My finance tips

Archive for January, 2010

Get A Raise – Five Steps

You think it’s time that you get a raise from your employer but how do you go about it? Do it wrong and you may make things even worse. How do you do it right? Try the following fivestep process.

1. Make sure you deserve the raise.

It may seem too obvious to say that you should do a good job before asking for a raise but it is also often overlooked. Many employees seem to feel that simply showing up for a year merits an increase in pay. It doesn’t. Actually even working hard doesn’t mean much if you are not working on things that matter. The question is whether you are bringing real value to the employer. In other words make sure you are not just busy but doing what needs to be done.

2. Let your employer know you are valuable.

Doing a great job won’t help if the person who makes the decision on your pay doesn’t know it. Be visible. Leave a memo telling your boss what you accomplished that week or have associates point out what you are doing. Try to find solutions for any problems your employer is having and be sure you get the credit.

3. Gather information.

Before you ask for a raise you have to know what is a realistic request. Ask for too much and you may just make the boss think about replacing you. On the other hand you want to get all that you can. Find out what others are being paid in your company and what kinds of raises they have received in the past. Visit the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau Of Labor Statistics website http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm to see what the average pay is for your job in your state and around the country. Take notes.

4. Prepare your case.

To get a raise you’ll want to make your request realistic based on national norms and on what people in your company make. Start high but not too high so the boss can negotiate your raise down to what your actual target is. Also be clear on what you want. Is it just higher pay or are you also seeking a better position or benefits of some sort?

Prepare a list of things you’ve accomplished while working for your employer. As much as possible link these to some measurable increase in profits or make a reasonable argument for how they boosted the company revenue. Be as specific as you can be. Don’t stretch the truth but show that you’re valuable to the company and you know it.

Plan for contingencies. Consider what you’re willing to do depending on various responses. In my working days for example I often got what I wanted by threatening to quit. But I really intended to quit and sometimes did. If you bluff you might lose a job you like or lose your negotiating power in the future. Think about what you’ll say and what you will do if the boss says no or offers less. You might bring it up again in a couple months. You might look for other jobs. Could you risk mentioning this job search as a possibility?

5. Get a raise.

Don’t expect your employer to notice your great work and offer a raise. Now that you have gathered information and planned your presentation you have to sell your boss on the idea. Make an appointment if necessary but make it when he or she won’t be too distracted like late afternoon when lunch is past and work is caught up. Otherwise wait for a noticeable good mood and just ask to speak with him or her right then.

You have made yourself valuable to the company. You have advertised that fact. You have gathered the necessary information and prepared your presentation. Now smile go for the close and get a raise.

About the writer:  Copyright Steve Gillman. For more Life Secrets and Insider Information go get your free “secrets” course at: http://www.TheSecretInformationSite.com

The Good The Bad And The Ugly Credit Score

What happens to your credit score when you seek to resolve your debts? If you choose the most popular form of reducing debt via credit card debt settlement then the answer may scare you. American consumers today are feeling the financial constraints of the economic downturn. Many are collecting debt as their income may be slashed jobs are lost or investments turn sour. Fixing your credit card debt by negotiating with your creditor for a reduced amount owed is not without setbacks.

During the credit card debt relief process which can take up to three years your credit score is adversely affected. That is why it is important to know what other options are out there before you go through with negotiations. It is equally important to prioritize your values with regard to a debt and credit scores. If you plan on making a stable income in the future and do not want to destroy your credit then maybe a credit card debt settlement is not for you. For these people they may choose a Consumer Credit Counseling program. This program is right for those not in a dire need to pay back large debts or are just barely short on making payments. A credit counselor reorganizes loans and debt sometimes consolidating them into a lower interest monthly payment. The overall amount owed is not significantly lower but it does lower your interest rates and helps the debtor pay back the creditor in a shorter amount of time without touching your credit score.

Unfortunately there are those so deep in debt that they may be forced into filing bankruptcy. Bankruptcy completely demolishes your credit score as well as everything you owe. So credit card debt settlements may be able to settle a 3070 percent cut in your debt and help you avoid filing bankruptcy. The downside to this is that your credit will drop. Lets say your credit score is placed on a hundredpoint scale. Perfect credit is 100 and bad credit starts at 80 and below. Let us say entering a credit negotiation you have 100. It would be common to see your score plummet to 60 by the end of the settlement. While 60 is not as bad as bankruptcies affect on credit it will be a lot of work to start rebuilding your credit to at least a functioning rate of 80.

It is also important to know that the longer your debt plan with the creditor runs the more time you are wasting in rebuilding credit. So it is optimal to be able to pay back debt in a shorter amount of time. Sometimes the debtor does not have the luxury of completing a shortterm plan and so the debtor will have to bite the bullet and watch their credit score get shot down.

Reducing debt and saving your credit score is like a western shootout. The quicker the “problem” is handled the less chance you get burned. Shooting down credit card debt grants you many options. Unfortunately not everyone has these options available. That is why you must research and speak to a professional about how to attack debt as it is specific to your case. If you are left with only the option of a long term debt settlement plan then your credit score will be injured but at least you remain financially alive. In order to find out more about credit card debt settlement you can visit our site www.debtsettlement411.com.

About the writer:  Krista Scruggs is an article contributor to DebtSettlement411.com. Debt Settlement 411 connects you with credit card debt settlement companies that can help you avoid bankruptcy. We have several debt negotiation companies within our network each with their own strengths and specialties. Depending on your specific situation amount of unsecured debt your creditors state you live in your hardship and any other unique situation you might be in we will match you up with the right company.

How To Buy A Phuket Property At Bank Or Land Auction

Most foreigners dont know that many properties in Phuket can be bought either from a land auction orPhuket real estate auctions. Many auctions are taking place on the island every day and if youre in the right place at the right time you can buy one of these properties at a nice discount. You also can enjoy the savings of buying a property at auction in Phuket if you remember my few tips of the trade.

Buying a property like a house bungalow condominium or even an apartment in Phuket can be quite easy if you know these few things first. You will need to have a company set up in the case of a land transaction of any kind. Its forbidden for foreigners to own land in the kingdom of Thailand. Foreigners are allowed however to buy a condominium in our own name if the condo title is a freehold title. If its not you may be able to lease it for thirty years with a possible extension of another thirty years.

One of the most important things when buying a property at auction is to be able to do research on the title. The only way to do this is have a Thai ask all the right questions at the land office. Questions like does the property have a public road or is the title free and clear of liens are examples of things you will want to know. This can be often difficult for a lawyer to answer given the short amount of time between when a property is listed and the time it goes to auction. You need to be able to move quickly and do the research before you go to auction. If you havent had time to prepare for the auction best to let the Phuket property go to someone else because its not worth the risk.

Another way to pick up a property is from several banks that have repossessed the property but for some reason the property in Phuket hasnt gone to auction as of yet. There are many banks that have properties available. You can find a lot of these on the internet but you better have someone who can read Thai because many of the websites are in Thai only and there isnt an English version. These banks also sell these properties at special open houses like the big one in Bangkok called the NPA.

Many newspapers in the south carry Phuket land or property auction notices. A good Thai friend can alert you to the Phuket properties that come available. On the day of the auction make sure you bring your buddy as the numbers in Thai can be confusing during auction day. You dont want to overpay or get caught up in the hype of the auction. Make sure to set your limit you want to pay for the property and stick to it.

In closing a smart shopper can receive a nice discount buying properties in Phuket at auction if they have researched the title and make sure there are no problems with the land or property. A competent lawyer can do the necessary background checking on the land to make sure the title is free and clear. By doing proper research on The Phuket land title and having all the information like zoning electric water and mineral rights one can find a Phuket property suitable to purchase at auction. One of the best things to remember when buying a property that is too good to be true is that it probably is too good to be true and you may have missed something important in your research.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Scott Riefler is an expert in
Phuket Real Estate. He has written several informative articles. He
regularly contributes articles on Apartments in
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