Crosby Finance

While it’s thought of more as a daredevil event than a sport, buildering — also known as urban climbing, structuring, or stegophily — is the act of climbing on the outside of buildings and other artificial structures. The word “buildering” combines the word “building” with the climbing term “bouldering”.

It’s not a sport for everyone. In fact, buildering has a small cult following. The most famous practioner of this ultra-extreme sport is Alain Robert, popularly known as “the real-life Spiderman.” Robert has climbed the Empire State Building in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Petronas Towers (twice) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, among others, all done without using any climbing equipment or protection.

Other famous urban climbers include: Dan Goodwin, aka Spider Dan, who climbed the Sears Tower in Chicago in 1981; George Willig who climbed the World Trade Center; Harry and Simon Westaway, who climbed Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster’s clock tower, in London as an anti-war protest for Greenpeace; Harry Gardiner, known as the Human Fly, who was the first recorded urban climber; and George Polley, also known as the Human Fly, who took up buildering in the 1910s.

If done without ropes or protection far off the ground, buildering may be dangerous and is often practiced outside of legal bounds, mostly undertaken at night. Builderers are often extremely experienced climbers who are seen climbing on buildings without authorization and are regularly met by police forces upon completing their exploit. Spectacular acts of buildering, such as free soloing skyscrapers, usually attract large crowds of passers-by and media attention.

The biggest draw of buildering is also its biggest drawback: Buildering almost always is illegal, so you should check to make sure it is not before you try it in Texas or anywhere else. And it won’t win you any popularity contests. Cops don’t like you; landlords don’t like you; most people think you’re, at best, unusual and, at worst, crazy.

The general public considers climbing on buildings shocking and irresponsible behavior. The first and most important rule is: Watch your butt. You alone are responsible for your actions. You have to be young enough to enjoy currying the disdain of passersby or not care about your reputation. You have to get up early or steal out into the night. The most important key to successful buildering is, “Go in fast and get out.”

Buildering can also take a form closer to bouldering, where climbers tend to ascend and/or traverse shorter sections of buildings and structures. While still generally frowned upon by property owners, some turn a blind eye towards the practice in many locations. Although it’s often done as a solo sport, buildering has also become a popular group activity. As in more traditional rock climbing, routes on structures are established and graded for difficulty.

Lesser known forms of urban climbing can be observed in demonstrations, as a means of protest, or at some public events such as street parades or concerts, where people frequently climb on sign posts and other small structures.

Unlike other fringe sports like skateboarding, most urban climbers doubt that buildering will ever crack into the mainstream. The problem is that many climbers find the sport is a little “too dangerous” for mass appeal. And buildering is more about the skill than the image and the huge risks involved make it less than appealing. For decades, buildering has existed under the radar and its popularity remains on university hubs, all of which seems to suggest intrinsic limits to its popularity.

As is the case in rock climbing, the trick in urban climbing is to find the perfect holds with the right overall body positioning and adequate balance. But the difficulty in climbing buildings is that the uniformity and evenness of the exterior make it difficult to find the grooves for holds. It is like a physical puzzle that can only be solved through ingenuity, persistence and foolhardiness. Buildering is both a lifestyle and a philosophy of taming the modern landscape.

While ultra-extreme sports such as urban climbing or buildering may help you develop great physical stamina and mental discipline, it is dangerous and must only be attempted by experienced climbing professionals. If you’re a young individual who’s drawn to this sport, make sure you’re in the best shape both mentally and physically.

If you are drawn to things that are out of the ordinary, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for young, healthy individuals. For more information, visit us at our website, www.precedent.com. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans and an unparalleled “real time” application and acceptance experience.

Most Bankers Hope You Never Find Out

1. HOW MUCH EQUITY DO YOU REALLY HAVE IN YOUR HOME? This is a closely guarded banker’s secret. Truth is, you probably have more equity (value) in your home than you think. And different companies use different methods to determine how much you can borrow on your home. These days, there are even plans that allow “borrowing power” you have locked up in your home. I can determine that for you.

2. SECOND MORTGAGES ARE A BAD IDEA. Sometimes a second mortgage is a bad idea but sometimes it’s a good idea — it just depends on your particular circumstances. My job is to determine THE best way for you to use your home’s value as the “crowbar” to pry open the financial prison doors and get you to the best possible financial place you can be.

3. REFINANCING IS TOO EXPENSIVE. Refinancing usually has some costs but is NEVER “expensive” when it saves you money. When refinancing slashes your interest rate and/or pays off other high-interest bills and/or lowers your total monthly bills, it is NOT “expensive”.

4. CREDIT PROBLEMS STAND IN MY WAY. Many people think bad credits stays on their records for seven years. While that is technically true, there are good loan programs where only your most recent 12 months of credit behavior is considered. There are good plans even for people with past or even recent bankruptcies. There are “no income qualification” plans. Basically, if you are an employed or self-employed homeowner, we can bring you a home mortgage refinancing plan you can qualify for that is in your best interest, that will save you money, regardless of past or present credit problems. Of course, if you have good credit, so much the better. But you do not need to be trapped because of credit problems either.

5. “I DON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF EFFORT AND THEN GET TURNED DOWN”. I know how unpleasant it is to deal with most banks and other lenders. So, let me make you three promises.

Promise #1: There is a refinancing plan that will “fit” you and your needs. We guarantee it — or we’ll treat you to a steak dinner. If my team of “super experts” can’t bring you a mortgage that is in your best financial interest, that you understand and like and want and qualify for, I’ll pay for you and your spouse to have a great steak dinner at a nice restaurant, as my apology for inconveniencing you. (Try to find a banker who’ll do that.)

Promise #2: You will be treated well. We’re a company managed by people with over 14 years experience in mortgage lending, and we are dedicated to treating you like a fellow human being (not an “account” or a number), with dignity, courtesy, understanding, and professionalism. We know that revealing personal and financial information to strangers is unpleasant and intimidating. We respect your privacy, and we are here to help you get from wherever you are to a much improved financial position. You will be treated as if you were a friend of the family. And you will get truly expert advice and assistance.

Promise #3: I have made this process as simple and streamlined as possible. In most cases, we’re going to ask you for just three documents. Ask you less than ten questions, be able to do everything by phone, FAX or mail, and complete everything within ten days.

Are you on a budget? Do you just want to save some money or get some discounts? Here are some quick and easy ideas that could work for almost everyone.

When I began focusing on making more money and having more abundance, prosperity, and wealth in my life, the Universe sent me ways of saving money too, which in reality is making money.

Here are some examples of the ideas that came to me within just a few days.

1. Get a membership at your favorite bookstore. It cost $25.00, depending on where you are, but with the amount of books I purchase I got $7.00 back on the first purchase. I will definitely save money with this membership.

2. If any bookstores offer free cards, take them. This gives them access to your email and or home address to send you coupons. This will sometimes save you up to 30%. Remember, coupons also save money. It’s like putting free money in your hands. If you were going to spend $30.00 on the book and you only spend $21.00, that’s $9.00 to spend on something else or save.

3. Rent books, CD’s and DVD’s from the library. That is free!

4. Buy a local savings card for your area that saves money each time you go to local establishments. I save money on a beverage each time I fill up at my gas station, when I go to a local supermarket, I get a free dozen eggs with every $10 purchase, I get $2.00 off at CD/DVD store, I get $4.00 off a carwash. I get all of this and more for only $10.00 for the entire year. I save a lot of money by spending that$10.00

5. Ask for what you want if you know someone has it and is going to throw it away. Example: I am a Life Coach and I teach creative visualization classes. In these classes we use a lot of different types of magazines to cut pictures and sayings out of. I ask everyone that I know including stores that keep magazines out for their customers, so that I do not have to pay for them. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. So, I asked the two beauty salons that I go to, the local tanning booth, my chiropractor, my friends and family, and anyone else who has magazines. I now get all of my magazines free for my workshops. Even clients bring in theirs to share as I post that on my flyers. If you don’t ask you will not get what you want. That’s not saying that you will always get a yes but asking is a win-win situation, even if they say no. You didn’t have what you asked for before you asked so if they say no, you still don’t have it. You didn’t lose anything. Right?

6. If you are someone who goes out to dinner a lot and/or the movies, purchase a local entertainment book - these books have good deals for local restaurants and establishments.

7. Buy in bulk if it is something that you use often and/or buy a lot of. We are lucky enough to have Wholesale distributors, use them.

8. Give your clothes and merchandise to charities. Ask for a receipt for your taxes. You will be helping people and could also claim it on your taxes. What’s better than that? This is definitely another win-win situation.

9. Wait to buy your clothes until ½ way through the season. It’s amazing how spring clothes come out when it’s still 10 degrees out and the winter clothes are already ½ price. If you always wear the same size, I would consider buying for next year.

10. If your bank has a rewards system use it. Some bank debit cards if used as credit give you points towards gift certificates for stores. This is free money just for using your debit card as a credit card. No interest, no finance charges, just a debit card being used as a credit card. Win-win.

11. Use your credit cards that you get reward points on, some stores allow you to pay cash right after. If it is not a store that accepts an in store cash payment then put that amount of cash on the side or in your checking account to pay immediately upon arrival of the bill. Do not take part in number 11 if you are not going to pay it off as soon as it comes or you’re defeating the savings purpose.

12. Car payments - even if it’s just a nominal amount such as an extra $20.00 per month, send it towards your principal payment. (This is sometimes a different address, be sure to ask)(Write “principal payment” on the check and envelope). This will reduce the amount of time you are paying.

13. If stores offer free cards that they scan whenever you make a purchase, take them; they usually come along with privileges. Either you get a discount right then and there or you will receive coupons based on your spending. It’s worth it. Win-win.

14. Go through the flyers for local stores. If there are two stores that you will be passing that week and they each have something different on special that you and your family use a lot, by all means stop at both stores. Take advantage of the bargains.

15. Look through the coupons and mailers that you receive in the mail. Sometimes there are valuable coupons that could save you a bundle.

16. Shop on line for the cheapest airline tickets. Sometimes you could get a cheaper price just by purchasing the tickets on line.

17. Hotels also offer some discounts on line that you cannot get over the phone or in person. Shop around.

18. Check out what your credit card offers you in discounts towards rental cars and other things. You will be surprised.

19. Ask your credit card company to wave your yearly fee.

20. Keep your car maintenance up to date. This will save you from big bills all at once. There is less of a chance of things going wrong with the car if you are getting it serviced.

21. Take a defensive driving course. Save 10% for the next 3 years. Even if you do not have points to get rid of you will still be saving money for 3 years.

22. Check out AAA. You spend a small amount of money and you save on everything from car rentals to flowers. Check it out!

23. Call your credit card company and have them waive the yearly fee.

24. Call your credit card company and see if they could lower your monthly % rate.

I’m sure you will think of many more. Write to me with your ideas. Perhaps I could use them for a future article or story and use your name if you’d like. I could also keep it anonymous. These are my ideas. They might work for you and they might not. They certainly work for me. Have good time saving money and let me know how you do!

Debt settlement is a good option for those consumers who have multiple debts. Debt settlement companies settle debts for customers, one debt at a time. The main strength of debt settlement companies is their relationships with creditors. Debt settlement companies that have worked for years have some basic things that make them help the consumers to handle with debt problems. These things are: highly trained negotiators; experience in knowing how creditors settle; no personal emotional attachment to creditors, allowing better responses; extensive knowledge in consumer debt and in Fair Credit Reporting Act and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (even though they are not lawyers); educational tools. Experienced companies have lawyers in the personnel who give individualized legal advice to consumer in any case. If there are serious problems they represent clients.

Debt settlement companies offer services to stop collection harassment. Some of the companies say they will contact consumer’s creditors and take over accounts, provide legal analysis of finance problems. When being in debt consumers get tired of creditors, so debt settlement companies request creditors to call them instead of the consumers. This can be a very valuable service for some consumers.

Debt settlement companies offer to consumers to set up an account and send monthly payments to that account. This is intended to build up a fund that can later be used to try to settle debt. The consumer is always I control of his/her money. A consumer may sign a power of attorney to allow the company to act as attorney in fact. When the company accumulated enough to offer a cash settlement to one or more creditors to pay off the debt the debt is settled for smaller amount of money that consumer has borrowed from the creditor.

A customer enrolled in debt settlement program may be surprised by the fact that debt settlement specialists ask him/her to stop paying debts. This is what consumers need to do because the longer they are not paying the creditors, the better deal they will eventually get from creditors. According to what a company representative has said, after twelve month of not paying and not talking to creditors they will fell that some money is better than none. Failure to pay will demonstrate a hardship condition that enables a debt settlement company to negotiate.

It is very important to live in a society that offers support to all people, no matter their sex, race, religion, or social status. But when you are considered a part of a minority group, being successful is not quite such an easy thing to achieve. To provide a specific example, think of how hard is for a woman to become a respectable person among male partners. Of course, these barriers tend to be effaced nowadays, but banks also have the tendency to doubt the business abilities of a woman or of a non-Caucasian person. But the federal grants minorities make sure that those who are found in minority share equal rights and possibilities with the majority.

On a daily basis, the Federal, the State and the Local Governments offer a fortune made of hundred of dollars for the support of the US citizens. But the government does not act alone in this initiative. It is supported by important and influential companies and by the foundations that raise money for the purpose of providing a financial help to the small investors. Millions of dollars are, therefore, spent in order to improve the businesses at a national and international level, by supporting all those who feel themselves able to bring profit.

The best thing about the federal grant minorities is that this money does not have to be paid back. Why so? Because there is plenty of money waiting for worthy causes. But where does this money come from? The majority is provided by charitable private foundations, and all the rest from the programs that are initiated by the Federal Government and by the State Government.

The federal grants minorities are directed to and destined for almost any type of activity and need. Any consumer and business need can be satisfied only by applying for a federal grant. The Federal, State and Local Governments offer personal grants, business grants, education grants and health care grants. All these categories apply to the needs of all people, no matter if they belong to the majority or to the minority.

The personal grants refer to the expenses needed when buying a house, when you wish to do some repairing around the house, they include the payment of the mortgages or of the rent, as well as all the other personal needs for which you need a larger sum of money. From buying food and clothes to purchasing cars, the federal grant minorities can cover all these expenses.

A considerable portion of the federal grants for minorities belongs to the educational grants. It is very difficult, especially for the immigrants or for single mothers, to provide a perfect environment for their children when it comes to all that is needed in order to secure a normal education. A child needs books, a computer, access to the Internet, access to libraries, and all these cost. For most minority citizens, federal grants minorities are the only option if they wish their children had a good education.

An equally important target group of the Federal, Local or State Government Grants is the health care for minorities. The elderly clearly need a financial support when it comes to overcoming the sometimes overwhelming expenses on medicine and other types of medical treatment. All these considered, you can see the importance of these governmental practices and programs that provide financial support to all categories of people, no matter their race, sex, religion or position on the social scale.

One of the challenges of running a small business is dealing with the feast-or-famine nature. That’s not just about the flow of business, but also the flow of cash. Sometimes things get tight; here’s how you can improve your business’s cash flow

Bill Promptly Ever find yourself so busy building your business that you don’t get around to billing regularly? You’re not alone. This is a common – but potentially crippling – problem.

If you don’t already have a system in place, start billing for projects on a regular basis. When taking on longer-term projects or clients, negotiate in advance for regular payments instead of allowing the amount to build up.

Create Incentives for Faster Payment Small businesses can sometimes cut the time spent waiting for payment by offering a discount for quick payment. I’ve received bills from businesses offering discounts of 1% or 2% for payment within 10 days. If I was going to pay the bill within 30 days anyway, I’m likely to pay up right away to get that extra discount. Good for my bottom line; good for the business’s cash flow.

Avoid Slow Pay and No Pay Customers From the Start The best way to avoid cash-flow problems because of people not paying is to weed them out before they start owing you money. So if someone is about to become a significant customer, do your homework. Check out credit references. Call other businesses that have had a relationship with the client.

Use Barter Instead of Cash You could reduce the strain on your immediate cash if you need something from someone and can offer goods or services of your own in return.

Trim Your Inventory OK, so you can’t go to a “just-in-time” inventory management system like many larger manufacturers. How about “just-in-less-time”? Money spent on inventory is money tha’s not producing any interest or savings for you.

Sometimes reducing inventory can be pretty simple. I’ve seen restaurateurs cut back on the size of their wine cellars, focusing on quality wines from a few regions instead of trying to be all things to all diners. If the customer still has good choices, it might not matter that he has fewer than before.

Consider Consolidating Your Loans It’s often tough for small businesses to borrow money. But I’m surprised at the number of ways entrepreneurs do manage to borrow. One small business owner I know has only one employee, but has four different loans related to his business: an equipment loan, a car loan, a business line of credit and a business credit card.

If you also have several loans, review the rates and terms on each one. You may be able to consolidate two or more loans into a lower-interest account and improve cash flow. I’m generally not a fan of stretching out repayments, but if you’re thinking of talking to a lender about consolidating existing loans into a new one, you might look at taking on a longer-term loan in exchange for lower payments.

Joseph Anthony is a tax professional in Portland, Ore., who writes about finance and tax issues affecting small businesses.

Flipping real estate properties is not for everybody but it is the fastest way to make a buck in the real estate business. Most everybody has heard of someone buying a “run down” house for a good price well below market value, fixing it up and selling it at a fair market price. Flipping a “fixer-upper” is definitely one way to turn a reasonably quick profit. I know some people who do it this way but they are more into the contractor and renovation business than they are of the investor mindset.

Some of these “fixer-upper” properties are in need of extensive repair and will involve electrical work, carpentry work, etc. If the investor gets involved and does some or all of this work then there could be enough profit there but if the investor farms out the required labour, profits could get eaten up quickly. For these types of flipping real estate investments, the purchase price needs to be at a huge discount and normally would be found somewhere in the foreclosure stage.

For the person that is in the mindset of investing rather than being in the renovation business then flipping real estate will only involve flipping the paper contract of the property without even taking possession of it. You can flip by entering an agreement to buy a property then sell the contract to another investor before close of escrow.

Using this technique won’t even require you to put your name on the title. Profits will generally be less than the fixer-upper investor but involves much less work and the whole process is much quicker. A fixer-upper investor would not be happy in making a profit of a few thousand dollars for a few months work on renovations but an investor that can just flip a contract for a few hours or days work would be.

Avoid disclosure of your profits to the new buyer by using a double closing. After making a sweet deal and flipping a contract involving a juicy profit you may not want all these details to be revealed to your buyer. The solution is a double closing, transferring the property to you initially and then reselling immediately at the same lawyer’s office just an hour later to your buyer.

There is a drawback here and that is a double set of closing costs so you would have to weigh it out to see if it’s worth it to your particular situation or not. Further, you can use a title insurance company for the actual closings. For the issuance of the title insurance policy, the title insurance company will prepare the closing documents and close the transaction usually without an addition charge.

The definition of the best loans is different depending on who you ask. For lenders the best loans are secured loans, of any type, and high interest loans. For borrowers the best loans are unsecured loans with low interest rates.

So, how can a median be found that makes a loan the best loan for both lenders and borrowers? The answer is in the details of the loan and how affordable and how comfortable the loan details are for the borrower.

Lenders prefer secured loans because they offer a safeguard. The borrower puts up collateral for the loan and should they default on the loan the lender then seizes ownership of the collateral and can sell it to recoup the loan amount still owed. With secured loans the borrower also assumes risk, so it is more likely that the borrower will not default.

They also want to be able to charge as high of interest rates as possible. Interest rates are how lenders make their money. The interest the charge is 100% profit for them. So, of course they want to charge as much interest as possible.

Borrowers prefer unsecured loans because they do not have to assume risk by putting up collateral. They also prefer lower interest rates. Interest rates tack on a large amount of additionally expense onto the money borrowed. The lower the interest rate the less the loan costs the borrower.

With the recent spare hike in interest rates a secured loan might not be the best option at the moment. If the interest rates continue to increase then homeowners might be pushed to afford their repayments, not to mention if house prices fall.

It is difficult as a secured loan will generally have a lower interest rate, be more flexible, allow you to spread the repayments out over a longer period of time and you will also be able to borrow more. So the best loan is dependant on your requirements and circumstances.

The details of interest rate sand collateral or no collateral are important and should be considered. These details can be adjusted until both the borrower and lender are satisfied. They can mean the difference between a good loan and the best loan for a borrower.

The best loans for both borrowers and lenders are loans that the borrower can afford. The bottom line is that if a borrower can afford a loan then details do not matter. The borrower can afford to make the payments, so they make them and end up paying off the loan as stated in the contract.

So, the best loans are not that easily defined. In some situations the best loan may be a secured loan with a low interest rate, while in other situations the best loan may be an unsecured loan with a slightly higher interest rate. It all comes down to a few factors.

The borrower should be able to afford the loan, they should feel as if they are not risking too much and they should feel comfortable with the loan. The lender really has the most control over a loan situation, so every loan is the best loan for them. It is really the borrower who has to be careful when defining their best loans.

Sometimes an unexpected expense is difficult to balance with your income. Instant cash loan is a feasible choice to meet with such problems. The borrower takes instant cash loan when he is facing difficulty before his next payday. The borrower needs to remember that instant cash loan is for a short period. The instant cash loan can be used to pay off outstanding bills or daily expenses. Basically, this loan is meant to meet with any emergency cash needs.

The amount taken for instant cash loan varies from £100 to £1,500 and more. The term of instant cash loan ranges from 7-14 days. But in some cases, the repayment term can be enhanced to a month depending on your payday. Incase you stretch the repayment term beyond the agreed limit you might have to pay some extra fees. So make sure you pay your instant cash loan on time.

The time taken for approval of instant cash loan is very less and usually within 24 hours the amount is credited to your account. The time for approval depends on the amount to be approved and urgency of cash required.

Instant cash loan needs some basic criteria to be filled. They are
 Proof of permanent employment
 Regular and recurring income
 A current and active checking account
 Minimum income should be at least £1200 depending on the lenders criteria
 Need to be 18 years and above

Instant cash loan are even advantageous to bad credit holders, as it involves no credit checks. Bad credit holders get the loan amount approved at the earliest.

Online instant cash loan helps the borrower to save his time. The borrower has to fill a cost free application form available online. It is always advisable to compare different quotes, repayment term, rate of interest etc available in market to get a better deal for instant cash loan.

Instant cash loan is therefore a better option for all those who are looking for immediate cash relieve.

Unsecured loans are ubiquitous loans. These loans can be availed without the need to put up any collateral. Thus, these loans are available to each and every kind of borrower. Homeowners, employed, unemployed, tenants, self-employed, retired people are all looking for these loans. Owing to the rush, many make the mistake of availing them with haste; and with bad consequences. They could land a loan deal that is high-cost.

Availing an unsecured loan deal without prior research is perilous to one’s financial well-being. It is best to go through the fundamentals of this loan and find a method to get a cost-effective deal. Unsecured loans, as stated earlier, can be got without any collateral. This renders this loan a favourite among both homeowners and non-homeowners. Tenants avail these loans, as there is no other to meet their needs.

In contrast, homeowners tend to avail these loans for wholly different reasons. They have a ready option of a secured deal. Still, homeowners refrain from the idea of putting their home at stake, which they would be doing with secured loans. This particularly holds true for homeowners who are unsure of their financial future. They prefer unsecured loans and stay risk-free. Some do not qualify for secured loans, owing to insufficient equity in their homes.

All said and done, providing a loan minus security is risky for any lender. If the borrower defaults on the payment, there is no real way to recover the money. Generally, to compensate for this, lenders may charge a relatively elevated interest rate.

There are ways to avoid paying high interest rates. A good credit score helps no end here. Another factor that could assist the borrower is present income. If the lender is convinced about a borrower’s repayment capability, rates can be alleviated. Finally, good research is paramount.