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Purchasing the Best Car Insurance

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In the past, car insurance was not a necessity, as some people went for it and some did not. However, today an auto coverage policy is one of the crucial things in your life, if you own a car. People need proper coverage, no matter how luxurious or modest their car is.The way people buy insurance has also changed. In the past, buying a car insurance just meant to meet your neighborhood agent and ask him for it. But now, it is somewhat different, as you have got lots of other options at your disposal from where you can get your vehicle insured, with some entirely new coverage choices.Buying car insurance: Which method to choose?When you want insurance for your car, you might be puzzled as from where you should get it. Should you deal with an insurance agent or should you go online? You can choose among different options for getting your car insurance. This includes:

Buying from captive agents

Buying from independent agents

Buying online
People, who prefer personal services and like to form face-to-face relationships, should certainly purchase their policy from an agent. But, since there are different agents, they need to decide which one is the best for them.Among these, some are called ‘independent agents,’ who sell insurance for numerous companies and some are ‘captive agents,’ who sell insurance for just one firm. Let us see the different features of these agents, so that you can decide easily and quickly the right agent for yourself.1. Buying from captive agentsYou should buy your coverage from a captive agent, if you are dedicated to a specific insurance firm. Since captive agents deal with only one company, they will know all the different insurance options offered by that company. And, thus they can assist you to build the right package based on your needs. However, captive agents may take more time to respond to your questions and to know your needs as compared to independent agents who work for commission.2. Buying from independent agentsYou should buy a policy from an independent agent, if you want to check out the different insurances provided by different companies, as independent agents deal with several companies and not just one particular insurance firm. This way you can get a better rate.And, since independent agents are not directly employed by any one firm, they would not push one specific product and will tell you the right things about all the insurances. Thus, independent agents can aid you to find inexpensive coverage for your car. However, since they work for commission, they are under more pressure to grab a deal as soon as possible.3. Buying onlineThe third option is to skip insurance agents completely and to work directly with the company online. However, for this you have to do most of the work yourself. You have to conduct a thorough research on different coverage providers, what they offer, the rates of their insurance, and what all their policies covers. Then, you can talk to the company, that best fits your needs to procure the coverage itself.Among these, some insurance companies that employ agents do not necessitate you to work with them and a few of them do not employ agents at all. Buying auto insurance online is one of the best options for you if you do not have much time and want to get inexpensive car insurance, as it saves you from paying commission to an insurance agent. If you are not sure about your car insurance needs, then buying car insurance online, without an insurance agent can cause you to buy the wrong, too little, or too much insurance.Select your type of coverageBesides deciding which company to go with, you must also consider which policy you want. There are three main types of policies, including traditional, usage-based, and per-mile car insurance. So, have a look at these three car insurance coverage programs before you settle for one particular car insurance.1. Traditional auto insuranceIn this type of auto insurance, the insurers determine the quotes for the policy with the help of various personal factors, such as your age, driving history, gender, credit score, etc. Generally, the more risk you have as a driver as per these factors, the more high your insurance rates will be. In this, you can opt for a minimum coverage amount as per the state law or else you can select from a long list of different types of auto insurance coverage.2. Usage-based auto insuranceAs opposed to the traditional car insurance, where insurers presume your driving skills depending on a list of different risk factors and your accident history, usage-based car insurance providers offer you car insurance by seeing you in action in real. In this type of car insurance, like Allstate’s Drivewise or Progressive’s Snapshot, you get a telematic device, which you have to plug-in your car. This device records how you drive and your driving behavior, especially your bad driving habits like accelerating or hard braking.So, if the device records that you are a low-risk driver, then you can save your money with usage-based car insurance. However, if it records that you frequently drive late at night or you drive fast, then it would not help you save money with your car insurance. Additionally, many usage-based car insurance programs are not available in each state. Therefore, if you are devoted to one insurance company, then you may have to switch your company, in case you move to a different state.3. Per-mile auto insurancePer-mile auto insurance providers also use a telematic device, but they focus on just one thing, that is how little or how much you use your car. However, this car insurance type is still new and is not available in every state. Among others, Metromile is the best provider of per-mile car insurance and is available in seven states until now, which are California, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, and Virginia.Additionally, per-mile providers use the same elements as traditional insurers in determining your car insurance rates, but you can save some money through its telematic device. If you do not use your car much and use it only for emergencies, then your premium may be cut significantly. However, if you normally drive your car, then there are fewer chances of you saving money from it.Shop aroundNo matter how you purchase your insurance, whether you go for a dedicated agent or you directly sign up with a car insurance provider, you must shop around in order to get the best rates. Do some homework and do not just settle for the first deal that comes your way. This is because rates for the same policy can differ from one company to the other by thousands of dollars. Therefore, comparing different car insurance offers is the best possible way to land up a good deal.

5 General Ways For a Better Lifestyle, Fitness and Health

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Definition of Life style: A way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group A lot of people go through life used to a certain lifestyle only because that is what they have known from birth. Our family, friends, work; media all shape the lifestyle we live. Some never get the opportunity to be exposed to anything different and easily develop habits which live with them till death.We are all generally averse to change and some NEVER admit to having an unhealthy or adverse lifestyle and shut themselves off to anything better. There are however lot of ways to break the habit and live a better life because lets admit it we can all be better them we are now. A lot of us are desperate for a lifestyle change, lifestyle lift, healthier lifestyle, lifestyle fitness. Let’s look at 5 ways to do this.1. Improve your Mind.It cannot be over emphasized the importance or having an improved and open mindset. The first change has to come from within. How can you do this? Self discipline… We sometimes know what is right for us and how improve our lives but never do it because we tell our minds that it can’t be done, it’s not worth doing, do it as you know it. Without self discipline it is very difficult to live differently. Get a diary or a small book, writing out your goals. Start with e.g. eleven things to achieve in 2011. Make a commitment to yourself and discipline your mind and strive to achieve your goals. You can set daily goals, weekly or monthly lifestyle improvement goals. You then have action these goals and tick them off your list.2. Always Know Your Starting point.We down play our achievements only because we never take stock of our starting point. To make a positive and improved lifestyle, note your current state. Example, if you want to become healthier and loose 2stones. The wise thing to do is weight yourself now and then you will know if you have achieved your goal in say 2months. The same will apply to all your goals and by the end of a year you will be surprised how far you have come. Any change is a radical step as you all telling your whole body that we are changing course, you must know how effective the change has been3. Boost Your Energy Level.Feeling energetic is a key to happiness and to self-esteem, so take steps to keep your energy high. Exercise, even a quick ten-minute walk will increase your energy and boost your mood, this really works. Energy (or lack of energy) is contagious. If you feel and act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too. Be careful also of what you read and watch as this makes you energetic or not. You have to sole responsibility with what enters your body. Get enough sleep, listen to good music, talk to friends as all these will give you a lifestyle change.4. Watch your entry points (ears and eyes).There are two main entry points into your body and most of us never control what comes in. Your life will be shaped by what you listen, read, watch. Ignore all the junk on TV for at least an evening in a week and search the internet for, lifestyle questionnaires, join lifestyle blogs, read healthy lifestyle tips. Look for lifestyle websites and find products to improve your lifestyle.5. Live a Luxury Lifestyle the easy way.This is somehow a controversial point but a luxurious lifestyle need not be luxurious and I will explain. Did you know that rich people live a very cheap lifestyle?, a rich man or woman will but an expensive car which will not break down for the next 6years, the rich will shop in bulk taking advantage of all the offers of buying in bulk, they will pay for a gym and get all the best exercise available e.t.c. The one who settles for a “mediocre” lifestyle buys a second hand car that is serviced every two weeks and at the end of a year will cost more than an expensive car. We sometimes buy things on a daily basis and end up spending more, will eat any food and exercise very little or not at all. You can choose to live in luxury by spending a little bit more now to gain in future. Dress well and be fashionableThere are so many benefits of a better lifestyle, if you cannot do it alone there are lifestylers or lifestyle coaches who can always give you the needed start but it is ultimately your decision if you want a change.

Sale Lease-Back Financing – What Is It? How Can It Help Your Business

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This arrangement allows the business owner to raise capital while retaining the use of the assets that are needed in the business. A sale-leaseback can offer the creation of significant source of funds that can be used for a variety of purposes. This includes paying off a specific lender, as working capital, to buy-back capital stock, buying out a partner, or upgrading assets, etc.In sale-leaseback financing, is accomplished by conveying the title of the asset, at an agreed upon value, to a financial institution in exchange for a lump-sum payment. The business owner then makes lease payments to the finance company in exchange for the cash insertion.Benefits. Many companies can benefit from this type of transaction. If you don’t qualify for traditional bank financing or want to preserve your existing bank credit line, sale lease-backs can be used to finance growth, restructure troubled financials, provide tax benefits and enhance balance sheets.This is an approach to raise cash. All business owners know that cash is king. From a tax perspective, sale lease-back offers the possibility to structure the transaction as a taxable sale, which can be offset by net operating losses that, may otherwise expire if unused. It may also offer unique economic or tax benefits for companies that have been unable to utilize net operating loss carry forwards for federal income tax purposes.Since lease payments are not considered preference items, companies that are in an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) situation may benefit as well. This article should not be considered tax advice. Business owners should always seek professional tax advice from their CPA or Tax Attorney before making tax decisions based on a sale lease-back transaction.Business Qualifiers: If you have been in business for at least 18 months, have a personal FICO Score of 620+, own the equipment outright, no open tax liens, no open bankruptcies and have financial statements that indicate that you can service the lease payments, you are a viable candidate for sale-leaseback financing.Each finance company has its own minimum transaction size and funding parameters, so it is best to compare terms from each. Note: Restaurant owners typically will have to be in business 2 years, with a personal FICO score of 650+ before the financial institution will consider a sale lease-back transaction.Eligible Equipment: Most durable equipment is eligible for sale-leaseback financing. Some examples: All types of IT equipment, computers, laptops, servers, network switches, routers, telephone systems, copiers, faxes, machinery, dry-cleaning equipment, telecommunications equipment, cubicle stations, auto repair equipment, diagnostic equipment, construction equipment, health club equipment, and all manner of medical equipment… just to give you an idea.Gaming and beauty salon equipment typically are not eligible for sale-leaseback transactions. Some finance companies specialize in certain types of equipment. Others will consider a wide variety of equipment.Application Process: It is surprising simple compared to other forms of financing. Contact the financing company for their 1 to 2 page application. Provide a list of the equipment that you wish considered. (Depending on the age of the equipment, there may not be a requirement for an appraisal of the residual value). Fax the application to the finance company. Expect a response in 24-48 hours. If you approve their proposal, you can have funds in-hand in 10-14 days.It should be noted that you are selling a company asset to a finance company and then leasing it back. As such, the application/approval process is more straightforward than the typical debt-financing transaction and therefore a much faster funding process.In summary: If you are in need of a cash infusion for your company, own equipment outright and are willing to sell equipment to a specialty finance company, but retain it for use in your business, then sale lease-back financing is a financing tool that is available to the business owner.