Americans are going solar every single day, with the residential market growing by 16% every year. With all of the discussion surrounding solar panels, you might think you’ve already heard everything there is to know about them.

However, some of the hidden financial benefits of solar panels may surprise you. To see how solar can save you even more than you may realize, check out these amazing perks that can come with panel installation.

1. It Cuts Your Electric Bill

If you ask most homeowners why they would go solar, the long-term reduction to their power bill would prove to be one of the most popular answers.

So if you’re generating your own power, that means you’re drawing less from the grid and incurring lower monthly energy costs. But if you generate more power than you use during daylight hours, the process of net metering can allow you to “sell” that unused power back onto the grid for a credit.

These credits are subtracted from your total power use, further lowering your final bill

2. Financial Incentives Can Drastically Reduce Installation Cost

It’s no secret that panel installation is an investment. And the upfront cost of that investment may cause some homeowners to balk.

But tax credits and other financial incentives can put major dents in that investment. And because this is a major factor in a homeowner’s decision, a local solar company like Blue Rave Solar in Huston will often be very familiar with the pertinent incentives available to prospective clients. For an example of this expertise in action, read more about Blue Raven and how they work to save their clients money.

3. Solar Panels Create Long-Term Value

Another major boon to homeowners is the long-term value that panel installation can add to their properties.

You can expect most modern systems to have lifespans in the 25-30 year range. And even after that warranty expires, many systems will continue to operate at high capacities. So you can rely on your array to continue to save you money on your electricity costs well after it’s paid for itself.

And the panel arrays themselves are a valuable home addition. Some homeowners have been willing to pay offer as much as $15,000 more for a solar-equipped property than they would for a comparable option.

4. Solar Helps You Stave-Off Rising Energy Costs

The costs of conventional power sources like fossil fuels tend to continue to rise from year to year. The exact increase varies from state to state, with most states seeing increases between 1 and 3% annually.

Providing for your own power production insulates you from the rising costs of power production while helping to reduce your personal consumption of fossil fuels.

Going Solar for Your Wallet and the Environment

Solar technology is only to become more widespread with time. We may well see a future where most, if not all of our power, comes from the sun.

Meanwhile, the cost of other energy sources tend to rise. So by going solar now, you’re setting yourself up to save the most in the long run.

But solar power is only the beginning. For more ideas on saving money in your home every day, be sure to keep up with all our latest financial and home care tips and guides.

As a business owner or member of upper leadership, it is essential that you have a well-rounded understanding of your budget. Learning how to create a business budget can help you keep finances in mind when you handle day-to-day operations or plan for the future.

Interested in learning more about budget planning? Keep reading to learn more about how you can create and manage a budget for your business.

Why You Need a Business Budget

Having a budget allows you to track expenses, project your future finances, and build out investment securities. Managing operational budgets is necessary for you to be successful in your business.

Not only can a well-managed budget keep you from overspending, but it can help you realize any opportunities for investment in future projects. You need to be able to look at your finances from a different point of view.

1. Analyze Your Income

In order to effectively manage your finances, you must have a well-rounded understanding of how much money is coming in and out of your business. Knowing which products or services bring in the most revenue can help you make data-driven decisions for your business.

2. Isolate Fixed Costs

For any business operation, there will be several set expenses. These are items that can’t be trimmed down. Equipment and facility rental and employees’ salaries are usually not malleable.

3. Determine Inconsistent Expense Sources

When you take a closer look at your finances, you can find the areas of fat in your current budget. Unmonitored, it is easy to pay bills as they come in and don’t realize how much money you are spending on non-essential services for your business.

4. Create a Contingency Fund

Just like in personal finances, separating a pot of money for emergencies is necessary for a business. If you are fiscally unprepared when disaster strikes, you may have to lay off employees or take out a lean on your business.

5. Properly Record Incoming and Outgoing Expenses

The most important aspect of building a budget is keeping a consistent record of incoming and outgoing expenses. You can enlist the help of accounting or office tools such as Microsoft power bi.

6. Plan for the Future

While you are building up your finances you can begin to allocate excess funds to plan for expansion. You can store up funds for an expanded storefront or increased digital advertising. With a well-managed business budget, you can work towards the future of your business.

7. Establish Close Monitoring for Accountability

It is not enough to simply plug revenue and expenses into a spreadsheet. Money management requires routine accounting and review, so you can analyze your spending and saving habits from a holistic standpoint.

You Have Learned How to Create a Business Budget

Being knowledgeable about how to create and manage a budget can help make your life as a business owner easier. Well-managed budgets serve as a tool for stability and growth in a business. Now that you have mastered how to create a business budget you can put your skills into action.

Liked this article about a small business budget? Connect with us to read more like it.

 

Online shopping is undoubtedly a convenient alternative to dealing with massive parking lots, or standing in long lines of people. Not to mention, in many cases, online prices are considerably cheaper than in-store products. However, along with the added convenience can also come certain risks. To keep you safe from some of the most common online shopping pitfalls, here are the biggest mistakes to avoid.

Forgetting About Used Products

A lot of people assume that the only way to buy what they want is by searching for brand new options. Not the case. You can save a considerable amount of money by buying used. Just because something is technically used doesn’t mean that it’s been run into the ground.

Technically, the minute something is open it is considered used. So, conceivably, something could have simply been opened and hardly used it all. The end result can be potentially hundreds of dollars shaved off the price of something!

Not Looking at Multiple Websites

A lot of people are in such a hurry to buy whatever it is they’re after that they buy from the first website they find. The problem is that it may not be the best price out there. Take the time to shop around on several different websites so you can get the best possible deal. A simple Google search will usually give you a few different options. In addition to looking at multiple websites, you should also look for coupon codes. You might be surprised to find that a significant percentage can be saved with a simple Google search.

Not Reading the Fine Print

It’s critical that you read all of the fine print in the item description. Sometimes pictures can be deceiving, so make sure that you read all of the dimensions and product details carefully. You could find yourself with a miniature version of something if you’re not careful.

Not Checking Shipping Costs

Often, people add an item to their cart and only pay attention to the subtotal before clicking buy. However, it’s important that you also pay attention to the shipping charges. Some websites may have astronomical shipping depending on where they are located, so always make sure that you read the total price including shipping before entering your payment details. In addition to shipping, you may even have import fees, so don’t let any extra costs get by you!

Not Reading Return Policies

Not every website has the same generous return policy as places like Amazon. Since you’re not actually holding a physical product in your hands, it’s always risky buying online. That’s why you want to make sure that you can return anything you buy from a website. Read the return policy carefully so that you can ensure you’ll get your money back if the product doesn’t work out.

While all betting requires a degree of luck, there are certain steps gamblers can take to help them make better decisions. Despite this, many of these online betting tools go unused, meaning that thousands of sports betting fans are missing out on opportunities to get more out of their wagers.

We’ve decided to highlight three of the best tools out there to help gamblers make more calculated, informed decisions on the sports teams, individuals or event outcomes they back. By using these tools, you can expect to improve your chances of success:

1) Odds checker

The first step towards getting more out of your bets is to ensure that you’re getting the best possible odds for your wager. With so many different bookmakers to choose from, it would be time-consuming and detrimental to log into every single sports betting account you possess to try and find the best odds.

This is because odds fluctuate, both in-play and before an event begins. Announcements like changes to squad lineups, or non-runners in a horse racing event, can all have serious repercussions on the sort of odds you’re likely to get.

Thankfully, there are several different online odds checkers which present you with the odds offered by different bookmakers in real-time. This allows you to take advantage of the best odds you can find at the time.

It’s also worth noticing that some bookmakers will offer a “best odds guaranteed” clause on certain events. Keep an eye out for these offers, as it means you can simply place your bet with the peace of mind that you’ll be offered the best odds in the industry should your selection win.

2) Bet calculator

It’s important to be able to quickly and accurately work out how much your bet could return when wagering different amounts. Some sportsbooks may have this functionality programmed in, although others don’t. It can be particularly frustrating when a betting site offers you the best odds, but won’t tell you how much you are likely to earn from your wager.

If this is the case, you need a free bet calculator to do the work for you. Independent online profit calculators often come equipped with features that aren’t widely available on sports betting sites. These features can come in particularly useful when placing complex bets like a Heinz or Canadian.

3) Odds converter

If you’re used to working things out in decimal odds but a bookmaker only deals with fractional odds (or vice-versa), an odds calculator is invaluable when it comes to figuring out how much you stand to earn from your wager. With an odds converter, you can simply enter the odds displayed on a betting site and convert them into your preferred format in real-time.

Conclusion

Each of these tools is invaluable when it comes to getting the most out of your online sports betting. Why not try using them today to find out how much of a difference they make to your wagering?

 

Trading crypto coins can be risky, but the profits can be worth it. Nowadays, it is effortless to start buying and selling cryptocurrency. There are plenty of P2P websites and exchange account sites that allow users to buy and trade bitcoin.

If you have been wondering where I can sell cryptocurrency or how to sell crypto coins, then you’re in the right place. This guide will share tips on how to sign up for an exchange account or P2P website. You need to buy crypto before selling. We will also cover the various steps to follow when selling your crypto.

Exchange Accounts

Exchange accounts are crypto websites that offer a plethora of services. Some of the services provided include buying crypto, selling crypto, and coin swapping. Aside from that, most exchange sites offer free wallet services.

If you’re new to crypto and still learning how to sell bitcoin on a blockchain app, we would suggest that you sign up for an exchange account. The process is pretty straightforward and doesn’t take long. Only your email address is required during signup.

After a successful signup process, some websites will require you to verify your account before making or completing any transaction. Other platforms such as Nakitcoins will only require you to show proof of identity when completing transactions.

Once you have bought some crypto coins, be it bitcoin, ethereum, or any other altcoin of your choice, you have two options. The first is to hold onto your coins and wait for a rise in value and then sell. The second is to hold onto your coins for as long as possible and only leverage them when need be.

P2P Websites

P2P websites are designed for experienced crypto users. Herein, you will find merchants selling crypto coins. Most P2P sites have tags such as “we sell crypto.” You, too, can join a P2P site as a merchant and learn how to sell crypto coins.

If you already have some coins in your crypto wallet, the process is easy. You will advertise your rates on the platform and any interested buyer will approach you to close a deal. P2P websites often use escrow accounts to avoid cases of scamming.

The buyer’s money will be held in an escrow account during the transaction. Once the buyer confirms that they have received the crypto coins to their private wallet, the money will be released from the escrow account and sent to you.

Bottom Line

If you search for “How to sell cryptocurrency?” on Google, you will get listings of top P2P sites and exchange accounts. Before signing up on any of them, ensure you do your research. Review the rates they charge for transactions. You are in business, and high transaction fees will only mean that your profits will be lower.

Also, make a point of joining online crypto forums. Therein, you will get a ton of info regarding the business of buying and selling bitcoins and other altcoins. You also need to learn how to read the markets and create a captivating sales pitch, especially if you’re using P2P platforms.

All slot machines are equipped with a random number generator and this is the chip that randomly picks the winning numbers anytime you press the red button. In every spin, you are not guaranteed of winning but you will be surprised that there are slot players who have learned to press the spin button, and the lucky numbers spin to their favor. The lucky winners use a combination of tricks to make the slots favor them.

Look for the best slots system 

Not every slot system is perfect for you because their quality is entirely different. Some slot machines use platforms that are designed to take all your money and rarely give you any chance to win.

Other platforms are quality and the developers do genuine online casino business. One of the best online casino apps you might consider using for the slots is the gun lake casino online app because it’s designed by genuine operators who want you to benefit as they benefit.

Try out your luck many times

A memorable road trip adventure gets better as you go further and further away from your starting point. You discover more sceneries and new places as you travel the road. The reality of the slot machines can be compared to the adventure because the more you play, the better you will be experienced. If you play just a few spins and give up, you might never get the chance to win but if you can play many spins, you increase your chances to win.

Spread your money

If you have $200 to spend on the slots, you must be wise and spread your money. Instead of playing four spins for $50 each, you can play 40 spins for $5 each. The former option will give you only four chances to get lucky, but the latter option will give you forty chances to get lucky.

Learn from experienced players

There is always someone more experienced than you in any field and the slots are not an exception. Follow the experienced players and learn tricks from them on how to get lucky on the slots. If you consistently learn from them, you will soon start to use the secrets and win often.

Capitalize of bonuses

Most slots platforms give huge bonuses to new players, new deposits, and players who play most. Do your best to get the bonuses and use them to increase your chances of winning. If you manage to get a huge bonus, you will have more hours to spin.

When you were considering what you were going to do over the weekend, this wasn’t what you had in mind. Going to a casino with your friends. While you’re having fun, you have to say that things are a little overwhelming.

You’ve never been comfortable with huge crowds of people. Believe it or not, that’s why online gambling is so popular. You can enjoy the thrill of the games without having to fight to get to them.

You have the choice to play the games with actual money or to take advantage of the free options. These aren’t the only reasons why you should give it a try. Keep reading to learn more.

Convenience

The main online gambling benefits involve convenience. You don’t have to hop on a plane to head to a new destination to play your favorite games.

You’ll have access to them as long as you have a device that can hook up to the internet. You also don’t have to fight a crowd just to get a chance to join a game either. As soon as you go here to play, you’ll be able to hop into a game of your choosing.

There’s More Variety

When comparing an online vs. land-based casino, you’ll find that you have more variety when you go digital. There are literally hundreds of games that you have access to.

When you go to a land casino, you will have plenty of options, but not quite as many. You never know if they’re going to have your favorite one or not.

Online Is Good for Beginners

If you’re a beginner in the gambling world, heading to a live casino might be a little overwhelming. Again, there are tons of crowds, and if you’re not used to the games, there’s a good chance that you’ll lose all the money that you went in with.

An online casino will offer more of a learning curve. You won’t be playing the experienced players face to face, so there’s not quite as much pressure involved.

There Are Free Games

Another reason why an online casino near me is better for a beginner is that you’ll have access to free games. You won’t have to offer up any actual money to play.

This is done in an attempt to get more people interested. It will allow you to get a few practice tries in before you attempt the actual thing.

Safer Environment

Many people stay away from online casinos because they’re scared of their information being stolen. Believe it or not, theft is more likely to happen at a physical place

Many online casino companies have measures in place to keep your bank account info hidden from malicious users.

Try Out Online Gambling

Do you want to try heading to a casino but are a little put off by the crowds? Try out online gambling instead. There are tons of free games available, so you can get your feet wet before you offer up any money.

You’ll get access to your winnings within a day or so without worrying about someone stealing your bank account information, and you can hop into games from anywhere. It’s a no-brainer.

Want to learn how to manage your winnings? Check out the Finance section of our blog for all the latest tips and tricks.

It is estimated that people in the United States will spend more than $740 billion on online shopping by 2023. Money saving tips for shopping online are becoming more essential as consumers spend their money on the internet.

Consumers are getting smarter. They have learned that they don’t have to accept the prices of local establishments. Money saving tips and tricks are helping them spend less and save more.

Why Are Money Saving Advice and Tips Popular?

One of the main reasons that people seek out easy, money saving tips is our struggling economy. The economy is not stable and job stability suffers. People save money in case they lose their job.

To save money, they are cutting back on the costs of living. They do this by decreasing the amount they spend on everyday items. Some of the best money saving tips involves shopping online.

Money saving tips for moms help them give their families a higher quality of life. Moms save money on clothing, food, and other necessities. They can then put money away for extras, like vacations.

Keep reading to discover saving money tips and tricks for shopping online.

Know Your Needs and Wants

One of the first easy, money saving tips you need to know is that you must know what your needs and wants are. First, before you buy, make a master list of your family’s needs for the next couple of years. If you know what your needs are, it is not tempting to buy things because they are on sale.

If you know that your children are going to need new shoes, you can write down the sizes and styles of shoes that you want to buy in the future. You can do the same things with clothing and even sporting equipment.

The second list you should create is your family’s wants and want-related items. If you plan on going on a beach vacation next year, you can begin looking for items that could add to your experience. From sand shovels to beach towels, your list can guide you to saving money for your trip.

Quality Matters – Sometimes

Saving money is not as simple as buying cheap items.

Sometimes, buying cheap is fine. If you’re buying something that is not intended to last for some time, it’s fine to buy the cheapest item you can find. Dental floss doesn’t get reused, so why spend a lot of money on it.

When you are buying big-ticket items, like computers or washing machines, you should not get the lowest priced items. Remember that quality matters. If you buy super cheap, you may end up having to buy another one six months later.

The higher the price of the item, the more focus you should put on quality. Lower-ticket items that do not have a long life span can come with a smaller price tag and savings.

Be Timely

One of the best saving money tips and tricks you can follow is choosing your time. Don’t shop for Christmas decorations in November or school supplies in August. Shop for seasonal items at least six months before you need them.

You can do this with other items as well. If you find a great sale on boys’ t-shirts, and you have three boys at home, buy a variety of sizes. Don’t be afraid to shop for future needs.

Buy Multiples

As with the boy’s t-shirts, there are some items that you will always need. Toilet paper, toothpaste, and laundry detergent are items you will always need. They won’t go bad, so buy as many items as your budget can handle.

Money Saving Tips for Delivery

Delivery charges can add up fast when you are shopping online. They don’t have to be expensive, though. Don’t just click “yes” on the first delivery options that are offered.

First, check the terms and conditions. You might discover that delivery is free if you order more than a specific amount. You can add a small item to hit your limit and get free delivery.

Second, look for free delivery codes. If you search for “STORE NAME free delivery code”, you may find promotional codes that will give you free delivery when used (put the name of the store you are ordering from instead of STORE NAME).

Some retailers will let you have your order delivered to a local store. This allows them to deliver in bulk. You can then pick up the item and avoid delivery charges.

Finally, look for stores that have an annual fee that includes free delivery. If you anticipate shopping at that store, often, the annual fee can be less than delivery charges. Amazon Prime is a good example.

Join the Mailing List

If you shop at a store often, consider joining their mailing list to get access to great deals. Retailers will often reward email subscribers by offering exclusive deals. If you add your birthday, you may get special discounts as a gift when your birthday rolls around.

Other mailing lists give subscribers daily money saving deals that can make finding great discounts easier. The Dollar General Penny List is one option for getting fabulous discounts and deals in your inbox regularly.

Leave Your Checkout Basket

When you are shopping online, send items to your checkout basket. If you don’t need them right away, let them sit there for a few days. Don’t be surprised when you get an email offering you a discount.

Also, you may find a discount or voucher in advertising on other sites that you can apply to your basket. Website owners track your web browsing and know you’ve been there. Tracking allows them to advertise to you and they may try to draw you back with a coupon.

Save Now, Save for Your Future

When you take advantage of money saving tips, you can be a smarter online shopper. Learn how to shop online and you can save money on things you need now. You can put it aside for luxuries or for your future.

If you enjoyed this article, find more interesting reading on our blog.

One of the most stressful life situations you can encounter is credit card debt. Not only can it impact your mental and physical wellbeing, but it also can negatively affect your relationship and put a strain on your daily life.

So getting out of debt, and staying debt-free is a goal for many of us. But many of us may be motivated to start, but end up self-sabotaging a few weeks or months in. If you’re wondering why you’re not making more progress in paying off your credit card debt, check out our 5 tips for avoiding credit card debt mistakes!

1. Skipping a Budget

If you’re serious about paying off debt, one of the first and most important steps to create a budget. You’ll need to take a hard look at your income, as well as your expenditures to see where you can cut back.

Identify your sources of debt. Do you eat out too much? Spend too much on necessary items shopping online? Knowing your weaknesses will help you to create a plan to avoid giving in to temptation.

2. Staying Ignorant

It’s vital that you understand the implications of using a credit card. Most cards come with high interest rates that snowball when you’re not paying down the balance each month.

You need to know your interest rate and how it’s impacting your ability to pay down debt. Call your credit card company or bank and ask some hard questions. After all, the more you know the better you’re able to make a plan to help with paying off debt.

3. Late and Minimum Payments

One of the worst mistakes you can make when attempting to pay off a credit card is to only pay the minimum each month. The compound interest of your credit card debt will snowball and a $15, $35, or even $50 payment a month won’t even make a dent in the overall amount.

Late or skipped payments will have a serious impact on your credit score as well. This will follow you into the future and can wreak havoc on future opportunities, like buying a house or getting a loan for a car.

4. Ignoring Debt Consolidation Options

If you find yourself drowning in credit card payments from multiple cards, you should definitely look into debt relief programs.

By consolidating your debt, you can combine multiple payments into one, larger payment. These usually have a smaller interest rate, which makes it easier for you to pay down debt and avoid late or over-limit fees.

5. Falling Back into Bad Habits

Once you’ve put in the hard work to pay off your credit card debt and achieve a high credit score, don’t let that effort go to waste! Continue to stick to a budget, pay off your balance each month, and put money into an emergency savings fund to help cover unexpected expenses.

No More Credit Card Debt Mistakes!

It’s no secret that you need to address credit card debt. The good news is that you can take control of the situation today by looking at the big picture of your finances and learning what steps you can take.

No matter your debt situation or amount, there is help to be found! Any credit card debt mistakes can be addressed one step at a time. Check out a debt relief service today to see what options you have to help you enjoy a debt-free future.

Is your credit score in the red?

If yes, you’re not alone. About 50 percent of credit-active consumers in the United States have bad credit.

However, that’s just about where the consolation ends. When you have bad credit, you experience the consequences alone, not as a group. No one will be there with you when a lender rejects your credit application because you have bad credit.

The good news is bad credit isn’t cast in stone. You can repair it and you can even use a credit repair company for better results.

If you’re on the fence about hiring a credit repair service, we’re fleshing out the various ways you will benefit.

Let’s dig in!

You Don’t Know How to Read a Credit Report

Unless you’re an accountant or very familiar with credit reports, it’s highly unlikely that you know how to read a credit report. Yet, the first step to rebuilding your credit is to get a copy of your credit report, scrutinize it, and establish whether the information on it is accurate.

If you don’t know how to read and interpret a credit report, you won’t be in a good position to know if there are errors that could be pulling your credit score down.

A credit repair service will help you with this. The company will have professionals who know how to read credit reports and catch any information that might be inaccurate.

Some companies have also developed intelligent systems that will easily and quickly spot any inconsistencies in your report. You can learn more about how financial technology is revolutionizing credit repair.

If there’s inaccurate information, the next step is to file a dispute with the credit bureau that issued the report. This can also be a complex thing to do if you don’t have the expertise, but the credit repair company will guide you on how to do it.

You Don’t Have Enough Time to Work on Your Credit

Credit rebuilding doesn’t require much physical effort, but it can be a time-consuming endeavor. First, you have to learn how to rebuild credit. Then, depending on the state of your credit, you have to file credit error disputes, contact lenders, and so forth.

Do you have the time to do that? If you’re anything like the average American, you’re probably juggling work, education, and home life.

When you hire a credit repair service, you won’t need to worry about time. The company will do most of the heavy lifting for you, ensuring you have enough time to do other important tasks in your life.

A Credit Repair Company Won’t Charge You an Arm and a Leg

Most Americans are in financial hardship right now, which means you don’t want to spend money on things that aren’t necessary. For this reason, you might not be willing to hiring a credit repair service.

Don’t fold your wallet so quickly, though. A credit repair service won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Do some shopping around and you’ll find a service that suits your budget.

Let a Credit Repair Company Help You

It’s understandable if you’re unsure about hiring a credit repair company. But as we’ve demonstrated, the benefits are worth it. At a time when having good credit is crucial, you want as much professional help as you can get. Just focus on finding the best credit repair company.

Explore our blog for more helpful financial tips.