Get all the best help on money, including making money and debt

How To Calculate How Much Money You Will Make On A Bond

If youre going to play the market, youre likely in it to win. You expect a modest return on your investment, or at least to make your money back. Your choice of investment matters a lot, so it really helps if you can calculate how much money you can expect to make. The most general meaning of yield is the amount of money returned (usually annually) in the form of dividends.

Within finance, a bond is a debt security, in which the issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to repay the principal and interest (the coupon). Other stipulations may also be attached to the bond issue, such as the obligation for the issuer to provide certain information to the bond holder, or limitations on the behavior of the issuer. Bonds are generally issued for a fixed term (the maturity) longer than one year.

A bond is just a loan, but in the form of a security, although terminology used is rather different. The issuer is equivalent to the borrower, the bond holder to the lender, and the coupon to the interest. Bonds enable the issuer to finance long-term investments with external funds.

1. Current Yeild

If you are looking to estimate the amount of money you stand to gain, the procedure is really quite simple. Divide the annual interest amount paid by the current market price. CY = IAP*100. (The 100 turns the fraction into a percentage.) For example, a $1000 face-value (par) bond with a coupon (interest rate) of 7% that matures in 10 years may sell currently at a discount for $950.

2. Holding Your Bond To Maturity

You will gain the most money in dividends if you hold your bond to maturity. Would you rather have $1000 today or $1000 a year from now, even assuming youre assured of getting paid in a year? Having $1000 sooner rather than later means earning interest on that $1000 for an additional year!

3. Years To Maturity

YTM is the best number to use when comparing bonds with different rates and maturity dates. With a little practice, the process becomes familiar and loses the aura of numerology. Profits go to the fearless. Here’s the formula…

c(1 + YTM)-1 + c(1 + YTM)-2 + . . . + c(1 + YTM)-YUM + B(1 + YTM)-YUM = P

c = annual coupon payment (in dollars, not a percentage)
YUM = number of years until maturity
B = par value (original issue price)
P = purchase price

Can you make money giving away credit cards? Giving away credit cards is the basis of a brand new type of home based business. Some features that make this business stand out are that it is not multi-level marketing (MLM), you don’t have to do any cold-calling, you don’t have to sell anything you don’t have to make a monthly purchase or pay fees to remain a member of the business, and you don’t have to recruit other people into the business to make money.

So, back to the original question: can you make money giving away credit cards? I’d like to show you the answer by asking you to consider these, three questions:

1. How many people do you know who have at least one credit card?

2. How hard do you think it must be to get along without a credit card?

3. How easy do you think it would be to give a credit card to someone who wants one?

Nowadays practically everything we pay for calls for a payment card of some kind. Things that spring to mind are restaurant bills, purchases made online, vacation bookings, clothing purchases, grocery bills. Checks used to be an option but they are no longer accepted in many places; paper has been replaced by plastic for most everyday purchases. It is easy to see that credit card transactions offer a method of payment which is convenient to both the seller and the spender.

Most people who use a credit card own more than one card to enable them to get the maximum interest-free period on their purchases. Some people make a habit of changing to a different credit card company whenever there is a special offer such as a low interest rate, or a favourable deal on balance transfers, or some other promotional deal.

Other people who will be on the lookout for a credit card are those who have been refused credit. This might happen to people who have previously run into trouble with a credit card company during a period of unemployment. Students and graduates who have no credit history find it hard to find a credit card company willing to offer them credit facilities.

The most unfortunate group of people who can’t get a credit card when they need one are victims of identity theft (also known as identity fraud). They can find that they have been blacklisted for credit even though they are completely innocent of any crime. Once adverse credit references get into the system, it can take years for a victim of identity fraud to have their records corrected and their credit lines restored.

Anyone who doesn’t have a credit card (for whatever reason) is limited to carrying sufficient cash to cover any purchases they might want to make, or to using a cash card to have the money taken straight out of their bank account. Carrying large sums of cash is never a good idea because it is unlikely to be recovered if it gets lost or stolen. Cash debit cards are fine as long as you have enough money in your bank account to cover your spending; debit cards take away any possibility of deferring payments for anyone on a tight budget who needs a little leeway to juggle funds.

There is no doubt that credit cards are an in-demand product and it is easy to see how a home business based on giving people what they want is almost bound to be successful. With comparatively little effort, and working part-time it is possible to earn a healthy monthly income from giving away credit cards.

3 Things To Watch Out For With Debt Consolidation Services Online

Most of us are swamped with bills like credit cards and auto loans, so we’re turning to debt consolidation services to help us regain control of our finances. And it’s a good idea, since some debt consolidation services can also help you lower your interest rates and monthly payments. But there are some unscrupulous folks out there, and that means you need to watch out for scammers when you’re looking for a Debt Consolidation Service online. Here are three warning signs of a disreputable company:

Large, outrageous fees

Some companies charge $100 just for reviewing your account, often disguised as a “credit analysis.” Others offer an “educational program” consisting of mostly free forms, letters and information gathered from Internet websites. The cost for this “education”? It can be as high as $1,500! Be wary of any company that pushes for up-front payment before you receive any type of service or materials.

Unbelievable promises

“Your monthly payment will be half of what you’re currently paying!” “We’ll get your interest rate slashed to zero percent!” “You’ll be paying less in just two weeks!” These types of exaggerated promises are designed to lure you in, and they’re rarely true. No one can work miracles, and they certainly can’t work them in just two weeks. Expect it to take at least a month–and probably longer–before you see the effects of debt consolidation on your finances.

They make first contact

Any company that sends out SPAM, cold calls your home, or sends you junk mail is fishing for a fee. Chances are they only want your money, and once they get it they’ll offer very little in terms of services. Most reputable companies will wait for you to contact them.

You can always double check a Debt Counseling Service with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the company. You might also consider asking family and friends if they have any experience with the service.