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Top 5 Reasons Why Your Credit Score Matters

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article | Top 5 Reasons Why Your Credit Score MattersIf you’ve been trying to get your finances in order lately, you may be looking for the best way to see credit score to help you gauge your current creditworthiness. Your credit score might not cross your mind often, but these three numbers are essentially a distillation of your history of handling borrowed money and can have a bigger effect in your everyday life than you might think. From determining what types of loans you qualify for to impacting your insurance rates, phone plans and even rental apartment, your credit score can be surprisingly meaningful in a number of ways. If it’s been a while since you’ve checked your score or worked towards improving it, it’s important to keep a number of key facts in mind about the importance of your credit score and what you can do to raise it over time.

1. It Affects the Loans You Qualify For

If you’re planning on applying for a major loan soon, you should be aware that having poor credit could disqualify you for certain loans. In some scenarios, you may be able to qualify but could get stuck with higher interest rates and worse repayment terms than if you had a higher score. For example, if you’re planning to purchase a home in the near future and will need to apply for a mortgage, your credit score may affect such factors as how much of a mortgage you’ll be able to take out and the interest rate for paying it back. This could potentially add up to paying tens of thousands of dollars more over the years, so improving your score before applying could potentially save you a significant amount of money in the long run.

2. It Could Affect Which Apartments You Can Rent

Even if you’re not planning to purchase a home, having a less-than-ideal credit score can affect the apartments you may be able to rent. Many landlords require a credit check before agreeing to lease their property, and some many use it as a way to filter out possible tenants and decide to whom they want to give the rental contract. Besides potentially keeping you out of a place you wanted, a poor credit score could also result in being asked for higher up-front rental deposits, again costing you more money than if you had a higher score.

3. It Could Impact Your Insurance

It may surprise you to learn that your credit score can actually affect your insurance costs. Insurers will sometimes use credit checks as a way of figuring out how much to charge since they use it as a measure of risk. A poor score could mean higher rates, which could potentially translate to hundreds more in costs per year.

4. It Could Prevent You From Getting a Better Phone Plan

Another unexpected way your credit score can impact your everyday life is that a poor score could keep you from getting a better phone plan. Mobile deals advertised on television, for instance, usually require credit scores above a certain threshold in order to qualify. A bad score could mean you won’t be able to get a better deal. Additionally, some carriers won’t grant you a contract at all, instead leaving you with only a pay-as-you-go option.

5. It Could Keep You From Getting a Car

Finally, if you don’t have good credit, you may find it difficult to finance a car. Auto loan rates often depend on a credit check, which means a better score can translate into access to the car loan you want. Without good credit, you may not be able to afford the vehicle you have your eye on.

Whether you’re planning to purchase a home and need a mortgage or just want to qualify for better car insurance rates, having a good credit score can make a big difference in your everyday life. While it can be easy for your credit score to slip through the cracks when you have other things on your plate, keeping up with your score and trying to improve it over time can help open new opportunities to you. If you’re trying to sort out your finances and boost your score, keep these important facts in mind and you’ll be well on your way to a stronger financial future before you know it.

Choosing A Web Design Training Course

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article, Choosing A Web Design Training Course

Website design training is a must for all businesses. In the current day and age, the importance of having an attractive and effective website simply cannot be ignored. The only trouble is that there are so many web design courses for you to choose from, which can be a little bit confusing and overwhelming.

But, there is no need to panic, as we are going to give you a helping hand by giving you an insight into the key qualities that all web design training courses should have.

  • Private training – You should always look for a training instructor who is willing to provide you with private training. This ensures that you extract maximum value from the training course, and that the content you are being taught is entirely suited to the needs of your business.
  • A good reputation – You are advised to read reviews that have been left by people that have already taken the course. The same applies irrespective of whether you are looking for HTML training, an Adobe Illustrator course, or any other form of training. If you come across a lot of negative comments, you know to look elsewhere.
  • Various design platforms – What platforms are you going to be taught about creating a website on? Does the trainer have the flexibility to adapt to your needs? WordPress training may be something you want to look out for in this respect. If you take a look at a reputable website design company today, they may specialize in one platform, but they will have a basic understanding and have probably received training in a number of areas.
  • Impressive portfolio – Last but not least, take a look at the trainer’s website design portfolio. After all, why should you trust them to teach you about website design if they can’t create impressive websites themselves?
  • Their own website – This leads to the next point: if you are going to choose the right website design training company for you, you should look at their website first. After all, if the website is slow to load and difficult to navigate, this does not leave a very good impression, does it? Experts working in custom website design company shouldn’t have excuses when it comes to making an incredible website, and so this is definitely an area that we recommend paying a lot of attention to when you are looking for the best courses for you.
  • Practicalities – Last but not least, you will want to consider all of the practicalities, such as course time and location. You should also consider the price to make sure that this is something you are happy with as well. These are all the sort of things that you will know yourself what is right for you.

If you take the points that have been mentioned into account, you can be confident that you have found the best website design training for your needs. This is not an area you can afford to rush into and make a rash decision.

How To Save A Small Fortune When Launching Your New Company

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StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Launch a new company|How To Save A Small Fortune When Launching Your New CompanyIf you’re thinking about launching a new company during the next couple of months, you’re probably worrying about getting the investment you need to get the concept off the ground. Sure, you’re going to need some cash to turn your business dreams into a reality, but there are plenty of ways to reduce your spending and save a small fortune if you pay attention to the expert advice on this page.

Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the most straightforward and simple ways you can limit the amount you need to invest in getting your venture off the ground. Depending on your business idea’s nature, you may have to tailor some of these suggestions accordingly. Just use some common sense!

Work from home during the early days

There is no reason to rent an office or buy business premises when you’re just starting out. In most instances, you can save lots of money by working from home. Maybe you have a spare bedroom or a garage that you can convert into an office? Perhaps you can take a desk up to your attic or something similar?

Working from home will mean you don’t have to worry about renting an office until you begin to make a profit. Of course, there are some downsides to working from home, and you’ll have to work hard to limit their impact as much as possible.

For example, working from home can become a real pain if you have family members or children in the house. So, you need to make sure they know to leave you alone when you’re sitting at your desk. The last thing you need is for the kids to knock on your door every five minutes.

StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Launch a new company|How To Save A Small Fortune When Launching Your New Company Outsource some of the work

You can increase your output during your business’s early stages without spending too much money if you choose to outsource some of the work. You can’t afford to hire employees at the moment, so it’s sensible to find freelancers willing to help out on an as and when basis.

There are lots of excellent freelancing websites you can use to find the right professionals, and you just need to open an account to get started. In most instances, you will post a job, and the freelancers will bid for the work. You then select the individual you deem most suitable and let them get started.

Some of the best freelancing websites around today include:

  • People Per Hour
  • Fiverr
  • Guru
  • DesignCrowd
  • Upwork

StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article |Launch a new company|How To Save A Small Fortune When Launching Your New CompanyPurchase the items you need in bulk

Experts from Supply Link USA and many other professionals claim that buying your essentials in bulk could help you to save a fortune in business expenses. Whether you need to purchase ink and toner for your printer and photocopier, or you need stationery and other items, bulk buying is the best solution.

Don’t make the mistake of buying the things you need from high street retailers because you will pay the highest prices. Instead, you should look towards getting in touch with the suppliers who stock those stores. At the end of the day, you’re in the business world now, and you can get lots of discounts if you’re smart.

Use the latest software

New business software reaches the market every single day, and using it can save you a lot of working hours, according to The Balance. Sure, you’ll have to make an initial investment to get the solutions you require. However, they could save you lots of money in the long run. Why employ humans to perform a task when there is software out there that will do it?

Take some time to research your competitors and the software they use to run their operations if you struggle to know where to start. There is no harm in replicating the processes used by other companies in your industry when you’re just starting out.

Also, find some reputable blogs and news websites that publish articles about your industry. That way, you should remain at the forefront of the market and ensure you hear about any new revelations or software releases ahead of time.

Automate as much as possible

Automation is everything in the business world at the moment, and you’ll need to automate as many of your essential processes as possible if you want to make a killing while reducing your expenses.

It doesn’t make sense to pay someone to enter information into a database for hours when you can find software that will do it instantly. The same goes for lots of other processes and actions within your operation. If you can work out a way to automate them, you shouldn’t have to spend any additional cash.

Depending on your industry and your company’s nature, it could be possible to automate everything from lead generation to distribution if you’re smart.

Ask friends and family to help

Lastly, sometimes you need to call on people who care about you if you need to reduce costs when launching a new business. You might even think about asking them for funding. While you might not have enough capital to employ workers outright, you’ll probably need some assistance. That is where your friends and family could come in handy.

Ask people you trust if they’re willing to lend a hand for a few hours for free whenever you need some help. If it makes you feel better, you could offer to pay the person for their time when your company begins to make a profit. You could even promise to offer them a job first whenever you’re ready to employ workers.

You should now have some excellent ideas that will help you to save a small fortune when launching a new business venture during the next few months. Be sure to spend a lot of time on your business plan and make sure you cover all the bases if you don’t want to face any nasty surprises. Understand your costs, budget accordingly, and make sure you have some cash spare in case something goes wrong. If you do that, nothing should stand between yourself and business success.

How to Handle Working from Home Stress

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Work from Home Stress| How to Handle Working from Home StressWere you one of the 49% of British workers who worked from home during lockdown? If so, you might not be heading back into the office just yet.

For some workers, moving to home turf to do the day job has been a largely positive experience. However, for others, this shift has had a negative impact on their mental wellbeing, causing stress levels to rise and an increase in feelings of isolation – and these feelings are nothing new.

According to a 2017 study by the United Nations, which looked at 15 countries including the UK, US, and India, 41% of employees who mostly worked from home said they were highly stressed. And in his 2014 report, ‘Wat als we Nieuw gaan Werken?’ (What if we Start Working New?’), Belgium-based academic, Henrik Delagrange found that there is a higher risk of burnout for those who work longer hours remotely.

While the stats are negative here, there are ways to find the balance. If we’re feeling overwhelmed while working from home, here are some ways to handle those stressful feelings.

Have something to look forward to

When did you last book a holiday? Lockdown has meant that many of us aren’t taking the holidays we usually would, but it’s important to have a break, even if you’ve not got anything planned.

Also, there are some big events coming up that can help to restore some sense of normality. Halloween and Christmas are just a few months away so why not start shopping for these? Have a look at sweet treats, such as Christmas chocolate hampers, to really get into the festive spirit.

Take a time out

It can be easy to not take any breaks while you’re getting through your daily to-do list. But walking away from your computer and doing something unconnected for 10 minutes can help you switch off for a while. By doing this, you are resetting your mind and you may find that you’re able to focus on what you’re working on in a more productive way.

Set a schedule

We’re connected to work 24/7, thanks to technology. This makes it increasingly difficult to switch off our computer when the working day is over.

However, if you’re finding that your work life is creeping into your downtime, it might be worth setting yourself a schedule – and sticking to it. Decide on what you’ll be doing at 9am, 11am, and after lunch so that you have tasks to do and a rough time to complete them by and this will allow you to methodically get through your to-do list and give you the chance to plan ahead for the rest of the week.

Download an app

There are lots of mindfulness apps that are available right now, and, while they’re all slightly different, their common aim is to help you feel calmer and less stressed. Calm, Headspace, and Aura are just some of the apps that are available on iOS and Android devices, and as they’re designed for your phone, you can take them with you and access them when you need a break or are starting to feel overwhelmed.

Speak to someone

If you’re finding things tough, speak to colleagues or, if you feel you need to let your manager know, arrange a meeting with them. Your manager should be able to offer some advice or point you in the direction of support services.

Should you feel that you need professional support, there are lots of services to help. Mind has a lot of resources online that can help you take the steps to manage stress.

Working from home doesn’t have to have a negative impact on your wellbeing. It’s important to know that you’re not alone.

Why Business Owners Should Detatch From Banks

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Detach from Banks|Why Business Owners Should Detatch From BanksAs a business owner, working with your bank to fund, run and grow your business seems like it’s natural right? Well, it is, and it isn’t. Many people believe that entrepreneurism is all about private ventures, that don’t necessarily involve a bank. It can involve investors, the public in the form of an IPO, or even, family members that are backing you. But why not a bank? Well, banks are inherently linked to the Federal government, so one way or another, big brother has their hand in your pocket. Whether you are taking a loan or credit card from your bank to pay for things in your business, you should reconsider this approach.

Business loan vs investment

A business loan is quick and easy. But, it always comes with strings attached. But so does investment money. So what’s the difference? Well, with a business loan that a bank or lender provides, you can rarely ever negotiate the terms. It’s usually on a take it or leaves it basis. The upside is, that you get to have the money in your account in just a few hours. However, with investor’s money, you can set some of the rules. An investor may want a piece of the company, you can negotiate how much of it you can give away and what kind of creative control you will retain. You can also commission growth reports that can stagger or step the amount of investment put into the business in accordance with success, and how much the investor is to receive in profits from the same correlation.

Banks can pull the plug

Bank loans are usually entirely in the favor of the financial institution. This means you are kind of at the mercy of a bank that is also at the mercy of the government. Essentially, the buck doesn’t stop with the bank, so they feel they can abuse their relationship with you. Take a look and read any business loan contract, and you will find clauses that allow the bank to pull the plug and ask for early payments that were not in the initial structure or payment. The Debt to Success System reviews banking scam, and in an orderly manner lays out how the banks have gone to a debt-based ‘growth’ system. As global debt mounts up, banks will be more inclined to pinch their purse strings and that in turn means, being more aggressive in their actions towards business loan recipients. DSS can also help you overcome your debts, with their unique debt discharge system that banks and governments don’t want you to know about.

YOU are the investment

Rather than going to the bank for a loan, they should want to invest in YOUR business. Banks go to corporations like Tesla, Apple, Mercedes and Microsoft, not the other way around. But how could you become like them? You need to show consistent profits and a brand that has the potential to spread like wildfire. Banks will be flocking to you to invest and you’ll be contacted by their investment firms.

Banks are not the savior of any business. They do provide some financial services that are useful, but before you turn to them, exhaust all your other options first.