Anytime you spend your hard earned money to buy something, you should always have it documented. When you purchase smaller items, such as items at a convenience store, you'll normally be given a receipt. When you purchase larger items, such as televisions and furniture, it will involve a bit more documentation. In exchange for your money, the seller will give you a receipt and in most cases a warranty that will protect your investment. As you may already know, buying a home involves a lot more paperwork than furniture or even an automobile. Whether you are buying or selling a house, you should always have each step of the process documented. If any revisions are made, they should be recorded as well. Although buyers and sellers can prepare the documentation themselves, most choose not to due to the number of revisions that a single document can have. To help prevent consumers from these types of headaches, ready made real estate forms were introduced. You can get a ready made form from a real estate agent or download the forms right off the Internet through a real estate website. Ready made real estate forms are easy to use, as they cover virtually all transactions you may encounter - from buying homes to selling them. There are forms that cover just the basics, which are ideal for those with no experience. If you are looking for a more legally binding form, there are also those that cover legal requirements and those that cover disclosure laws as well. You can choose to purchase these forms on an individual basis as you need them, or buy an entire set instead. Individual forms are ideal for anyone who is involved with short term leases, such as rental property or homes that have been leased out. If you are planning to sell a home or buy a home, you are better of purchasing the entire set of ready made forms. This way, you'll have all of the documentation you need and you won't have to worry about purchasing more. Unlike other types of real estate forms, ready made forms are assured for their accuracy, legality, and even their contents. Manufacturers of these forms spend a lot of time and a lot of energy verifying their documents, and making sure that they are perfect. Although these forms are normally up to date, you should still check with your local law and real estate offices to see if there are any updates. Real estate laws and regulations aren't revised that often, and normally tend to stay the same for a long period of time. If you aren't sure about what forms you need, you should always ask a real estate agent. Even though ready made real estate forms are easy to understand and use, there are a few types available. If you are selling a home, you certainly wouldn't want to use the same form as someone else who is buying a home. There are also ready made rental forms as well, which are ideal for those who are renting out property or leasing. With ready made real estate forms, the process of real estate transactions are easier than ever before. By using these forms, you can do everything yourself - without having to forego realtors. You'll save a lot of money as well, simply because there is no realtor involved. The next time you are buying, selling, or leasing out your property, you should look into ready made real estate forms and see just how easy they make real estate transactions.

Women's tops are offered by most clothing retailers. One of the most popular types of women's tops that are offered by vendors are t-shirts. When you are shopping for t-shirts it is important to look for the size, color, design, and style that is right for the woman that you are shopping for. The first thing that you will want to look for in a women's t-shirt is that it is the right style. There are many different styles to choose from including: long tees, short sleeve tees, baby doll tees, vintage tees, and puff sleeve t-shirts. In addition to the style of the t-shirt you may also want to look for designer tees. The second thing that you will want to look for when shopping for a t-shirt is that it offers a color palette and design that will fit into your wardrobe and that also is appealing to you. If you will be using the t-shirt as a layering piece then you may want to buy several t-shirts in a variety of colors that compliment the other existing pieces in your wardrobe. If the t-shirt will be worn to work then you will need to make sure that its color and design are appropriate for a work environment. On the other hand, if you are looking for a fun casual t-shirt then you may want to look for one that offers a funky color and design. The final thing that you will want to look for when shopping for women's tops of any kind is that they are the right size. Sizes seem to vary from designer to designer so if you are not familiar with the designer of the t-shirt that you are interested in it will be important for you to try on that shirt to make sure that it fits properly. If you are shopping online you will need to use the site's sizing chart to find the proper size for you.

You use it everyday in the Kitchen. If not looked after it can make you sick – And yet you probably never give it a second thought. The Chopping Board is a large board you use in the kitchen for chopping, cutting and preparing food on. When purchasing a new board, there are heaps of options to choose from – timber, glass, marble, plastic. And it can be a confusing choice. Glass and Marble type cutting boards may look good but they play havoc on your knives. The hard surface will quickly blunt your knife and damage it’s edge. So, keep your glass and marble boards for serving food only. When it comes to wooden and plastic boards, even the experts are divided as to which is best. It comes down to personal preference. And mine is…. wooden. Wooden boards are generally heavier and less inclined to slip. They are also more attractive and can be used to serve food at the table. Where as plastic boards are lighter, come in various colors and are dishwasher safe. Whichever type you choose, it is imperative you clean it well. Harmful bacteria can breed on your board and cause dreadful food poisoning. So … be sure to scrub your board well after each use, with hot water and detergent. Then allow it to stand and drip dry. Your board should be completely dry before using again. It’s a good idea to have more than one board, to avoid cross contamination. Have one for raw meat and one for other foods. Or take it to the extreme and do what the professionals do. Use 5 different colored boards:- Red – Raw Meats Yellow – Poultry Blue – Seafood Green – Fruit and Vegetables White – General So, if you board is starting to look a bit worse for wear, then it is probably time for a new one. And now you will be well informed to choose the right one for you. Happy Cooking Lisa "The Crock Cook" a-crock-cook

Although it is mostly industry practice to charge a variable rate of interest on outstanding credit balances at a certain percentage rate above Prime Lending Rate, it is possible, these days, to obtain a fixed rate credit card. So, when would you want to apply for a fixed rate credit card over a variable rate credit card? The answer to this may not actually sound as simply as you may think. Two factor need to be borne in mind: first, what is the Prime Lending Rate at the moment; and second, what are the chances of the percentage rate plus Prime Lending Rate going above the fixed rate? If you feel that borrowing rates are cheap at the moment and that it is unlikely that Prime Lending Rate is going to go up in the near future, then in all likelihood having the variable rate credit card is going to be more of a benefit to you than having a fixed rate credit card. However, if the opposite is true, and you believe that there is a good chance that Prime Lending Rate is going to up in the near future, there may be a very good reason for you to want to lock-in your interest rate at the current fixed rate being offered by the card provider. One exception to the fixed rate vs. variable rate credit cards debate comes into play if you can manage to obtain a fixed rate with a card provider on the transfer of your credit card balance to a new card provider. In this circumstance it could prove to be a very useful money saving policy to agree to the fixed rate for the initial 6 or more month period as, traditionally, fixed rates for transferring balances are very low. You do, however, need to be extremely careful that any variable rate that comes into play following the fixed rate period is not excessive. Alternatively, you need to ensure (a) that you have made as much of a repayment as is possible during your fixed rate term that you only have a minimum outstanding balance on the day the balance transfers over to a variable rate; or (b) you have the option of transferring the credit card balance outstanding to another new card provider who is also offering a very low fixed rate of interest. In any case, these days the debate over fixed rate vs. variable rate credit cards is certainly more interesting than was ever the case previously!

We all have those special moments in life that we want to remember forever, but the truth is that memories are often better preserved on video so that we may recall the particulars of any given event. This is why camcorders are such an important part of every special occasion and have been for many years. As time has progressed, the construction of camcorders has changed greatly. What was once a large and bulky piece of equipment later went to a compact VHS-compatible system, which has now transformed into the sleek and lightweight design of today’s digital camcorders. During your next electronics shopping trip, take a moment to explore the features found on modern digital camcorders. Whether your shopping consists of a local electronic store or a virtual shop, take a look at a handful of reasons to consider choosing a digital camcorder: $Digital camcorders have the ability to record audio and video, but also are capable of capturing still life images just as a digital camera would. Not only can you film all of those once-in-a-lifetime moments, but you can also snap a few still images of knick knacks and list them for sale on eBay. $Digital camcorders offer a much greater audio and video quality when compared to the older models, which recorded video in analog format and often resulted in a grainy texture. $One of the most important features of a digital camcorder is the fact that they can be connected to either a television or a computer. Previous camcorders were compatible with VHS only, which was effective, but technology now requires that compatibility be geared toward additional equipment. $Because they are compatible with computers, digital camcorders are widely used by amateur film gurus and/or anyone who wants to enjoy the convenience of being able to easily edit and enhance their videos through the use of specialty computer software. $Digital camcorders are compact and lightweight, which makes them ideal for travel. In addition, they are easy to manage during recording. As is the case with any major purchase, cost is often a leading factor in the decision of which product to choose. When it comes to digital camcorders, the price will be determined by the built-in features and capabilities of the unit. A basic digital camcorder can be purchased for several hundred dollars and the price will rise according to the aforementioned factors. With the purchase of any new electronic equipment, the manufacturer will offer a warranty. Always be sure to retain the original sales receipt, packaging and warranty information relating to your digital camcorder incase there is a problem that needs repair anytime during the coverage period.

The online gambling industry is the most profitable industry on the internet. Millions of people around the world are wagering on sports online, playing online poker, bingo and even the lottery online at any of the thousands of gambling sites available on the net. Even people who have never visited a land based casino or a local bookie are finding themselves visiting online casinos and poker rooms on a regular basis. So, what makes gambling on the internet so appealing? Yes, you can play any game of your choice without having to leave your favorite chair. Still, you will not be served free drinks; you will not be able to watch the game you have wagered on from big TV screens; you can neither see the facial expressions of your poker opponents nor to hear the sounds of the coins fall from the slot machine when you hit the big jackpot… Here are the benefits of gambling online comparing to traditional gambling: Diversity: how else can you jump from an online poker room to the craps table and to a bingo hall while staying seated on your most comfortable chair? Most online casinos feature a large variety of casino table games, slots and video poker machines. Moreover, in many major online gambling companies you can switch from online casino gambling to online sports wagering with the same username and account. Bonuses: where else can you receive free money to gamble with? Most online casinos offer free money bonuses in order to entice new customers and to keep up with the competition. The bonuses can start from 10 dollars free just for downloading the casino software to a couple of thousand dollars for completing a certain required amount of raked hands Convenience: obliviously, what can be more convenient than playing your favorite casino game in the comfort of your own home while listening to your favorite music and drinking your favorite beer? Not to mention being able to put your dealer on hold each time up you want to take a break Smoking and Dress Codes: whether you are a smoker or a non smoker, when you are gambling online you are free from obeying the rules. Same goes for dressing, eating and drinking; you can either smoke non stop or remain in a non smoking environment; wear your sloppiest clothes or stay naked; eat, drink, talk on the phone, watch TV, whatever Atmosphere: when you are gambling online, there are not any cocktail waitresses who will sedate you with free drinks and distract you from beating the dealer. In addition, you can set an atmosphere of your choice that can include clocks or even a source of day light Beginner Friendly: a land based casino can be an intimidating place for the newbie gambler. The average online casino, on the other hand, is much more beginner friendly than its brick and mortar equivalent. Interactive tutorials, play money modes and the option of avoiding social embarrassment caused by misunderstanding of the rules and codes of behavior is a more pleasant welcome for the novice casino gamer or poker player Safety: yes, gambling online is usually safer than playing in a land based casino and carrying big amounts of cash money in your pocket. Most online casinos are reliable and respectable businesses that will not risk their reputation and lose their customers base by scamming their players In addition to the list of benefits mentioned above, online gambling offers equal opportunity for people with disabilities or those who cannot afford traveling out of their state to play in a legal land based casino. However, reading about the benefits of online gambling makes the huge popularity of online gambling, online poker playing and online sports wagering much easier to understand.

Recently I came across Plant A Flower Day. While thinking of flowers my thoughts went to orphans. I began thinking about orphans, their parents, and those who take care of them. What kind of parents are these who leave their child on the steps of an orphanage and that too an infant. The infant who needs mothers love is dropped on the steps, in the hope that the infant will cry, someone will listen and come and pick up the infant. What can be a more brutal act than this? Mother is compared to God. Who do I compare such mothers with? I have had close interactions with an orphanage in India. When I began asking for the list of food items that they need for the infants, I was given a list of food that the infant should rightfully get from mother. Nature never imagined that the infant will be thrown away, so nature never provided for defenses that are needed, if mothers milk is not provided. Why the mother should deprive an infant of this? How will the mother live after throwing away her child. Sometimes I think that unless the mother is absolute evil, she will go crazy searching for her child. The guilt would kill her. How can she eat when she does not know if her child has had food? How will she laugh, when she is unsure if her child is not crying? How will she ever know if her child is alive or dead? Such parents should be given such a punishment that others dare not repeat such acts. Small children are softer than flowers. They need all the love and protection of their mothers lap and not the cold hard surface of the orphanage steps. One must salute the people who care for these children in such homes. Feeding them, cleaning them, changing clothes, giving medicines and keeping them happy. One day the child will ask - where are my parents. Who will give the answer and what tremendous pain will the person who is asked this question undergo?

Electric pianos, also called digital pianos are become increasing popular, due to their many benefits. Quality digital pianos now how a sound and feel very close to an acoustic piano. In fact, some digital pianos can rival the best grand pianos in sound quality. One of the best benefits of digital pianos is their digital output of sound, so it's very easy to record music using just your digital piano and your computer. Most keyboards and electric pianos have a one quarter inch stereo output. Most computers have a one eighth inch stereo input, so you'll need an adapter. You can get the necessary adapter at Radio Shack or a similar store. Once you have your electric piano plugged into the microphone port on your computer, you'll need software to record with. Audacity is about as good as you can get. It's free, and supports multiple tracks, plus has many useful effects. Once you install Audacity, you'll need to adjust your keyboard volume. You can adjust the volume via the Audacity interface or on your keyboard. To record, just click the record button and start playing...then click stop when you are done. To record multiple tracks, just click record again and play along with the track you already recorded. If you add acoustic tracks, such as guitar, vocals, drums, etc to your recording, you should use the Noise removal effect on Audacity. This tool is very helpful in removing static and noise from your recordings. It usually won't be necessary for your electric piano, though, since all the recording is digital. Using your electric piano and Audacity, you can easily create recordings with a “full” band. If you need more voices for your keyboard, you can get midi boxes or software to add 100's of extra voices – everything from drums to flutes.

It’s no mystery why we take supplements. The body is a complicated mechanism that fights every day to preserve its own well-being. Therefore, the body needs plenty of nutritional support that foods can’t always adequately provide. Because of high starch content, bleaching and over processing, many foods don’t contain enough minerals to adequately support the body. A deficiency of just one or more nutrients can leave the body vulnerable to disease. Furthermore, we must acknowledge that we each have biochemical individuality, so our bodies require different things depending on our age, environment, activity level and genetic makeup. The same goes for our pets. Every dog and cat is unique and requires specific increases in nutrients for many reasons. Also, our pets’ demand for certain nutrients fluctuates. Vitamin B is great support to the body during stressful periods and additional zinc is a helpful nutrient for many breeds; such as, huskies. No matter how well a diet is formulated, there are always nutrients, which are not in the diet. The body knows what it needs and it has its ways of communicating these things to us. It is up to us to pay attention to our animals’ behavior as well as their appearance to make sure they’re getting all the nutrients they need. For instance, is your cat sleeping more than usual these days? Or does your dog have less of an appetite? Perhaps they need supplements. It doesn’t hurt to try supplements to see how your pets respond to them. You may see a drastic change in their mannerisms or their appearance. When we give our pets supplements in conjunction with healthy well-balanced meals, their bodies intelligently draw what they need from the supplements and allocate them properly. Rather than taking a specific vitamin or mineral in calculated amounts, herbs deliver many nutrients in various amounts to the parts of the body that require it. Chose a dog supplement that contains the rather unusual Ester C (Calcium Ascorbate), which is non-acidic, rich in calcium and other minerals and better absorbed than regular Vitamin C. It is usually not added to dog foods because it was once thought that dogs don’t require C because they manufacture it in their liver. This way of thinking about dogs is archaic because we must now consider the way dogs’ eating habits have evolved from years of domestication. Out in the wild, dogs ate prey that had intestines filled with grasses that contained C. Now at home, they eat the foods we give them and they occasionally take a bite out of the neighbor’s lawn. Now, it seems as if dogs aren’t getting enough C. Vitamin C, considered a vital antioxidant, supports the bone, teeth and gums, blood vessels and the immune system. Nutritionists consider it a “conditionally essential” nutrient, meaning that it is needed in higher amounts during certain times in the animal’s life such as sickness, separation anxiety, stress from shows, visits to vets and confinement due to long distance trips. Just like humans, it is recommended all supplements be taken along with plenty of exercise and proper diet.

Democrats will be making a profound mistake if they follow through on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s insistence that the party will refuse to provide any funding for the war in Iraq, absent some benchmarks for withdrawal of our troops at least by September 2008. To be sure, as everyone knows, the American people quite strongly support the notion of cutting off funding for the war in the absence of achieving benchmarks of success for the war in Iraq. And at this point, given the failure of our efforts in Iraq to either stabilize the situation on the ground or to provide the basis for political reconciliation, this is an entirely understandable reaction–one that I share. But as a matter of policy and politics it is simply the wrong judgment. If as is expected, President Bush vetoes the Democrats’ legislation that sets a timetable, a stalemate will inevitably result. President Bush will argue, as he already has begun to do, that American troops are being put at risk and the military campaign jeopardized. He will argue that the Democrats are undermining the war effort, as well as national security. The failure to negotiate in good faith, he will maintain, proves the Democrats lack a commitment to protecting our troops and doing what is right. And while in the short term, the president’s arguments can be rebutted, the longer term presents real problems for the Democrats. If the party proves to be intransigent about continuing funding for the war and refuses to even meet the president to discuss the subject, they provide the Republicans with an issue that can be used against them in the run up to election day in 2008. It is the so called “clean bill” simply providing funding for the war that offers the greatest hope to Democrats going forward. By compromising with the White House–even if it be largely on the president’s terms–the Democrats will be able to maintain the high ground with swing voters. At the same time, there is every reason to believe that Democrats can–and indeed should–continue to criticize the prosecuting of the war for its failure to promote political reconciliation, end sectarian violence, and develop an equitable distribution of oil revenue. They should give the President the funding he seeks now, as Senator Carl Levin has suggested, so that there can be no claim that Democrats are undermining the war effort. Sadly, the most likely result is that the war will continue to go badly. And while that is a very bad result for the United States and our troops, it will take away the only potent argument Republicans have against the Democrats: they are too partisan, they are unwilling to compromise, and that they have jeopardized national security. Rest assured, the appetite of the American people for this conflict is well beyond its limit. And by working to provide funding for the war with no strings attached, the Democrats will avoid allowing the Republicans to distract the American people from the failed policies of the Bush administration. To be sure, if things do not take a turn for the better on the ground, it is only a matter of time before Republicans as well begin defecting from the White House line. And that matter of time is measured in months not years. So rather than risking confrontation with the Commander in Chief, the Democrats should provide the funding the White House is seeking for the war effort all the while making it clear that they have not in any way abandoned their commitment to a specific timetable to conclude the war effort as well as benchmarks of success that should be reached along the way.

Many are attracted to buying a Gite complex by the lifestyle associated with owning a gite. Lazy days in the French sun supping a glass wine or two sitting around a pool - that will do me fine! After years of 9 to 5 and hours spent on the daily commute it appears to be an attractive option. At 1st-for-French-Property we have seen a significant increase in the number of enquiries for this type of property over the last few years. Without doubt Gite complexes often look beautiful from a distance but you must be realistic about buying into this market. Firstly, it is a very competitive market and secondly like any business it is hard work (especially in the early years). Of course, there are many successful gite businesses, and you can buy into this market! We are not going to cover the French bureaucracy issues but concentrate on the business issues. Remember this is a business and your approach must be professional and commercial. You need a business plan and it must be realistic. If you are buying into an existing gite business check the accounts thoroughly - what are the trends over the last few years? Check turnover and profits especially. This is a notorious "cash in hand" trade and although the owner may imply the profits are better than declared in the accounts - buyer beware! Are staff costs included or have the present owners done all the work or used un-paid family members? Is there a lot of repeat trade? What are bookings like for the forthcoming year? What capital will be needed to be injected for renovations and maintenance? In France, the "gite season" is typically July and August - a 10 week season! Outside this period you will have to market well - probably to foreign markets - to fill your rooms! Often a more expensive gite complex will have 4 or more rentable units so that they can maximise their earnings in the "gite season". Some factors - and this is by no means complete - to consider in this competitive market: a) Location, location, location - as always this is of prime importance. Is it quiet but accessible? Close to facilities? Does it have a wow factor? Imagine you are looking for a holiday - would you like to spend a week here? What do you look for in a holiday? b) Weather - the further South, the longer the potential season (unfortunately prices are more expensive in the South) c) Close to a Budget Airline airport? RyanAir, FlyBe, Easyjet fly to many destinations in France and can be a source of "clients" all the year around. If you want to tap into this market you need to be no more than 30 mins to 1 hour away. Are you prepared to pick up "clients" from the airport? d) What is your USP? Pool and chic gites are no longer enough. You need to offer something extra.....wine tours, pottery, bird-watching. Yes, research your chosen area and make it work for you. e) Are you flexible? Instead of weekly lets - would you consider chambres d'hote, or weekend breaks in the low season? Prices? Existing gite businesses cost from 150K euros to 1 million + euros. Before you buy research the market and property. You need to find out how much competition is in the area and what prices you can charge. The internet is an excellent source for the information you need - the regional French Tourist board web sites will tell what you what the area is like and the attractions in the region. To study the competition visit one of the many French Rental sites. For example, on 1st-for-French-Rentals there are over 1000 properties across France. You can see the popular areas quickly, the facilities the gites offer and most importantly the prices you can charge during the whole year. Often each property will have a calendar and you can see the levels of booking and the extent of bookings in the Low seasons. This will give you a clue to the potential of a gite complex. Plug the figures into your business plan - does it add up? Don’t be emotional about a property if this is going to be your income in France. So be realistic and if you enjoy hard work, this lifestyle can be yours!

If you are selling you own home, you need to consider the effect of pets. People who are working with a real estate broker are sure to get coached about the potential negative effect of pets. If you aren’t working with a broker, this article discusses the pet issue. When You Show Your Home If you are selling you own home, you must realize a lovable pet might cause the following problems: 1. The potential buyer may be so nervous about dogs that she doesn’t picture herself living in the home, 2. The potential buyer doesn’t like pets and thus doesn’t see her furniture in the home in her mind’s eye, 3. She doesn’t picture the route she’d drive to and from work, and doesn’t imagine where she’d stop for errands or fun along the way home. In short, the presence of pets makes it difficult for the potential buyer to see the house as their own. Is a potential buyer in that frame of mind likely to buy that home? No. Defense Against Pet Damage If you have pets and you’re selling your home as a FSBO, take heed. Board your pet or pets while your property is on the market. You can visit it, and take it for walks and to the park, but don’t take it home. Have carpets shampooed. If they’re really holding odors, you might even replace all or some of the carpet. Get any damage the pet has done repaired. Store or get rid of furniture you do not want to repair. Reseed the lawn and repair any damage to plantings. You’ll find this is money and labor well spent. Pets are an integral part of many people’s lives and rightly so. While you may love your pet, keep in mind potential buyers may not.

A portable spa is a spa that is, quite frankly, portable. A portable spa or hot tub can be moved to different locations if needed. They tend to be very affordable, yet attractive, alternatives to fixed spas. In fact, they can provide all the benefits of a spa or hot tub without high costs. Many portable hot tubs are inflatable and do not have a hard shell. This makes them easier to move around. The most convenient of these are self-inflatable and can be up within minutes ready for you to use. Many of these portable spas also offer the streaming jets of water which are usually easy to get operational. Many of these portable units also have heating, so your soaking experience and streaming water jets will provide a relaxing massage with many health benefits. Other popular portable spas include wooden hot tubs or portable fiberglass models which can be moved around as needed. They are far less expensive than the installed models and when you move house can be taken with you. However, caution must be taken with portable spas in moving them around because they are not as sturdy as the installed models and can easily be damaged. Installation of built-in hot tubs is generally very expensive, so portable hot tubs offer a great saving in this one area alone. If you lack space, they can also be taken down and packed away until they are wanted again. There are a range of models of portable spas on the market, so you definitely have choice. Take the time to consider the benefits of different products and look for reviews online. Portable spas and hot tubs often offer the very same features as built in spas for a fraction of the cost. For this reason alone, if you are considering buying a spa, a portable spa can offer you all the benefits of a traditional spa with the significant additional benefits of cost savings and portability.

It's not just personal credit card holders who can get fancy rewards and incentives. Business credit card holders can benefit from rewards too. Here are some rewards that business credit card holder might use to benefit their businesses and themselves. Get Big Business Discounts Having a business credit card or charge card means that you can often get discounts off goods and services. This can be as much as one-third off the normal cost, which means big savings for your business. It's worth looking at information from individual suppliers to see what discounts you might qualify for. There may also be rebates on the purchase of certain products. That means more money going back into the business. Driver Incentives Some of the discounts may apply to petrol, possibly in the form of rebates. Some business credit cards or charge cards offer discounts on car hire, which may be a great saving if business employees travel a lot. Many card issuers also offer worldwide emergency cover and travel assistance. This can give peace of mind when employees are travelling on business. Travel Discounts Travelling on business can be a different experience for business credit card holders. Some credit cards offer help with itineraries and bookings, emergency assistance and free travel accident insurance. Some travel incentives also cover public transport in the countries where you travel on business. Travel discounts might also cover phone calls from abroad, as many card issuers have deals with telephone service providers. This can be a big saving for the business owner who wants regular telephone or email updates from employees. Best of all, some business card accounts offer preferential foreign exchange rates and upgrades to seats and lounges that can make business travel a pleasurable experience. Points Of Interest Some business card issuers also have reward programmes similar to those offered for personal credit cards. Business card holders can earn air miles or other travel points, nectar points or other reward points. These are usually awarded at anywhere between one and four points per pound spent. Where this adds up is when company employees are also using business credit cards. The business owner earns points for all of their transactions too and can soon have a large store of points to use on further rewards. Other Reasons To Have A Business Credit Card But business credit cards are not just about rewards. They are also useful because of the administrative time they can save. Instead of spending long hours tracking expenditure, business owners can let card issuers do it for them. Monthly statements contain itemised lists of all spending and some card accounts allow spending to be categorised. They may also provide an annual reckoning of business spending for tax purposes. With all of these advantages, having a business credit card seems to be a good choice for many businesses. However, it is not the only option for improving cash flow. Business owners should also look at debit cards, charge cards and business loans as other options for financing their business.

If you want to protect the roof over your head and ensure that if you were to come out of work after suffering from redundancy, long term sickness or accident, then you would still have the money each month to continue repaying your mortgage without worry, then you should consider taking out mortgage protection with a standalone provider. Also called MPPI – mortgage payment protection insurance - mortgage protection is purchased for a premium each month which is based on factors such as your age at the time of taking out the cover and how much your monthly mortgage repayments are. The cover would begin to payout once you had been out of work for so many days which can be from day 31 or up to the 90th day of being out of work continually. Mortgage protection cover gives you a tax free income which means that you aren’t risking losing the roof over your head due to having your home repossessed because you have got in arrears with your mortgage repayments. Homeowners are under the impression that the State would step in and help if they ere to find yourself out of work and while homeowners can get some financial assistance if they qualify, the amount is rarely enough. Mortgage protection can give you the safety net on which to fall but you do have to make sure that a policy would be suitable for your circumstances. The cover does have exclusions and these could stop you from claiming. Some of the most common reasons include being in part time work, retired or suffering from a pre-existing medical condition. The exclusions are normally found in the small print of a mortgage protection policy and it is essential that you read these and the key facts of a policy to make sure that the product would be suitable for your needs before you buy.