Sunday, March 7, 2010

Top 7 annoying grammar mistakes on Facebook

The Internet has done countless wonderful things for humankind. That said, it has led to decline in respect for the written word, especially regarding grammar, punctuation, and capitalization, and most egregiously, spelling. As Exhibit A, I would suggest anyone take a good look at any Facebook page. If you want to be taken more seriously and not annoy the more discerning people you know, learn to avoid these common Facebook mistakes. You can learn to avoid these mistakes without needing cash loans for tutors.

1. They knew the difference between “your” and “you’re” in days of yore

It appears that no one knows there is a difference. If you are using the contracted form of “you are,” the word is “you're,” with an apostrophe and everything. Take a second to edit – it won’t take long and you’ll look better for it. You double check everything when you fill out a personal loan application, right? The word “your” is a possessive, as in “your grammar skills are worse than a middle school student, and you’re 40.”

2. Apostrophe is not a Greek deity

Apparently, the majority of Facebook users don’t know about using apostrophes, and so many of them ironically were given degrees and certificates by institutions of education. This can result in unclear communication and, more importantly, annoying me. If you use a possessive that uses a contraction, use an apostrophe – if 12 year olds know that you don’t have an excuse. It will make your pinky feel useful.

3. Capitalization that doesn’t involve D.C.

I will admit to guilt on this one if using an instant messenger. However, that’s because many times a lag in the conversation can make it confusing. That said, a Facebook status message can be edited before your pathetic grammar skills are put on display for all to see. Especially note that indicating yourself in the first person requires a capitalization, meaning it is indeed a capital when you write “I.”

4. Using homophones incorrectly

Homophones are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and mean different things. People use “past” when they mean “passed,” “then” instead of “than,” “to” instead of “too,” etc. The rotten thing is that if people thought about it for a second or two before posting, they would probably catch the mistake and not look so foolish.

5. Totally random punctuation

Punctuation that has no function in the English language has no place in writing, unless you are posting mathematical equations on Facebook for the Nobel Committee to consider. For instance, I have a friend who often uses “..” instead of an ellipsis (…) or a period. Did that many people skip English? Commas, hyphens, and semicolons can be confusing, but the basics are not beyond grasping. Calm down on the exclamation point usage while you're at it.

6. Copy/paste statuses

It isn’t so much a mistake as an instance where the mistakes are more glaring. I am not a fan of the "copy and paste this to your status" trends, and it becomes more of a nuisance when the mistake is repeated ad infinitum. If you intend to copy and paste a viral message status, fix any mistakes before you do. It isn’t as if it is that difficult. It's as easy as getting online cash loans.

7. Quiz titles

I have actually seen grammatical mistakes in quiz titles that were about grammar. I don't know who writes these quizzes, but for heaven's sake, if you are writing a title on something that will be passed around and inevitably end up in my news feed, please get it right. It is bad enough that we have to be bothered with announcements about who is taking what quiz, but numerous quizzes with incorrect titles are something we all don’t want to see a lot of.



Saturday, March 6, 2010

Grieving and Spending Money Does Not Mix!

Goodbye Friend

Some time back, a dear and beloved member belonging to the community passed away from pancreatic cancer. A tragic event indeed, as she was only 51 years of age. For a while, this hit me hard and I was not able to focus on my work. I have lost other loved ones in my lifetime. I was emotionally depleted and not logical from those deaths. Emotional stability was not there for me at those times, and I didn’t know when to stop spending money.

The Wrong Time

For many people, the above mentioned scenario is played out time and time again when a loved one dies. Do not feel bad, as this is not wrong and there is nothing wrong with you. Logic relating to money does not exist when you’re grieving. Your brain is not in the right place to make money decisions. If you aren’t careful during this time, you might charge up a ton of debts.

Create a Plan

It’s in this grieving time which you already should have put a plan set up. You will want to create a plan, if you are not grieving at least. The initial part of the plan is obvious. During this time, do not borrow money. Many reasons about why you would do this will pop up quickly in your state of mind, though you think this would not happen.

Next, put away credit or debit cards. You might not be as careful when you’re upset and will end up pulling out a card to buy something. In this time, it becomes too easy to slap down your card and buy something you don’t need. When you are not logical, you must not have access to your cards.

The third part of the plan is related to the second part. Set aside your cash. There is no need to hide all of it. You need to save out enough to buy food or other necessary supplies. Conceal the rest and do not borrow from it.

This final piece of the plan is important. You need to make use of your support network should you have to vent, talk, cry, or even yell. Also, contact them if you’re wanting to spend more money than absolutely necessary. Let those who are still alive and love you support you. Let them help you through this hard time. By doing this, you will save more money.

Go on and Grieve

After someone close to you dies, it’s healthy to feel all the emotions human beings have ever felt in our history. It’s okay to feel these natural grieving emotions. Spend some time to embrace the grieving process. Let go and let it just be there. Forcing the emotions to either be there or leave does not work. Talk it out with someone. Write out your grief, as well as cry it out. You must remember not to spend it out!



Friday, March 5, 2010

Unsecured loans may be the answer businesses need

Small businesses are once again focusing on unsecured loans and using them to fuel their growth. The recession closed the doors on business owners in need of underwriting. Various surveys during the economic downturn show that consumers in need of any type of lending, especially for business purposes, were being turned away almost immediately. Even those consumers with moderate to great credit were being put through the wringer in terms of information and investigation prior to receiving any funding consideration. Consumers with bad to poor credit were completely out of luck.

Now that the recession has officially been deemed over by experts, it's still a difficult time for business owners. For a long time, legislators have been focused on health care and that has taken the focus off of good lending practices and financial aid for businesses. Small businesses are now seeing some hope at the end of a long tunnel because President Obama is refocusing on credit lending for small businesses in an effort to increase jobs.

Unsecured loans and the unemployment rate

The unemployment rate skyrocketed during the recession. That was a main part of the problem; without money, consumers stopped spending. When consumers stopped spending, businesses suffered and were forced into layoffs that added to the number of unemployed. Jobs were eliminated and millions of Americans were left scrambling to make ends meet. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Unsecured loans may be the answer businesses need"



Grace Groner, the secret millionaire, donates her fortune

Lake Forest Illinois Library

Grace Groner lived in Lake Forest, Illinois, where this is the library. Image from Wikipedia.

She is known as "the secret millionaire who donated her fortune", but during her life Grace Groner was just the wonderfully kind and older lady next door. Much of her adult life, this secret millionaire lived in a one-bedroom home and lived extremely frugally. When she left her estate to her alma mater. When Lake Forest College found out this instant money total turned out to be about $7 million dollars, they were shocked.

The secret millionaire donates her fortune to a good cause

Grace Groner had made a large donation to Lake Forest College in the past. She had donated $180,000 to establish a scholarship program to help students pursue internships and study-abroad programs. Lake Forest College president Stephen Schutt told the Chicago Tribune that he had known that the secret millionaire was planning on donating her fortune to the school upon her death, but he had no idea how truly large the gift would be.

Grace Groner's secret to being a millionaire

Unlike most millionares, Grace Groner did not live large. Instead, like most people that lived through the depression, she was very frugal. Grace walked everywhere rather than purchasing a car. The "secret millionaire's" clothes came from rummage sales. Grace even lived in the same small single-bedroom house for most of her adult life - a house that had been willed to her by a friend. To put it simply, no matter how much money Grace Groner was worth, she lived simply and carefully. This, combined with a very smart stock purchase, helped her become the secret millionaire. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Grace Groner, the secret millionaire, donates her fortune"



Thursday, March 4, 2010

Vacations Abroad and also the Things You can Do

Experience is what a Vacation is all about

Most of the people go on vacation with the sole intention of having fun. Lasting experiences can be found from certain things on vacations. When you think of traveling abroad, consider some of the things like the laws and culture of the country you are going to. Give due consideration to the tips mentioned below before you leave, if you plan to travel abroad.

First Understand your destination

For starters, make a thorough study of the vacation destination you plan to go to. There might be many things that you should be aware about, despite the fact that the destination may be exotic in your mind. Study the history and current political scenario before you decide upon the destination. You would prefer to step away from any place that would jeopardize your vacation. The overseas vacation is going to cost you a lot of money and time. You would want to use these wisely. Therefore, make certain that you have all the facts at your fingertips before you choose a destination.

Societal History

This is one aspect of the location that you just cannot manage to ignore. Countries across the globe have cultures that are local. There are some countries that can be termed as liberal and the others as conservative. When you make a comparison to the country you are traveling from, these terms will present different definitions. The liberal views that you carry from your country may be considered as offensive in the country that you’re visiting. Certain periods exist during the year when Middle Eastern countries are more conservative than others. Make sure you have the information regarding each country, if you plan to visit such a destination.

Rules

Laws of all countries are different from each other. The laws themselves are not different. The difference is in the application of these laws. Your rights will not get any consideration from the lawmakers of other countries. Therefore, before you embark on the getaway, study the laws. Even better, be sure you understand them well and seek to avoid disobeying them. It’ll be easy for you to get into trouble, but you’ll discover it hard to get out of it. If you get on the wrong side of the laws of the country, you’ll be in big trouble.

Health Remedies

If you fall ill, make sure you are carrying all medications you should have before you begin your journey. Make Sure you do not forget to bring along the reports and prescriptions that your doctor has provided. These can be valuable in case of any emergencies. Some medications that you need probably are not available or equivalents with different names might not be. Make sure you have a list of those as well.

Travel Insurance

Last, but not least, carry insurance for the entire trip. The discussion here is not just about travel insurance. Discuss together with your travel agent about the policy types you should be carrying. If you face difficulties with illnesses explain it to them. You will be told about the best options that you can choose from. Take these precautions before your journey abroad and make your journey a lasting experience.



Emergency Finance Savers

Emergencies Will Take Place

This really is very accurate for each and every individual on this planet, at least some time or another. Probably each of us, at one time or another in our lives, have faced some sort of emergency. We forgot to pay the bills. There is no more cash in the middle of the month. The reasons could be many, but the end result is the same. There is no warning for a cash shortage. How hard is it to get out of this situation? Payday loans are for this purpose. If you apply for one, you can handle any emergency.

Loan Process Explained

The solution to this question is easy. You only have about 14 to 30 days to pay back a payday loan. You need to pay back these loans within the above period, unlike those from a bank. You are allowed to take out up to $ 1,500. When applying for an online payday loan, keep this in mind. Paying back this loan the next time you are paid is a very smart idea. Not all lenders will have the same lending policies and will have something that will suit the needs of their customers. Lenders can be flexible and you may find something that is favorable to your needs.

Instant Money

The best part about an easy payday loan is that the money is deposited within your bank almost instantly. All it takes is a completed application and an approval before the cash is transferred. You still must follow the rules. There are certain conditions you must fulfill before you are approved for the loan. You will not be let down most likely. Happiness will probably come to you because you took out a payday loan.

General Questions for Approval

Be ready to answer some questions when you apply for a payday loan online. These questions will not be too personal. They want to know if you will be able to pay back the money you are borrowing. The questions you will face will be with regard to your age, employment and a account with a bank. Your account will show the funds within a few hours or overnight, provided you meet their requirements.

Payday Loans Can be Expensive

Just like all things in life, there is a cost attached with payday advances. The fees are slightly higher than those of what you find at a bank. The higher costs are offset by fast approvals and lower approval policies. A payday loan can indeed be a lifesaver in an emergency when following these tips.



Cut costs By Separating Needs From Wants

The Material Generation

During the Great Depression, people made do using what they had given it was the way to survive at that time. These habits were taught to the children of the time. A new generation was spawned between 1960 and 1985. A great economy created the 1980’s to be the most materialistic decade of the 20th century. This created the “give me” generation who wants everything handed to them. Large debts are now being charged as this generation of adults are still trying to get everything they think they need.

Meaning of Needs

Because people have gotten everything they wanted as children, they do not understand the main difference between needs and wants. A pc is classified as a “need” by them. Of course, they will also apply this to a television. These items are not needs. In any chosen environment, needs allow us to stay alive. You can find yourself out of debt very quickly as you come to understand needs. You stay alive and healthy with your needs met. Your basic needs usually do not include the best electronics.

Definition of Wants

When someone claims that they just "need" to have that one-of-a-kind coat, you can pretty much bet that they do not understand the idea of "wants". Your want is merely that which you desire and you also think you need. Most of your debt most likely comes from the “wants” category. Your house contents are most likely all wants.

By Separating the Two, You Will Save Money

The only real way you are going to save money in the long run is to separate your needs from your wants. Survival takes very little, so get very clear about what you truly need. You have to make a list with two columns. NEEDS will be the label for your left side. Label the right side WANTS. The left side is for everything that keeps you alive and healthy. This can include water, food and shelter. Special need items like an oxygen tank should also be written here. Write down all other items you desire or have on the right side. Toys, furniture as well as your computer will go on this side.

Both Sides Should be Compared

Now, have a look at both sides. As you need very little to survive with, it may be that the right side will be longer. While you get real with your finances, this can be very revealing to you. Can you see that you spend too much money? Indulging in your wants is fine. However, if you want to save money and get out of debt, being clear on your needs is the first step towards that goal. You can spend money on your wants. Just get clear that your wants are not the same as your needs. Stop spending so much money on your wants, so that you can get out of debt faster.