Save hundreds on your next Dell purchase – Amazing secrets revealed

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Mar 192022
 

Getting ready to buy a Dell computer? Before you do so, you had better read the following tips, because they can save you big on your next computer purchase. Before you get started, I would like to give you some background on Dell and their marketing/pricing strategy. Dell Computers is the largest manufacturer and retailer of computers in the world. They have about a 15% market share of all computers sold in America. Because Dell only builds a computer when it is sold, it enables Dell to keep very low inventories, and therefore, a very low price. Moreover, you can only buy a Dell at Dell. They have no retail presence. No middlemen!

Dell utilizes many channels of advertising to get the word out about their low prices. You have probably seen their ads on TV or their full page print ads in the newspaper. You may have even received a Dell catalog if you have purchased from them before. What you probably haven’t noticed is that the price of these seemingly equivalent systems vary greatly depending on where you saw the ad. This is the very first lesson on being “Dell smart.” Dell is NOT transparent in their system pricing. This means, depending on where you learned about the computer deal can greatly impact the price you pay.

Okay, so if Dell does not consistently price computer system ads, where should you go to get the best deal? That’s simple — the Internet. And by Internet, I do not mean going straight to Dell.com! To become “Dell smart,” you need to choose a Dell computer that is right for you, one that suits your needs. Computer shoppers often overspend on options they will never use. Go to your favorite search engine and look for a buying guide. After you narrow your search, go back to your search engine (I use Google) and enter “model name + review.” Read a few independent reviews about the model you’ve selected and find out what other people are saying. What are the system’s pros and cons?

Now that you know what you are looking for, let the real money saving begin! Go back to your favorite search engine and enter the words “Dell Coupon Codes.” What you should get in return is a list of Dell affiliate web sites that supply FREE coupons from Dell. These coupons are not advertised, as Dell tries to keep these for the savviest shoppers. More often than not, Dell has a $750 off coupon that can be applied at checkout allowing you to save big! Sometimes, these coupons can even be stacked, meaning you can apply more than one coupon towards your purchase, or they can be used in combination with rebates or other instant savings. Check several coupon sites until you find a coupon that works for your model. Make sure you read the fine print, and verify that the coupon is not expired. Some coupon sites give step-by-step instructions on applying coupons so make sure to do your research!

Once you have found the relevant coupons for the system you want to buy, you are ready to go to Dell to make your purchase. Purchasing a computer from Dell requires that you go through several pages of options and add-ons. This is where buyers typically get bogged down as they are overwhelmed by a number of options and upgrades. Be sure to use the buying guides you came across to identify which features and upgrades are right for you. And be aware that you can often down-grade from many of the default Dell options. For example, Windows Media Center and Windows XP Pro are practically the same operating system. However, Dell sometimes defaults to XP Pro in their options which costs significantly more than Media Center. So, downgrade whenever it makes sense for you and your needs. Once you have gone through the pages of options, you will be at checkout. This is where you will apply your coupons, select the cheapest shipping and pay tax. If you followed these steps, you should be saving hundreds of dollars for the computing system that exactly meets your needs.

Let’s recap:

1. Dell prices are not transparent, always search the internet.
2. Research the right model for YOUR needs. Use a buying guide.
3. Search for a review of the model you selected on a search engine. Use “model name” + “review”
4. Go back to your favorite search engine and enter “dell coupon codes.” Find a good coupon site with current coupons and good instructions.
5. Go to Dell, select your model, and DOWNGRADE unnecessary options and add-ons.
6. Apply your coupon at checkout (stack whenever possible)!
7. Use the lowest priced shipping.

Pat yourself on the back, because you have now saved BIG!

Looking for Dell Coupons and Dell Coupon Codes? Visit http://www.cheapstingybargains.com/cheapster/dellpage.html

Online Marketing Tactics Using Multimedia

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Mar 182022
 

Online Marketing Tactics Using Multimedia

Ah, multimedia as an Online Marketing Tactic. It’s a word that has grown so near and dear to my heart. Why, you ask? I think it’s because it’s not boring, it’s greatly interactive, and it take zero effort (usually) to enjoy it.

And strong online marketing tactics include this great interactive tool and ropes in your audience, getting them engaged in both the medium they are enjoying, AND your product.

Let’s go over just a few of the media we now easily, and inexpensively, have right at our mouse-tips.

Online Marketing Tactics Using Audio

First and foremost, everyone should be well aware that you can put some sort of
audio up on your site. I would say that’s probably the first and easiest way to give your product or website a human aspect.

If your visitors can hear your (or someone’s) voice, there’s just a connection that is made instantly. There are many different programs that you can use to create and save your audio files. I’ve found the easiest way to record and stream both audio and video is using www.audioacrobat.com.

They let you either record or upload audio and video files to their server, and it streams from there! They give you a wide choice of buttons from which to place on your website. They also give you unlimited testimonial lines that let people call in and record testimonials for you to use on your site! You can even record teleconferences with their service! And at under $20 per month, it’s a pretty good deal.

Online Marketing Tactics Using Motion

The next, most basic thing you can add to your current site is a little motion. Now, try not to overdo it by adding an animated image that repeats over and over and over.

Sure, it’s motion, but after its first or second loop, it pretty much can get rather annoying. If you can, make your motion subtle and effective. I think a lot of the animation on websites nowadays looks dated (from several years back) and downright cheesy.

So, just choose your animations wisely.

Online Marketing Tactics Using Video

A great way to add video to your site, again, is to use Audio Acrobat. You can record yourself using their website and your video cam attached to your computer. Or if you have a digital movie camera, you can also upload your video file using their service as well.

There are many services that do stream your video for you, we just use Audio Acrobat, so that’s why I’m mentioning them so much! You can also stream it directly from your own web server, just be aware of your monthly bandwidth limits and plan accordingly.

Online Marketing Tactics Using Screen Capture

Another great type of video is a screen-capture movie. The best known is www.techsmith.com or Camtasia. This is a great program, and lets you record what you are doing on your screen. This is fantastic for tutorials on how to use your product, or how to buy your product!

You can also stick a little picture-in-picture in your tutorial of you talking directly to your prospect! Nice! And, better yet, it’s a great online marketing tactic to get them to trust you to buy your product or service!

So, how can you make your particular product and website more interactive using any of the online marketing tactics I’ve mentioned above?

Easy.

Just start by adding one of the methods above near the top of your home page. Start with that. If you don’t have any way of knowing how many people have visited your website, then visit www.statcounter.com and get free stat counters on your pages so you can track how many visitors have come to your site and how long they’ve stayed…etc.

You’ll be amazed.

The first step in creating an arsenal of “online marketing tactics” is to know what tools are out there for you to use. Once you get your feet wet with those, and you see the results, you’ll want to add more and more! I guarantee it!

Richard East
www.richardinromania.com

How to handle the top 10 SME Sales Objections – Part II

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Mar 172022
 


Part I discussed the three main types of sales objections. This part will highlight the 10 most common objections, and how to handle them to close the sale. The most important thing through out the sales cycle, that you can do, is to ensure that your customer appreciates the value of your offering. Most if not all of the 10 Objections can be avoided by continual qualification and value verification. “What benefit, in addition to those that we have discussed will that bring?”




To recap briefly, in part I, we saw that potential customers generally raise objections for three specific reasons.



Tactics for Negotiation.



Assuming that your buyer fully appreciates the value that your product will bring them, some still need to get a “deal”. The range of people looking for a deal can be entrepreneurs, Professional procurement and government departments.


Planted by Competitor



Very few sales professionals operate in a vacuum. They normally have to face competitors at many different stages in the sales cycle. The earlier you face them



Genuine concern or an Expectation Gap.



The final type of objection arises normally due to a lack of qualification, or indeed not following an appropriate sales process. If at the close, a potential buyer is still not convinced, then either you have closed too early, or you have not addressed all their concerns.



The top 10 Sales Objections that SME’s face are as follows;




    You are too expensive! – This is obviously a ploy, since you should have been getting the customer to iterate the value of your offering in their terms, throughout the sales cycle. Ask them the following, make sure you use the word “feel”, since this could be an emotional response; “In respect of the value you believe you will be getting which is X, how do you feel this is too expensive?” This will give you the real reason, or may just help in clarifying what they are really getting.

    You are too small! – This is a genuine concern for a lot of buyers. However you have not got to the closing stage of a sale, if you did not have something that they want. In this instance, you need to ask specifically – “In what way do you feel we are too small” and then answer that concern, with a matching benefit about size, such as the ability to meet their needs easily, due to your size and agility.

    I will need to check with the Boss! – Why are you trying to close a sale with someone who does not have authority to buy? If they do have authority, they are looking for time, because something has spooked them, you need at this stage to ask them “If you could make the decision now – would you buy it?” and if the answer is yes follow up with “will you then recommend to your boss that we buy it, would you like me to meet with your boss to help you?”

    You don’t have XYZ feature! – One of the oldest in the book, normally preceding a negotiation – unless of course they really want it, in which case, why did you only find out now? The best response is to ask them first “If we had XYZ feature, would you go ahead?” if the answer to that is yes ask them “What benefit, in addition to those that we have discussed will that bring?” This will flush out if it is real, and will also give you a chance to put their value on this new feature, which you can then build into the pricing.

    Not sure if I have the budget for that! – Again, without a budget clearly identified, what are you closing for? What you need to do is reiterate the value, discuss how they had previously agreed to fund it, and ask if you can help with finance. The old fashioned hard-sell “If budget was not an issue” just doesn’t cut the mustard anymore!

    I can get that cheaper elsewhere! – You have to ask them the direct question “would that be the exact same model, with the same options and the same level of support that we give you?” If they answer yes to that, then wish them all the best and walk away if you know your price is fair. Many times, it is a ploy, and sometimes a competitor is “buying” the business – don’t sacrifice your margins for the sake of it!

    Our policy is to go out to tender! – Again, I must ask, why now, why did you not know the decision making process beforehand? Still if you didn’t know, you must clarify what the basis of decision will be. It is always smart to ask straight up, if they would award you the business if they did not have to go out to tender. Helping write the RFT (Request for Tender) is one of the surest ways of winning!

    How can I be sure you will still be in business in 2 years? – This is probably the most difficult to answer, especially as you won’t know exactly where they are coming from. If you are a software company and they are worried that they would lose the rights to the source code, should things go wrong – use a company to hold the code in Escrow. What ever the situation, always ask for clarification as to their concern.

    Not sure if we need one right now! – Oh for goodness sake! What have you been selling? Have you not clarified early on in the sales cycle; a date of ownership, the value of owning what you are selling and what happens if they maintain the status quo? If you have done all the above correctly, then ask what has happened to make them change their mind?

    I’ll need to get back to you on that! – Don’t let them off the hook now. You must not let them get away, without setting the date and time for the next meeting, when they will deliver you a decision. You should ask them what criteria they will be using for that decision, and if there is anything else you can do to help them.


There are far more objections than these which you will face, however most of them are variations on a theme. The most important thing to do is to clarify the reason behind the objection, by asking open ended questions. Always make it easy for the prospect to save face, and remember, the more qualifying you do up front, the less objections you will face at the close!


Our existing customers get weekly advice like this directly for their sales teams. You may wish to consider Sales Management Outsourcing, which is a service we provide to help drive up your sales.


This article was written by Peter Lawless of 3R Sales & Marketing. For previous articles like this, visit 3R’s InfoCentre. Subscribe to Success our monthly information bulletin. This free bulletin, will grant you access to interviews and articles on sales, marketing, CRM and wealth creation as soon as they are written. This is a great way of getting advice to help you increase your bottom line.


Want to go a step further? Then ask for a Complimentary Sales and Marketing Assessment of your business. We will go through a time tested structured questionnaire with the Business Owner. We will then deliver a report based on our findings. In addition this is entirely free and you have no further commitment or obligation.

Why You Should Avoid Paying Income Taxes with a Credit Card

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Mar 162022
 

We all agree that the credit card is very convenient. That is why the IRS allows you pay your taxes through it. To sweeten the deal, credit card companies offer rewards in the form of frequent flyer miles. So you can get a free air ticket too. But hang on, is that convenient to your pocket too? Sadly, the answer is no.

Disadvantages

The IRS has authorized third party companies to process your credit card payments. However, you, the taxpayer has to pay for it. So, every time you use your credit card to pay tax, you also have to pay a fee that is usually around 2.49 % of your tax. Thus if you are paying $18,000 in taxes, you also pay an additional fee of around $450. Now add the fee charged by travel rewards credit cards and you can drop the second letter from the word ‘free’ as in free airline ticket.

If you are in debt, the last thing you want is more debt. Annual interest charges are quite high, even going up to 30%. You could spend the rest of your life paying for the $18450 ‘convenience.’ If you are in debt with many credit cards, this additional debt can lead to bankruptcy. But even that cannot save you. As per law, you still have to pay taxes along with other payments like child support or alimony.

It is for these reasons that consumer agencies like the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCA) suggest alternative ways of paying income tax. You could dip into your savings bank account or take a loan at a lower interest rate.

There are only two conditions under which this transaction looks good. You pay the IRS with your credit card and simultaneously pay off the credit card company as well. This way, you avoid the interest payments, if it is any consolation. The other condition is that if it is impossible for you to meet the IRS deadline. While the IRS can grab most of your assets immediately, your credit card company cannot. While the case is in court, you may just win a lottery or inherit a windfall!

Unsecured Business Loans – Raise Your Business To New Heights

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Mar 152022
 

Running a business is not an easy task. It is full of risk and uncertainty. Though the entrepreneur always remains cautious still crisis can occur at anytime. The entrepreneur might then need cash urgently. Now, from where can he get the much needed money? The best way out is applying for unsecured business loans.

Unsecured business loans provide the entrepreneurs with enough money to deal with the financial crisis. An entrepreneur can borrow money ranging from £30,000 to £250,000 and can pay back in the form of monthly installments between 1-20 years. The lender however decides the amount on the basis of the credit score, income and repayment capacity of the borrower.

The money drawn from unsecured business loans can be used to start up a new business, expand the existing one, renovating the premises, financing a project, purchase equipments and much more. The interest rate charged on unsecured business loans is comparatively high as it is not secured against any collateral.

Unsecured business loans provide a range of benefits. Since these loans are not tied to any collateral, therefore the property of the borrower is free from the risk of repossession. Further, it is free from hassles of valuation of property and enormous paper work. Due to this reason the loan is sanctioned fast. There is flexibility in terms of monthly payments. Some lenders can provide the entrepreneur the facility to pay more when he earns good profits and pay less or absolutely nothing when he is undergoing a loss.

People with a bad credit history like arrears, defaults, county court judgments or bankrupts can also avail the advantage of unsecured business loans provided that they are able to win the confidence of the lender and they promise to repay back on time.

Unsecured business loans can be borrowed from various banks and financial institutions. Dealing with physical financers involves lot of time and effort. If you are looking for a quick and hassle free procedure, you should search for online loan providing organizations. All you need to do is simply surf through different websites on the internet and fill in the online loan application form. The lender will be at your service with the most appropriate deal to match with your requirements. You can also collect quotes from various lenders and compare the loan amount, loan term, rate of interest and other relevant information.

Hence, unsecured business loans can help you to maximize the level of profits making your business flourish. They provide you with enough funds without keeping your property at stake. Now, you can accomplish the dream of raising your business to new heights thus becoming a successful businessperson.

Affiliate Internet Marketing Tools – How To Start And Easily Profit From Your Own Affiliate Business

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Mar 142022
 

Affiliate Internet Marketing are the latest in truly successful residual income strategies. They are the choice of online experts. It is one of the most effective and powerful ways of
earning some money online. Affiliate Internet Marketing gives everybody a chance to make a profit through the Internet.

Since these Affiliate Internet Marketing Programs are easy to join, implement and pays a commission on a regular basis, more an more people are now willing in this Business.

————————————————-
What is an Affiliate Marketing Business, you ask?
————————————————-

Here’s the core definition given by Ewen Chia,
one of the top Affiliate Internet Marketer:
Affiliate Internet Marketing is the promotion and advertising of products by a third party(The Affiliate), In Exchange For Commission-Based Compensation. in your Affiliate Internet
Marketing Business the more people who visit your site, the greater your chances become for creating a good and residual income.

————————————————————-
Why Affiliate Internet Marketing is the right business model?
————————————————————-

– You have just to sign-up for an Affiliate Program, learn how to market their products, drive traffic to the merchant’s website, refer new customers, collect your commissions,
and get into business online instantly.
– You didn’t have to create any products or mess around with inventory storage.
– You’ll never have to handle refunds, returns or customer inquiries…

-As an Affiliate Internet Marketer, you are dealing with a global Market place. All you have to do is choose a niche product in which you’re excited and prepare all the necessary tools to run your Affiliate Internet Marketing Business.

————————————————————
Rights Tools You Need To Become An Expert Affiliate Internet Marketer:
————————————————————

A computer with a connection to the Internet. It doesn’t even need to be your own – though that does make it more comfortable.
Beyond that, there are tons of techniques that you can build into your strategy for getting the very most out of your earnings. Typically, this starts with a website; A website, simple or complex, one simple page or a big deal, an
autoresponder to automate your business.

However, the biggest question most of Internet Marketer who just start ask is how to use efficiently this tools and get the
lattest proven techniques. like all businesses, to start making money and success in your Affiliate Internet Marketing, you need
to use the strategies and methods using by the top Affiliate Internet Marketers to promote an Affiliate Program.

I am going here to show some proven tasks I use myself:

First of all,

1. Ask questions first before you join an Affiliate Program.

– Do a little research about the choices of Program that you intend to join into. Get some answers because they will be the deciding point of what you will be achieving later on.

– Will it cost you anything to join? Most Affiliate Programs being offered today are absolutely free of charge. So why settle for those that charge you some dollars before joining.

– When do they issue the commission checks?
– What is the hit per sale ratio? This factor is extremely important because this will tell you how much traffic you must generate before you can earn a commission from the sale.

– How are referrals from an affiliate’s site tracked and for how long do they remain in the system? You need to be confident on the program enough to track those people you refer from your
site. This is the only way that you can credit for a sale.

-What are the kinds of affiliate stats available?
Does the affiliate program also pay for the hits and impressions besides the commissions on sales?
Is the affiliate a one tier or two tier program?
what is the amount of commission paid?

These are just some of the questions that needed answering first before you enter into an Affiliate Program. You should be familiar with the many important aspects that your chosen
Program should have before incorporating them into your website.

2. Never promote directly your affiliate URL, you need to redirect it. It may sound crasy but let me explain you.

Assuming you send your visitors directly to the merchant site.
If they don’t buy your product, you lost them for ever. You don’t have the opportunity to contact and persuade them again. I
suggest you to direct the visitors to the merchant site through your own website. Doing this allows you to get their address and
name. It is a known fact that people do not make a purchase on the first solicitation, you can follow up with your sale copy via auto responder later if they don’t purchase your product.

Affiliate Programs are an excellent way to generate income for your site or someone else’s, and it is a pretty good introduction into ecommerce, however but it’s a numbers game.
Basically, the more people who visit your site, the greater your chances become for creating a good income. You need to find really people looking for your product. You will talk
about How to run targeted visitors to your website in our next article.

Just put every thing we cover in this article in practice, and you’ll be on your way to success.

Tie The Knot Of Love With The Help Of Wedding Loans

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Mar 132022
 

Wedding is a knot of love that binds two souls together. It is a special occasion that occurs in the life of everyone. Weddings are made in Heaven and settled on earth, is an old saying. To make it a memorable moment, one tends to do the best preparations. Earlier, the parents used to bear the wedding expenditure. But now the scenario has changed. The couples themselves are coming forward to meet their wedding expenses. At times, you might fall short of money. To meet this urgent requirement of money, there are wedding loans.

Wedding Loans have been explicitly designed for borrowers who need money to organize a wedding. They serve a number of purposes. They can be used to meet the costs of wedding dress, decorations, reception, honeymoon tickets, wedding ring and other miscellaneous costs like photography etc.

Wedding loans enable the borrower to choose between secured and unsecured loans.
Secured wedding loans can be easily availed by placing a security. The security can be a fixed asset like an automobile, home or any other property. Unsecured loans do not require a security. Tenants can avail the benefits of unsecured loans.

Getting wedding loans at an affordable rate of interest benefits the borrower. Though the borrower sometimes might has to pay more than what he had actually spent, yet it is not experienced like a burden. It is because he does not have to pay the whole amount in one go. Monthly installments are arranged to facilitate the borrower to repay back easily.

The amount that can be extracted from wedding loans usually ranges from £1000 to £25,000. It can be repaid between a period of 5-10 years.

Planning the wedding is important before opting for wedding loans. It will be helpful in determining what expenses are to be incurred within the budget and will then make you borrow accordingly.

Wedding loans promise to serve a diverse group of people irrespective of the credit history. If you have been denounced as a bad debtor you can still get wedding loans approved. Placing a collateral will enable you to get the loan at a reasonable rate of interest.

Applying for wedding loans online is the most convenient method. It involves less time and efforts. Just fill in the hassle free online loan application form. The lender will be at your service within 24 hours or maximum by 72 hours. Collecting quotes from different lenders and comparing the total loan cost and monthly installments is a wise step. This will help you get the best possible deal.

Make your wedding a grand occasion with the help of wedding loans. Begin a beautiful life with your spouse and live happily ever after.

Home Insurance

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Mar 122022
 

It seems like accidents, disasters, and catastrophes only strike when you’re uninsured. Even if your policy only lapses one day, that will be the day that the neighbor’s tree falls into your house. Not having home insurance these days is a bad idea, for every year on the news we hear about some new tragic event that has occurred because Nature had her way. Even a simple summer thunderstorm can cause wreckage and property damage. And you know that it’s better to be prepared, even if insurance seems never to pay off.

Though the entire idea of paying money to a company every single month “just in case” something happens seems a little ridiculous, these days you can’t get by without insurance. Even the incredibly lucky will have unlucky days. The last thing you want is to be the one throwing your hands up and lamenting the next time there’s a flood, tornado, or earthquake. Repair costs to damaged property and destroyed valuables often ends up being much more costly in the end.

So, you know that you have to have insurance on your home. But that doesn’t mean that you can afford to pay costly rates to protect your property. After all, everyone has to live within a certain budget, and usually there isn’t room for much extra. So how can you safely insure all your property and still afford to live on your property?

It’s always a great idea to shop around and find the cheapest quotes, but who honestly has the time to stay on the phone all day? There are ways to find the best deal on your home insurance without wasting a lot of your own valuable time. First, know how to cross-deal and, if possible, lump your insurance together.

If you already own a car, boat, or have any type of insurance on anything (even life insurance on yourself), you may be able to get a better deal all the way around. Call your insurance provider or insurance agent and tell them you’d like to talk about home insurance, you already have existing insurance, and can they be linked together? You’d be surprised how many companies offer deals this way, and in some cases your existing insurance becomes much cheaper. Even if you are only renting, you’ll find that renter’s insurance is affordable and can lower your car insurance costs. For those who already have insurance policies, or need multiple insurance, the best thing to do is to get all the insurance you need from one agent or company. Not only is this often much cheaper than buying several different policies, it saves you a lot of aggravation and extra bills. It’s much easier to write a single check for all your insurance every month than five different checks to five different companies.

Another way to find the best quotes on home insurance is to use the Internet. Through any search engine, you’ll be able to find sites where you can compare the quotes of several different companies at the same time. Often by filling out a single online form, shoppers will be able to compare many policies at once. Calling around on the phone to essentially do the same thing could take hours, but with the Internet getting quotes is as simple as clicking a button. Many sites offer these quotes for free, so you shouldn’t pay anything just to get home insurance quotes.

Home insurance is something that all homeowners should have. Rental insurance can protect renters, and is often purchased at very affordable prices. Insurance doesn’t have to be expensive, and getting the best rates doesn’t have to be a hassle. By finding the best deals, and getting the best price, you’ll have money in your pocket and your home will still be secure.

Understanding the development process of a stepfamily

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Mar 112022
 

Part of The Stepfamily Coach approach is having families see themselves as a team. To aid this I’ve developed The Stepfamily Development Model. The model breaks down into four parts: getting going, growing, flowing and glowing.

Understanding each of these areas alone will really help blend a family, ease the stress and find greater happiness within the family.

Let’s explore each of these areas.

Getting Going. This is the stage that two people fall in love. They want to spend as much time as possible together. They only see the good things about each other. The fact that children are involved hardly matters at this point as love conquers all! And this is a second chance and it’s going to be wonderful – a lovely partner and one big happy family.

In the background of this Getting Going stage the practicality is that the children will need a lot of guidance and direction from their parent. They will also need reassurance too so as to avoid feeling shut out. The new partner will also need lots of support and guidance on how to interact with the young people of the house.

This whole stage is littered with dreams and uncertainty with hardly anyone knowing what to do or how to act.

At this stage it’s ideal to plan, look ahead, discuss the future and all the what if’s and buts. Think about the reality of living together. Who will discipline who, what are acceptable standards amongst the children, etc.

At the Getting Going stage parents and their the new partner must be prepared to answer lots of questions: about relationships with the new people, about the other parent and how things are going to be now at home. You’ll need to answer questions around what they should call the new adult in the house. The children may well test the tolerance of the new adult and any new processes/systems may well be ignored.

Every adult I speak too in a stepfamily who is having difficulties tells me they wished they’d come to me sooner when they were planning blending families. They realise that discussing key things early would make life a lot easier later. As the old saying goes, failing to plan is just planning to fail.

Growing. The realities are beginning to really hit home. You’ve moved in together and are realising that you don’t agree with the way your partner disciplines their own children and even worse the way they discipline yours. You don’t see your children as much because your ex is resentful or your new partner is not getting along with them. There are arguments amongst the children and you and your partner are feeling the tension in your own relationship and in the relationship with the children.

Decisions can be hard to make within the family, as there are so many different needs to take into account. Each member of the family will attempt to establish themselves in relation to other new family members. At this stage the adults are likely to receive challenges from the children. There are still plenty of uncertainties but family members are becoming clearer and more confident.

This confidence can bring headaches. You may well find that siblings ‘gang’ up and cliques and divisions form. From older children there may be power struggles. The adults in the family need to really keep in mind what they want to achieve and avoid becoming caught up in/distracted by emotional issues. A good approach for adults here is to ask lots of questions to understand how people are thinking and feeling.

It’s during this stage that many families get stuck. There is lots of learning, lots of realization coming all at the same time and adults can, understandably, get overwhelmed with what to do with all this information. The thing is if something isn’t done with the information then rifts, arguments, irritations and conflict grow. This is where stepfamily life can be at it’s most stressful; leaving you feeling drained and very unhappy, at worse families break up … again.

If in this position, parents and/or partners can really reap rewards form seeking support and guidance through this difficult time. One way to is to get yourself a good Coach. Flexible and empowering, impartial and non-judgmental, having your own personal family coach is a really valuable way to get help.

Flowing. You’ve learnt how to communicate effectively. You appreciate that everyone is different and although you might not agree you can accept. You are in a settled routine and understand everyone’s needs and how to fulfil them.

This is the phase where family members begin to be able to make agreements and cooperate. Adults now find it easier work with the children. Everyone is now clear on their place in the family and feel accepted within that. Now adults move much more into consulting the whole family when making family decisions with an aim to gain everyone’s agreement. There is now a strong sense of being part of a family unit and everyone feels commitment to that group. As a family you talk issues over and hold in mind what would work better for everyone. There is general respect for adults and children alike and older children might share some of the leadership.

Glowing. You celebrate your differences. The children are well balanced and effectively balance their two homes. Everyone respects and appreciates each other.

The family members now have a clear vision and everyone knows clearly why they are doing what they are doing. The family has a shared vision and everyone interacts with little intervention from the adults. There is a real feel for working together and doing the best for the family and everyone makes most of their decisions based on their family values.

Sure, disagreements occur but now they are resolved positively and the family makes necessary changes. The family is able to work together, and individuals can sort out issues and challenges with relative ease. Family members look after each other. The family needs little direction from the adults and needs little instruction on how to behave and interact with each other. Family members might ask for help from the adults with personal and interpersonal development.

One strong, happy family!

It is natural for families to continue to cycle back to growing through the process to glowing regularly as the children grow and life evolves. The difference is next time the growing stage is a lot easier because you already have strong relationships, a deeper understanding and respect for each other and new tools and techniques to deal with what comes your way.

What stage of the cycle is your family?

Are you in the growing stage and fed up of it? Do you want to move more into the flow of stepfamily?

Or

Are you planning to move in together and blend your families? Do you want to make the transition as smooth and stress free as possible?

The Stepfamily Coach helps you build strong relationships and a happy home.
Wishing you a very happy month with your family.

Jo
www.TheStepfamilyCoach.com
© Jo Ball 2006

Take hold of your finances with consolidation debt rate

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Mar 102022
 

Consolidation debt rate is the rate of interest that a borrower is charged on a debt consolidation loan in order to get rid of multiple debts. The interest rate however varies from lender to lender.

Your credit score also determines the rate of interest charged on the loan. Credit score as rated by FICO is a three-digit rating that is based on your financial history. A credit score of 850 is considered as the best. A score of 600 and below is rated as poor and depicts that the person may have difficulty in obtaining credit. Therefore, one should take effective measures to improve the credit score. If the credit report contains certain unsolicited items, one should immediately report it to a credit rating agency and get it updated.

Borrowers with a bad credit history can also attain lower interest rates on the condition that they secure a collateral against debt consolidation loan. They have to ensure that the repayments are made on time else the lender can even seize the property.

Before going a debt consolidation way, the borrower needs to keep few things in mind. He must be aware of the rate prevalent in the market. The actual rate charged on the loan may be different as various other things are also considered in determining the interest rate. The employment history, current income, collateral placed and the repayment potential of the borrower is equally important in determining the rate of interest and monthly installments payable on the loan. Secondly, the repayment tenure must be small. Most of the borrowers believe that by extending the repayment term they lessen their burden. Though it spreads the loan amount over a longer period, it also increases the rate of the loan.

Consolidation debt rate quote can be collected from various lenders by simply filling in the loan application form. The loan quote collected will give an accurate idea of the terms and conditions offered on debt consolidation loan. The borrower can further use it to compare between several other loan deals offered by different lenders. Every detail given by the borrower in the loan application form is carefully considered to provide the best possible deal.

There are different lenders available in the financial market offering debt consolidation loans at competitive rates. Unlike traditional lenders such as banks and other financial institutions, online lenders are easily approachable and accessible. A little search through the Internet will help you gain knowledge of various loan-providing organizations at a stretch. The online method is more convenient and free of hassles. There is also the provision of online loan calculator that gives an estimate of the rate of interest and monthly installments payable on the loan. The borrower can also seek assistance from an online loan advisor on how to get the lowest rate.

Consolidating multiple debts at an affordable rate is now made possible for every borrower. So it is time to take control of your finances once again and improve your credit score.

Debt Management – How a Debt Consolidator Can Reduce Your Debt

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Mar 092022
 

Debt Management – How a Debt Consolidator Can Reduce Your Debt
A Debt consolidation program starts with evaluating your financial situation. This process involves an in depth analysis of your financial standing. That analysis will help you to evaluate whether it is better to file for bankruptcy or go for a debt consolidation program. A debt consolidation analysis will estimate the debtor’s potential savings through the program.When a deal is finalized with the debt consolidation company and the debtor. The next step is for one of the counselors to contact the creditors and work out a reduction in the interest rates and monthly payments at an amount that will be affordable to the debtor.Through negotiations with the creditors, the debt consolidation company usually reduces or eliminates the interest charged. The balance owed towards the creditors is reduced and they can give the debtor a reduction in even the principal amount.The Debt consolidation program will also help the debtors by inducing the creditors to stop the legal actions which they were taking against the debtor which means they can no more devour debtor’s income nor can they take the debtor to court. Also this starts bringing up the credit rating of the debtor because now the debtor is repaying the debts under the new agreement.With this method of debt relief, the debtor will no longer have to answer embarrassing phone calls from his creditors. The debtor will not receive any bills or pay the creditors directly. The debt consolidation program will directly take control over the creditors. The debtor will just need to pay the debt consolidation company a single amount every month according to the budget which was agreed upon with the debtors. So there is no need for any interaction with the creditors.Most of the time these systems are free to the debtor because the fees are paid by the creditors, since they would rather get something in return than lose all the money that the debtor owes them. Also, programs like this work for those with good or bad credit. It is a great solution for debt reduction to use a debt services company or consolidator that uses this method.

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