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10 Things you need to know about shopping on ebay!

2010-08-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

In order to assist buyers , we outlined a list of 10 useful tips for shopping on ebay.

1 : You get what you pay for ! If it is too good to be true , it probably is !
What I mean by this is .. If you are looking for a designer handbag that sells retail for thousands of dollars, then you would be foolish to think that you can buy this item on ebay for only a few hundred dollars. If you are buying expensive brand name products for far below the retail price , you should realize these items are most likely copies. They may appear to be exactly like the original products and may even be made from the same material. Some of these items may even be made in the same factory. If you will only be satisfied with 100% official licensed products, then you should avoid ebay all together and just go direct to the official retail location , or their official website.

2: Know what you are buying before you buy it ! Read the terms and conditions !
Before you just go ahead and bid on an item or buy it , read the entire description.
Read what the seller has written , and if there is anything you are not sure about
then ask the seller to provide more information. Pay close attention to the item location ,
shipping cost and time of delivery. If you need an item for a gift , you should confirm with
the seller first that they will be able to deliver the item on time . You don't want to buy Christmas presents on ebay in mid to late December unless you get a guarantee that the seller can deliver before Christmas. You should not expect this unless it is advertised!

3: Pay with your credit card using paypal or another verified merchant !
You might think that you are 100% safe from scams as long as you use paypal ?
We know that is what ebay and paypal would like you to believe , but it is simply not true!
If you have a problem with an item you purchased on ebay , paypal will only refund
your money if they are able to recover it from the seller. If the seller does not have
money in their paypal account , paypal will not refund your purchase.
They will send you an email saying that you are entitled to a refund but the seller has no money in their account and if the sitution changes they will let you know.
This is why you should fund all your paypal payments using your credit card.
Your credit card company offers REAL buyer protection ,and they will force paypal to refund you.

4: Beware of stock photos !
You should be aware that some sellers will just copy photos from the internet .
If the photos look like they have been copied from a website , you should ask for real photos. If a seller is not capable of taking their own photos , it is unlikely they are providing good service.

5: Be professional ! Avoid using threats and foul language !
If there is a problem with your purchase , you should let the seller know.
You want to be as polite as possible , you don't need to be angry and threatening.
The seller is aware that you can leave negative feedback if you are not satisfied ,
So they will most likely try their best to satisfy you in order to avoid that.
However if you start off by threatening the seller and using foul language , it
will not help motivate the seller to help you resolve your issue.
If you are reasonable and you are not asking for anything more than what you
paid for , the seller will most likely offer a return , replacement or a refund.

6: Negative Feedback , this should be used as a last resort only !
Leaving a seller negative feedback is a serious matter , you should use it only as a last resort. If the seller has not made any reasonable effort to resolve your issue ,
or if the item never arrived and the seller simply refuses to reply to your emails,
you might want to leave the seller negative feedback for the transaction.
This can cost sellers literally thousands of dollars in lost sales and create many problems for them. So before you leave negative feedback , you should take that into consideration.
You might be costing somebody hundreds or thousands of dollars , and they might get upset. They already have your name , address and phone number as well as your email address. You can expect to get several angry emails or phone calls if you leave a negative feedback that the seller feels is not justified. Another thing to consider is that these people do this for a living. Chances are that they are far more internet savvy than you are .
If these people want to create problems for you , they probably can!
99% of the time , it is just not worth it.

7: Protect your password , watch out for spoof emails !
Be very careful with your passwords for ebay and paypal.
Using the same password for all your email accounts and everything
you sign up for will increase the chances of someone getting ahold of it.
You should never use the same password for important things like ebay and paypal
as you use for signing up for some forum or website that you don't know anything about.
If you sign up for a forum using the same email and password you use for paypal ,
whoever can access that information can try signing into ebay and paypal with that information. Never sign into your account if you have been directed to a signup page from an email. If you get an email that appears to be from paypal or ebay and it asks you to sign in , close it imediately open a new window and go direct to the ebay or paypal site.
Always go direct to the home page and sign in from there.
Anything important from ebay or paypal should be visible when you sign in .

8: Do not sign into your ebay or paypal account from a public computer !
Signing into your ebay or paypal account from a public computer can cause problems.
If the computer has a virus or spyware then your password can be stolen.
The computer may have also been used by somebody else who has been suspended from ebay. If this is the case they will suspend your account as well .

9: Buy from trusted sellers with a selling history !
Check the seller feedback rating and see what other buyers have to say.
Make sure that the feedback is recent , and that it is for similar items as what you want to buy.

10: Stay away from high priced electronics and other high ticket items !
It is simply not worth the risk to buy high priced electronics on ebay.
You are better off shopping for lower cost items like t-shirts , movies , dvds , video games. Stay away from items like laptops , Iphones etc.

The Big 4 Accounting Firms - How to Get That Perfect Job With One of the Big Ones

2010-08-28T18:24:00.001-07:00

Industry professionals, recruiters and college professors are unanimous in their belief in one thing: there is no better way to start a career in accounting than experience with a Big 4 public accounting firm. If you are reading this you no doubt are well aware of who these guys are:

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and Touché, KPMG and Ernst & Young.

While each of these companies has various strengths and weaknesses, they are all alike in the fact that they provide the recent accounting grad with a world class experience. First year associates at these firms are given a level of responsibility that is truly remarkable. When I was a first year I remember thinking on an almost daily basis "I can't believe they're letting me do this." As I strolled into the CEO's office of the firm we were auditing, as I tallied up a multi-million dollar mistake I'd found in another company's books and as I traveled the country with my very own American Express Corporate Card, I kept repeating this thought:

"I can't believe they're letting me do this"

Truly the world of accounting is at your fingertips when you are employed with one of the Big 4. There is an air of respect in those names: PwC, E&Y, KPMG and D&T. There is camaraderie and there is pride. These are the truly elite in the accounting field, and the top of the business world.

Starting your professional career at one of these companies is a ticket to a career in the fast lane. The experience you receive at a Big 4 is, literally, priceless. Many beginners at these firms admit that they would be willing to work for nothing: the experience is that valuable. Land a job and you will guarantee yourself the following:

- For the rest of your career your resume will automatically move to the top of the pile
- For the rest of your career you will have access to a network of professionals that is staggering in its depth
- You will earn an industry busting salary, putting your friends at regional and local firms to shame
- Your resume will contain experience that is recognized and respected globally
- An opportunity to travel the world

At a speaking engagement in 2004, Martin J. Whitman, billionaire and namesake of the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management, was asked the single best piece of advice he could offer college graduates. His reply? "Begin your career with a Big 4 Public Accounting Firm. Period."

Of course.

Think this all sounds good? Of course you do. You're probably thinking to yourself - there must be a catch? Unfortunately, there is. The benefits of working for a Big 4 are widely known and the demand for these positions is higher than ever. These positions are EXTREMELY competitive and often IMPOSSIBLE to obtain without an edge. A great GPA and resume are no longer enough.

If you are serious about your career and want to maximize your earnings potential, you need an edge. How do you land an interview with a Big 4 when there are thousands of others just like you? Once you get the interview, how will you be prepared for the barrage of questioning you will face?

When I graduated from college I had one interview and one interview only: I landed a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers on the first shot. How did I do it? Good grades? Charming personality? Incredible experience? No! I had an insider at PwC who knew the ropes and coached me through the process, from the application to the signing bonus! When I learned these secrets I just watched as my peers struggled and I jumped easily through all the hoops. Unfair? Sure, but life in a world class industry is not fair. While working at PwC I also experienced the recruiting process from the side of the recruiter.

Where Are The Safest Places To Live In The United States?

2010-08-28T18:21:00.001-07:00

Being in a safe community is one of the most important factors that buyers consider when purchasing a home, condo or any other type of real estate. So where are America's most secure places to live? The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies has released its third annual ranking of top 20 'Most Secure U.S. Places to Live'.Bert Sperling, a database expert with http://bestplaces.net, compiled the Farmers rankings based on data from 379 U.S. municipalities. Factors such as crime statistics, unemployment rates and risks of environmental hazards, terrorism threats, natural disasters and extreme weather conditions, were taken into consideration.The communities were divided into three groups - large metropolitan areas (above 500,000 residents), mid-size cities (between 150,000 and 500,000 residents), and small towns (fewer than 150,000 residents).According to the survey, the most secure community to live in the U.S. among large metropolitan areas are the adjacent communities of Boise City and Nampa (both in Idaho), which topped all large metro areas. Located among the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the area has one of the lowest unemployment rates and enjoys a wonderful climate.Among the Mid-size cities, those with a population between 150,000 and 500,000, the safest community to live is Las Cruces, New Mexico. Las Cruces was the first among mid-size cities in low unemployment rate and favorable climate categories.St. George in Utah topped all small cities with populations of 150,000 or fewer in the survey. The city has 110,515 residents who enjoy a mild climate, clean air and low annual precipitation. It also has the lowest crime rates of all the 379 communities surveyed. St. George stands first in employment rate among the 138 small towns in the Farmers study.The following are top 20 communities of America's most secure places to live among large metropolitan areas, mid-size cities and small towns:The top 20 safest communities to live among the large metro areas are:1. Boise City-Nampa, Idaho2. Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, Maine3. Las Vegas-Paradise, Nevada4. Honolulu, Hawaii5. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Roseville, California6. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazelton, Pennsylvania7. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, California8. Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Maryland9. Syracuse, New York10. Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, California11. El Paso, Texas12. Albany-Troy-Schenectady, New York13. Rochester, New York14. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York15. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks- Ventura, California16. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, New York17. Nassau-Suffolk, New York18. Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania19. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut.20. New Haven-Milford, Connecticut.The top 20 safest places to live among mid-size cities are:1. Las Cruces, New Mexico2. Rockingham County-Strafford County, New Hampshire3. Huntington, West Virginia.-Ashland, Kentucky4. Bellingham, Washington5. Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont6. Lynchburg, Virginia7. Medford, Oregon8. Prescott, Arizona9. San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, California10. Binghamton, New York11. Provo-Orem, Utah12. St. Cloud, Minnesota13. Fargo, North Dakota14. Hagerstown, Maryland -Martinsburg, West Virginia15. Olympia, Washington16. Charlottesville, Virginia17. Chico, California18. Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, Washington19. Manchester-Nashua, New Hampshire20. Duluth, MinnesotaThe top 20 safest communities to live among the small towns are:1. St. George, Utah2. Bend, Oregon3. Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, Virginia4. Coeur d'Alene, Idaho5. Ithaca, New York6. Morgantown, West Virginia7. Logan, Utah8. Winchester, Virginia9. Harrisonburg, Virginia10. Idaho Falls, Idaho11. Madera, California12. Glens Falls, New York13. Wenatchee, Washington14. Bangor, Maine15. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine16. State College, Pennsylvania17. Billings, Montana18. Cumberland, Maryland19. Lewiston, Idaho20. Pocatello, IdahoIf you are looking to settle down in any of these great cities, contact a good real estate agent who will help you purchase the home or condo of your choice.

How Do I Calculate Finance Charges?

2010-08-28T18:20:00.001-07:00

Having some knowledge of how to calculate finance charges is always a good thing. Most lenders, as you know, will do this for you, but it can helpful to be able to check the math yourself. It is important, however, to understand that what is presented here is a basic procedure for calculating finance charges and your lender may be using a more complicated method. There may also be other issues attached with your loan which may affect the charges.

The first thing to understand is that there are two basic parts to a loan. The first issue is called the principal. This is the amount of money that is borrowed. The lender wants to make a profit for his services (lending you the money) and this is called interest. There are many types of interest from simple to variable. This article will examine simple interest calculations.

In simple interest deals, the amount of the interest (expressed as a percentage) does not change over the life of the loan. This is often called flat rate or fixed interest.

The simple interest formula is as follows:

Interest = Principal × Rate × Time

Interest is the total amount of interest paid.

Principal is the amount lent or borrowed.

Rate is the percentage of the principal charged as interest each year.

To do your math, the rate must be expressed as a decimal, so percentages must be divided by 100. For example, if the rate is 18%, then use 18/100 or 0.18 in the formula.

Time is the time in years of the loan.

The simple interest formula is often abbreviated:

I = P R T

Simple interest math problems can be used for borrowing or for lending. The same formulas are used in both cases.

When money is borrowed, the total amount to be paid back equals the principal borrowed plus the interest charge:

Total repayments = principal + interest

Usually the money is paid back in regular installments, either monthly or weekly. To calculate the regular payment amount, you divide the total amount to be repaid by the number of months (or weeks) of the loan.

To convert the loan period, 'T', from years to months, you multiply it by 12. To convert 'T' to weeks, you multiply by 52, since there are 52 weeks in a year.

Here is an example problem to illustrate how this works.

Example:

A single mother purchases a used car by obtaining a simple interest loan. The car costs $1500, and the interest rate that she is being charged on the loan is 12%. The car loan is to be paid back in weekly installments over a period of 2 years. Here is how you answer these questions:

1. What is the amount of interest paid over the 2 years?

2. What is the total amount to be paid back?

3. What is the weekly payment amount?

You were given: principal: 'P' = $1500, interest rate: 'R' = 12% = 0.12, repayment time: 'T' = 2 years.

Step 1: Find the amount of interest paid.

Interest: 'I' = PRT

= 1500 × 0.12 × 2

= $360

Step 2: Find the total amount to be paid back.

Total repayments = principal + interest

= $1500 + $360

= $1860

Step 3: Calculate the weekly payment amount.

Weekly payment amount = total repayments divided by loan period, T, in weeks. In this case, $1860 divided by 104 weeks equals $17.88 per week.

Calculating simple finance charges is easy once you have done some practice with the formulas.

Penny Stock Market For Dummies

2010-07-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

The penny stock market consists of stocks that are traded for less than five dollars. To pick a winner you need to find stock that is above one cent. If you see that there are stocks for less than a cent, you shouldn't invest. In the penny stock market, any thing less than a penny isn't worth investing. You will never gain anything from a stock under a penny. With the penny stock market, there are risks like any other stock market. In fact, it is just like the regular stock market except you buy stocks for much less. That's why you should treat the penny stock market like any other investment.

When you are planning on investing in the penny stock market you will want to know how to invest. First you need to open an account for your broker. Then you will need to find a financial adviser. A financial adviser will tell you what to invest in the penny stock market and what stocks you should avoid in the penny stock market. They will budget, record, and plan all your investments. Even with a financial adviser, you will need to do your own research in the penny stock market. You need to know every thing about the company and the stock that you are purchasing. With proper investing, you should be able to benefit from quick gains from the penny stock market.

The only way to be successful with the penny stock market is to know what companies to invest in through research. Research is key to any investment. The penny stock market can give you a good investment and some money, but you need to know when to sale and when to buy. You need to realize when you are in a risk. This could take years. The penny stock market, like any stock market is very tricky. It's more of trial and error than anything. That's why you need to have trusted advisers and know where to get the good research on your penny stock.

Like other stock markets, the penny stock market is a pit of schemes. One way to know for sure that you are playing into a scam is when they begin to push the stock too much. When they start encouraging you to buy cheap penny stock at large quantities, there is something up. They are noted for being one of the many get rich quick schemes. First, there is not way to get rich quick, especially when it comes to the penny stock market. The only way that you can gain a real investment is if the stock becomes to be bigger or worth way more than you bought. Don't get distracted by the investment or the broker.