Paul's Web Blog

Archive for June, 2010

There are many work at home business opportunities available. People all around the world are now working from the comfort of their home. I’ve been doing this for the past three years. I came across home-based business when I got laid off from my job. Many people like me are now in the same route making millions of dollars from home. I will show you how home base businesses are ran and why so many people are turning to them.

There are many recruiters online that are hiring people who rather work from home. I guess people caught on to how more productive employee would be if he could set his own hours and work his own schedule. You do not need to work 80 hour shift a week to live a comfortable lifestyle. Just working those hours will just stressed the hell out of anyone. We are all looking for financial freedom. Freedom to be able to do what ever we want when ever.

Work at home business opportunities wasn’t always available. Now as the demand for these job opportunities and grows, the big corporations are now catching on and are willing to hire people. This is a win win situation for both the employer and employee. Think about it, if an employer hires someone from their home there is no office space and office tools required. Everything is outsourced.

My favorite job opportunity is one I took a couple years ago. I was a product listing agent for Apple and Sony. Basically all I did was iPhone’s and PlayStation 3 to eBay and Amazon. I was paid an hourly rate of $45 an hour just to meet my hourly quota. I was not paid on commission so I did not have to worry about making any sales.

There are many more job opportunities such as paid surveys and freelancers. Look around and explore all the job opportunities that are online today.

Diamond point bow ties and fraternity bow ties are just plain slips of silk materials, yet it makes a strong fashion statement in more aspects than one.  Bow ties are getting the fancy not only of the fashion runway habitués but of the young hipsters also and are now hugging the mainstream fashion scene after the years of being relegated “under the chins” of the conservative crowd.

Long relegated to the backstage, fraternity bow ties and diamond point bow ties are now poised to take center stage and are perceived as perfect alternatives to the coat and tie. Current fashion trends are now pushing bow ties into the limelight. It is no longer an “old man’s favorite.”  To get their get-up the younger segment of the population is discovering the true value of this priority-tipped and butterfly add-on. In fact, the young and the daring are discovering creative ways in using diamond point bow ties and fraternity bow ties without having to shed off the wild side of their personalities.

Today’s modern attire will not be complete without the matching bow tie. Diamond point bow ties and fraternity bow ties are oftentimes worn by men as a dashing and elegant accessory to the suit or tuxedo for special occasions. However, people who are in search of ways in retaining their wild character while adding the element of class are now finding more creative ways in using their bow ties. In fact, bow ties are no longer exclusive accessories for men as we are now also seeing women using them in their attire.

To become a Certified Professional coder (CPC), must pass the certification exam medical coding, sponsored by the American Academy of Professional coders (AAPC). There are a number of areas and concepts that need to be familiar with in order to do well on the exam. It may seem overwhelming, but check the contents of a structured approach to help you prepare and do well in the exam.

Preparation

There are many websites that offer free resources to help you prepare for the exam. Study guides and practice tests will familiarize you with the design and test content. Attend a seminar evaluation or join a study group, but also provide feedback from others who are studying for the exam. Codes of Practice to identify and avoid the use of encoders. Study Notes Clinical Coding ICD-9-CM and CPT Assistant to identify areas that may need to spend more time studying.

Review

Apart from taking the tests online, create flash cards to test yourself. Write the material and saying aloud will help you remember and give you confidence for the exam. Make vocabulary cards in key areas such as medical terminology, the official coding and reporting guidelines, reimbursement methodologies and concepts of HIPAA. They spend each day to a particular topic. Purchase or make a tape that reviews these concepts, since different people benefit from different learning techniques.

Approach

If you devote enough time to study before the test will be more comfortable when taking it. It is also useful to find a little relaxation strategies in the event you have problems during the test. For example, if you come across a question you do not know, go to the next question. You can always return to it, and other questions can help you remember the material. Wasting time in panic over a question you do not know the answer to is counterproductive and may interfere with their overall approach.

Information on the Review of CPC

The CPC exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions which are divided into two parts. The first part is medical coding concepts, and includes medical terminology, anatomy and HCPCS Level II and ICD-9-CM coding concepts. Second, reimbursement methodologies, including physician reimbursement, payment systems hospitalization and outpatient payment systems for health insurance. You must schedule a test date for the exam and may do so by contacting their local chapter of AAPC.

In today’s fast-paced and changing world, every parent wants to help their children become successful adults. Financial literacy is a life skill and teaching children about the proper use of money should start early. So when do we teach the fundamentals of finance to our children? From a very young age, children can learn many things from their parents, including the way you deal with your finances. Here are some ideas to help you focus on personal financial education with your child at home.

1. Money doesn’t simply appear

Time is money and money is time. Something has to be traded for it. As working parents, we sacrifice our time for the money we earn. Teenagers will begin to grasp the relationship between time and money but with younger children, you can start by asking them to do simple chores around the house. Pay them for their labour and reward bonuses for their level of performance. They will learn the difference between doing job and doing it well. The earlier your children realise that precious time given up for money is gone forever, the better prepared they will be when they get their first job and spend their income accordingly.

2. Lead by example

Let your children see you dealing well with money. Explain the difference between needs, wants and desire. Help your children understand the value of things. If they hear you lauding the merits of consumerism, they’ll get the message that labels are important. Teach them about good consumer habits. At the supermarket, make them compare prices. What is the best buy? is it value for money? Did you know that the most expensive items at the store are usually at eye level? This is the best way to encourage them to save and spend wisely. Let them see that money doesn’t grow on trees and there is a limit until you have worked to earn more.

3. Be as open as possible about money at home

Talk to your children about how much things cost, and how long it will take for you to save for those items. When your family sets goals, include everyone in the discussion. Give your children challenges and suggest they only have a certain amount to spend. They will realise they can’t buy everything they want. Amplify this lesson during a vacation. Set a budget and let your children decide whether they want to stay in a posh hotel or participate in a unique activity while travelling. Keep records of the holiday expenses and let them see the total cost of the trip, the cost of food and accommodation. By learning about the choices they have to make with their money, they will begin to see priorities and not over buy.

4. Have fun, play The Game of Life or Cashflow for Kids board games

Teach your children about more complex concepts like compound interest and proper cash flow management, understanding the basics of investing in stocks and shares, real estate and other businesses. As your children become familiar with these subjects, have discussions with them about the activities they are interested in and turn these activities into a business or a career ambition. This encourages marketable skills and motivates your children towards working extra hours on gaining those skills. Enrichment courses such as speech and drama, arts and craft, creative writing and many others will help your children develop their confidence in speaking, writing and communicating, all of which are essential for their future. The more your children play, the higher their financial IQ will become.

A family’s attitude towards money has a powerful influence on a child from a very early age. Teaching our children about the proper use of money will help them develop their money skills, be more responsible and disciplined. Education is the key to developing healthy money habits in your people. You can never start teaching them too early.

For approximately the past two years the mortgage industry has provided personal information to other lenders and partners when a consumer applies for a loan. I know this is shocking. I was just as shocked as you are when I found out. As soon as the ink dries on your mortgage application your information is sold to other lenders. In one or two days your phone starts ringing off the hook with calls from other lenders trying to offer you a better deal. This process is called a “trigger lead.”

When your credit report is pulled by a mortgage lender or broker the lender’s request for your credit report triggers an alert which informs the 3 major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion that you are a potential lead looking to purchase a home or refinance your existing loan.

The credit bureaus sell these trigger leads to lenders and brokers who have subscribed to the service and provide them with a list of potential candidates who are looking for a loan and meet the lenders criteria for a loan.

Experian has a trigger lead service called Prospect Triggers that can pull out all of the consumers from the Experian consumer database that fit a lender’s credit criteria such as consumers who have never filed for bankruptcy or consumers who have a certain credit score. Information such as the number of credit cards a consumer possesses and contact information such as applicant name, address and telephone number is provided.

I feel this is a violation of privacy. Companies feel that because you list your personal information on an application they have the right to contact. I rarely get unsolicited phone calls but I recently received a call from a telemarketer and asked the caller why companies feel that they have the right to contact a consumer simply because they have access to a consumer’s contact information. I also informed the caller that I only give my phone number to people I wish to speak to which does not include telemarketers and requested that my contact information be removed from their call list and third party call lists.

Many mortgage industry staff believe trigger leads are helpful for lenders and brokers. However, I believe a customer would get a better deal if they shopped around for various offers. When a lender or broker already has some basic information about you they can develop a plan to their advantage and although the deal may sound good it may not be the best deal for you. If you comparison shop you have the upper hand because you can ask specific questions related to the type of loan you are looking and then make a decision about what company you want to do business with without feeling pressured by constant calls from lenders and brokers.

When your credit report is pulled for a lender or broker you can request that they do not enter your telephone number which may reduce telemarketer calls. However, they are phone matching programs available that can be used before the trigger leads are sold. Also as long as they have your SSN they can match up your name, address and phone number.

The sad part about this is the credit bureaus provide trigger leads to lenders and brokers and also provide consumers with opt out services. The credit bureaus make their money upfront by quickly selling your information so by the time you opt out your information has been sold many times over making them rich.

Remember when applying for a loan or filling out any application that requests your personal information immediately ask the following questions:

1. What security measures are in place to protect my personal information?

2. How the company experienced any security threats or attacks and if so how were they handled?

3. What is your privacy policy? Ask for a copy of the privacy policy or how it can be obtained online.

4. I elect to leave the SSN field blank do you have another unique number that can be used to identify me.

5. If I end my business relationship with the company how long is my personal information stored in the company database?

6. What is the method for obtaining my personal records when I end my business relationship with the company?

7. What procedures are in place to protect customer information if the company goes bankruptcy or merges with another company?

To reduce telemarketer calls register your telephone number at http://www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-567-8688. Comparison shop on sites like http://www.bankrate.com. Research a company by calling the Better Business Bureau or Department of Commerce. File a complaint against the company with the Federal Trade Commission or your state Attorney General’s Office if you feel the sales tactics used are unprofessional or deceptive.

Saving money can begin by taking little steps to control unnecessary spending. One of the problems that arises when attempting to control unnecessary spending is that we are not always aware of how much money we actually spend. There are a few things that can be done in order to get a handle on unnecessary spending in order to save money.

1. Set up a monthly budget

We have all been told this at one point in time or another – budget your money. In general, we all know the basic things that need to be in our budget – rent or mortgage, utilities, credit card payments, car payments, insurance payments, gas money, food expenses, clothing allowance, savings allowance and an entertainment or miscellaneous allowance are just some of the major budgeting areas.

When setting up a monthly budget, however, many of us simply are not as detailed as possible and at the end of the month we spend more money than our budget actually allows, usually in the form of credit card expense, which costs us more money in the long run with interest rates.

While some areas of our budget are already predetermined, other areas can be micro-managed. These areas include our food expenses and our entertainment and miscellaneous expenses. Many times we don’t realize just how much we spend on food or other expenses because we don’t take the time to save those receipts and calculate just how much we spend. This is a mistake because without doing so, we cannot see just how much we might be spending unnecessarily.

2. Get Rid of Unnecessary Spending

To get rid of unnecessary spending and start saving more money, take a month and collect the receipts for everything you spend money on, even if it’s as small as a candy bar. Create a spreadsheet that lists each item you spent money on, how much you spent and why you spent that money. Then go through and decide whether that expense was necessary or unnecessary.

Deciding what is necessary and unnecessary can be a difficult task. The way I go about making this decision is based on whether I can change some of my habitual spending in order to save money. For instance, looking back at how much money I spent on food, I realized that I had spent a total of $105 on breakfast last month. Why? Because rather than eat breakfast at home, I decided that it was easier to stop in at some drive-thru and pick up breakfast.

Had I made the same breakfast at home everyday, I would have saved approximately $65. This was just my savings on breakfast alone, when I did the same thing for lunch and dinner, I realized that by changing my habits I could have saved about $300 on my food expenses alone. When I applied the same calculations on my coffee drinking habits, which is not as great an expenditure for me as it is for others, I realized that I could save an additional $50 a month.

This technique may seem like a nickel and dime way to save money, but it adds up. Saving $350 a month just by little changes will end up saving $4200 over the course of the year.

While getting rid of unnecessary expenses takes a little time, effort and commitment to changing habits that contribute to increasing the amount of money you spend every month, the outcome is a saving a significant amount of money over time.