To Budget Your Lifestyle

By Thomas on December 7, 2017

If you need to look at what you want to have in your lifestyle and how much that is going to cost you then use a simple method to help. You will only have a certain amount of revenue coming into your household so it is important to consider what bills you need to pay and if you want to have a savings plan as well. If you want to learn how to budget your lifestyle then follow these steps.

Identify how much money is coming in
Usually, the primary source of income will be through wages. Your wage will tend to stay much the same unless you do shift work or overtime hours but you will still probably have a good idea of how much you have coming in. This should be your income after tax as you are looking at what you are able to spend.

Identify what property payments or loan repayments you have
You will be paying for your property if you are renting or buying and there might be mortgage insurance as well. You may have car loans or a boat loan. If you have credit card debt that you are making regular payments for then this will be included. Be careful of credit card debts as the interest rate can be crippling.

Identify what household costs you have
There are your standard household costs which will include your utility bills. You need to have food and clothing. There will be transport coats. You could be paying insurance and health bills. Chances are you have communication costs as well. If you have children there could be childcare and education costs to cover.

Identify what lifestyle costs you have
These are the things that you like to have in your life but you know they are not absolutely necessary. You should assess how many times you have take-out food and how much it costs you. If you go the gym there are gym fees. If you have a drink or two then that adds up. What about going to the movies? Do you buy coffee during the day or snacks? Then add them to your list.

Consider where you can cut back
You might be able to learn how to eat well for less and cut back on food that is being thrown out. You might choose to enjoy fewer take-out meals. Perhaps you could be willing to find ways to exercise for free and save on those gym fees. Should you take lunch to work and stop buying those coffees? You will find there are many areas where you could cut back but you also need to be certain about what you think is important and the reasons why it should remain in the budget.

Once you are clear about what you have in your budget and what you consider to be necessary lifestyle costs, then you should be able to identify if there are any potential savings. If you are making decisions to alter where you spend, and possibly reduce spending, then you will need a plan. If you are properly prepared then you will be able to make the change more effectively and not be tempted to fall back into old lifestyle habits. Having clear goals will give you something to aim for and having a reward for yourself once you have achieved your goals will be a great incentive to keep on trying into the future.

Thomas

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