Budgeting

Getting into a car accident is a physical and mental upheaval and can be a huge struggle for many. It comes as a shock, then after it comes with problems and issues that can control your life or make life more difficult for you.  

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A lot of people choose to claim compensation after a car accident, if they are able to and if they have suffered mental and physical damage. Most car settlements are between $14,000 and $28,000 and you can go online and take a look at what you may be entitled to before you claim. Claiming should not be seen as a taboo subject, as it is something that you are legally entitled to claim for. If you want to get a rough estimate on your own car accident settlement, then add up your expenses and multiply that sum by three. You must also look at adding up any expenses for medical bills, car repairs, and lost wages from taking time off work also. 

My claim doesn’t suit me, I believe I should have received more 

Your claim may be processed quickly or it may take a little more time and once you hear the feedback, you may feel that you have not been given enough money and you feel you are entitled to more. You may want to reduce or deny your claim but you must be aware that you may have to give further evidence and statements to back up any changes.

Initially, you will be asked to give a statement and so will any eyewitnesses or other drivers who saw what happened. It’s important, to be honest from start to finish as any uncertainty or dishonest behavior could affect your claim and you may have to settle for less or nothing at all. You may also want to back up your claim with any medical notes or doctor notes, which will show the severity of your issues following the accident. As much information as possible will be important for your claim but a good lawyer will be able to talk you through all this and advise when necessary.

If you are claiming compensation as a passenger and not a driver, it’s worth noting that a passenger can never be responsible or at fault for the accident. It is the driver’s responsibility, so do not feel that you can’t claim because you are a passenger. You have rights and will not be held responsible in any way for the accident. 

Car accidents can affect the mind greatly, so if you or anyone you know has suffered, then it’s important to reach out to them and give them some support. Be sure to reach out when you should and to file your claim as soon as possible. It is best to get the ball rolling ASAP so that you can really have all the information and accounts fresh in your mind and be able to convey information well. This is going to really assist you. 

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As well as putting hundreds of thousands of people through pain and heartbreak, the Coronavirus crisis has put peoples’ bank balances in jeopardy. If you haven’t experienced COVID-19 symptoms, you’ve probably still been impacted via a lack of earning opportunities.

With a global recession expected in the short-term, there’s no doubt that the Coronavirus pandemic is money-related as well as health-centric. As a result, everyone can take powerful money lessons from the past couple of weeks that will stand you in good stead in the future.

Hopefully, the following will safeguard your family’s finances should a second wave hit, or a new crisis occurs.

Save, Save, Save

Previously, there was a change in the guard as more households stopped saving as much and invested their nest eggs instead. While riskier, the risks are few and far between if you spend cleverly, and the returns are often two, three, or four times higher. As a result, creating a sizable rainy day fund may not appear as appealing as channeling your funds into investment opportunities.

Investing is undoubtedly an incredible way to enhance your wealth, yet it does tie up your liquidity. Therefore, you still require emergency savings big enough to cover your expenses for three to six months.

Don’t Overspend On A Vacation

Vacations are no longer perks – they are viewed as basic rites. Almost 100 million Americans went on a holiday in 2019, and more were expected to go this year until the crisis hit. Not only did a cluster of COVID-19 cases occur when Americans went abroad, but the cost is very high. You can expect to pay thousands of dollars for a week or two in Europe, which is a huge amount. Yes, a holiday is an excellent way to rest and recharge your batteries, but you need to factor in the expenses, too.

You may, for example, try and be more financially responsible when you reach your destination instead of using a vacation as an excuse to splash the cash.

Create Comprehensive Coverage

Insurance companies haven’t covered themselves in glory during the health crisis. Rather than pitching in like everybody else, they cited reasons why they wouldn’t pick up the bill. If anything, this proves the necessity for comprehensive policies that cover you regardless of the situation. Otherwise, you may find yourself being unable to pay for medical bills or travel fees to return home.

You can do this by doubling up on your insurance.

Prepare A Will

You have no plans on going anywhere anytime soon, and most people who contract COVID-19 only experience mild symptoms. Still, this pandemic has probably made you think about what happens should the worst-case scenario happen. Of course, the last thing you want is for your family to mourn your passing and run into financial trouble, which is why a will is critical.

Writing one will prevent any confusion as to who gets what and why. Plus, you can tweak it at any time to reflect your preferences.

What money lessons have you taken from the Coronavirus pandemic?

We all spend a lot of our time online browsing the internet. And when it comes to online shopping, there are so many benefits that come with it, that make it much more effective than having to do it in person. Here are four tips to save money online and to get the most out of your shopping experience.

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Shop Around

It’s always good to shop around when it comes to online shopping because there are so many different websites and businesses out there. What you’re shopping for may be available somewhere else a little further down the search engine and could be more affordable or at a heavily discounted price. Never just shop on one site as this can limit the opportunities you have to save money. Try expanding your horizons when it comes to choosing places to shop online because there are so many that you might find more beneficial to shop on. Shop around and always take advantage of any comparison sites if you’re trying to bring down the cost of something that’s particularly expensive. 

Use Coupons

There are lots of websites out there like Innovative Finance that can help you find ways of saving money online. Another great way to save yourself some money when shopping online is through coupons. There are tons of sites around that may work or may have expired when it comes to redeeming coupons on sites you shop on. There are also multiple platforms that are worth taking advantage of when it comes to collating all the vouchers, without you having to do any of the actual leg work. Browser add-ons like Honey, for example, have become increasingly popular to use as it simply pops up when it shows that there are potential coupons and vouchers that exist online. You then simply let it scan and you could end up saving lots of money as a result.

Try Shopping At Different Times Of Day

Shopping at different times of the day can actually help alter the price that you are looking at for certain things. For example, train tickets and flights can end up being different prices throughout the day or week, depending on the location you’re traveling to and from. It’s worth experimenting with this and seeing if you can make any savings by shopping at different times of the day or week. Again, like the coupons, there are also apps that can help track travel sites in the hope that you could save some money here and there.

Take Advantage Of Introductory Offers

It’s always a good idea to sign up for the website’s newsletters because many of them will likely offer you some form of an introductory offer. These can be a certain percentage off of your first order or something that could end up saving you even more money. Tick that box and you certainly might be able to save some extra funds. 

Saving money online is definitely possible, so use coupons where you can, shop at different times and sign up to those introductory offers where you can. 

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Wanting to look and feel good seems like a sin these days, doesn’t it? If you’re someone that wants to make changes to their body or face, you’re seen as vain or conceited. However, it’s just natural. We all want to make sure that we feel happier in our skin. And, when you get there, there’s no feeling like it. Sometimes you can feel happier with just a mindset change – and that’s great. But that won’t always work for everyone. It could be that you need to set yourself somebody’s goals and then work on achieving them? Not only does this give you something to work on, but right now, it can give you something to plan and look forward to. So let’s take a look.

Longer Hair

How do you feel about your hair? Maybe you want healthier, thicker, and longer hair? Well, you could definitely consider growing your hair and working on tactics to make that happen? Or maybe you want to save up and consider getting extensions?

Clearer Skin

If there’s one thing that every woman wants, it’s great skin. So, maybe this is your goal? If you know that your skin isn’t all that clear and you’d like to do something about it, now is the time. It could be that working on your diet, a better skincare routine, and specialist treatments is what you want to do to feel fantastic.

Being Happier In Yourself

Sometimes, you just really want to feel happier in yourself. When that’s the case, there are a few things that you might want to do. Maybe it’s finally booking in with a personal trainer? It could be changing your look up a little. Or maybe you want to find a breast augmentation surgeon to help you? Whatever it is that you want to do to feel better in yourself and much happier in your own body, it’s okay to do it.

Feeling Fitter

Or maybe you would love to just feel better in yourself? If that’s the case, you’re really not alone. Sure, it’s great to get in shape and have a body that you love, but sometimes it’s just nice to feel energized! When you can move without getting out of breath and feel better throughout the day, it’s such a fantastic feeling. So maybe you want to work on a few workouts right now? That way, you can get in shape and feel amazing too!

Looking Younger

Now, this point might seem a little controversial to some – but it’s also something that is very common and it’s okay to want this if you do. The visible signs of aging aren’t always welcome. And, if they get you down, it’s okay to want to do something about it. If you know that you want to use filer or botox, it’s important to do your research and speak to a professional to get personalized advice. But also, a good skincare regime and regular specialist facials could work too.

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Everybody wants a comfortable life, and if you can have a comfortable life with somebody you love, it makes it even better. A lot of work goes into a relationship, though, and if you want to achieve this comfort with your soul mate, you need to work together. 

If you’ve never done so before, it can be challenging to work out the best way to approach your finances, whether shared or not. This shouldn’t be a cause for worry, though, so here is some advice on how you and your partner can work together to live a happy and financially stable life. 

Be Honest with Each Other

Being honest about your finances will save a lot of friction and arguments. If you lay all your cards on the table, there should not be any problems. Never lie about debt or how much you spent on something, as these little lies will add up, and could morph into much larger problems later on. 

Of course, sometimes, you can’t be entirely honest, and if one of you is up all night searching for engagement rings for all preferences, then it can be tricky, especially if you share finances. Borrowing money from friends and family is something that you might be reluctant to do, but in some cases, this may be the only way around it. 

Stick To Your Budget No Matter What

It’s always hard to stick to a budget, and you can convince yourself that a few dollars here and there won’t hurt. However, this is never the case, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll see your spending snowball into something much more damaging. 

You will struggle to adapt to the budget at first. However, you must do so, and hold one another accountable should you slip up. These mistakes are okay as long as you don’t make a habit of it, but it will take more work and effort to get yourself back on track after slipping up. If you don’t want to deal with such a hassle, then you must stick to your budget as closely as possible. 

Have A Plan for Debt and More

Developing a plan before making any significant financial changes is always encouraged. It will prepare you both for running into trouble and make any issues more comfortable to manage. 

These debt plans can include credit card debt, student loans, or car financing. Knowing how much you can put towards your debt each month will ensure you can pay it off more efficiently, and before you know it, you’ll be entirely debt-free, which is something everyone should strive for. Once you have cleared your debt, whether this is short term or long term, you can start thinking about how you are going to live more comfortably.

Easy Living

Budgeting for a better life is never easy. Still, if you have the support of someone else besides you to help keep you on the level and prevent either of you from making any silly decisions, you’ll find that your lifestyle will flourish, so you can do everything you’ve ever wanted to, and more.