Slot Machine Odds
It probably more appropriate to call slot machines entertainment than gambling, as the
house always - and we mean always - has an edge with slot machines.
The average slot machine payout ranges from an average of 85% to 99% of all coins bet.
The lower the denomination of the machine, the lower the payout. This is because the
casino wants to make a certain amount per hour with its slots. With a one dollar slot
machine, the casino can payback perhaps 98% and make it's hourly goal. With a lower
denomination machine, such as quarters or nickels, the payout must be much lower to
achieve the same hourly pay for the casino
There are two types of slot machine payouts: flat rate and progressives. A flat rate
machine pays the same percentage based on only that machine's results. With
progressive machines, many machines are linked together electronically and the jackpot
gets progressively larger the more players that play and the greater the time in between
winning jackpots.
Our advice is to play the flat rate machines and avoid the progressives. The odds against
winning the jackpot are much higher on progressives. In many cases, your odds of
winning the state lottery are better! Play the non-progressive machines where you at least
have a chance at the jackpot.
SHOULD YOU PLAY MAXIMUM COINS ARE NOT?
The answer to this question depends on one thing: is the jackpot bigger proportionally for
maximum coins bet? If it is, play maximum coins. If it isn't, then simply play the
minimum and your money will last longer.
To illustrate, let's assume you want to play a machine that has a three coin maximum bet.
Should you play the maximum? Look at the payout information. If the jackpot amount
for one coin bet is 1,000, for two coins 2,000 and for three coins 5,000, then the jackpot
is bigger proportionally for three coins and you should bet the maximum coins. This is
because the maximum coins to bet is three times the minimum but the maximum coin
jackpot is five times the amount of the minimum coin jackpot. This means your jackpot
odds are better if you play the maximum coins.
In this same example, if the three coin jackpot was 3,000 instead of 5,000, then you
should only play one coin at a time because there is no odds advantage to playing
maximum coins.
One disadvantage of playing maximum coins, even if the jackpot is proportionally larger,
is that smaller, less-than-jackpot payouts are usually not proportionally larger for
maximum coins played. It's only the jackpot that is proportionally larger. For this
reason, we recommend only playing minimum coins on machines that do no have a
proportionally larger jackpot for maximum coins. This way, you money will last longer
and you increase your odds of winning smaller jackpots and maybe coming away a slight
winner.
Good Luck!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
How To Fill-Up E-gold with Lots of Gold?
E-gold is electronic gold used on ecommerce on the internet. It is used to buy and sell intangible products that can easily be delivered electronically via email, on website, in the form of downloads, serial/access numbers, or userid/password. As such, it is easy to fill-up these kind of "electronic money" as defined by it's founders who first circulated e-gold since 1995. (more details here http://www.nabaza.com/egold.htm )
E-gold is protecting the merchant for every payment made via e-gold is permanent and there's no refund or chargebacks, thus it's preferred by merchants who want to sell intangible or virtual items on internet without paying a merchant account provider.
Filling up e-gold is easy with the use of the sites that pay in e-gold. It's anonymous and buyers/sellers can only identify you by your e-gold account number and a userid. Now before we fill those up, first open a free account at e-gold ( http://www.nabaza.com/egold.htm ). Kindly make your password as secure as possible by combining random lowercase, uppercase, and numerals on a 12 to 16 character password. Remember, even if you see admin@e-gold.com sending you an email requiring you to verify, type in your userid, password, chances are it's not the owners/admins of e-gold but it's the latest phishing techniques of those who want to rob your e-gold. Please read ( http://antihacking.blogspot.com/ ) for more details on different gimmicks of hackers/phishers just for you to give them your userid and password. So reminder, don't give your access to e-gold to anyone.
Here are some e-gold sites that lets you fill up your e-gold account in no time. They are all free to join.
Linkburst http://www.nabaza.com/w/lb.php
Opt-in-pays http://www.nabaza.com/w/op.php
Russian Bride http://www.nabaza.com/w/ru.php
Cashsurf.nabaza.net http://cashsurf.nabaza.net/
Downlines.nabaza.net http://downlines.nabaza.net/
Flyinads.nabaza.net http://flyinads.nabaza.net/
I think with top 6 egold programs, you can't lose, for more please visit this: http://www.nabaza.com/egoldrocks.htm
E-gold is electronic gold used on ecommerce on the internet. It is used to buy and sell intangible products that can easily be delivered electronically via email, on website, in the form of downloads, serial/access numbers, or userid/password. As such, it is easy to fill-up these kind of "electronic money" as defined by it's founders who first circulated e-gold since 1995. (more details here http://www.nabaza.com/egold.htm )
E-gold is protecting the merchant for every payment made via e-gold is permanent and there's no refund or chargebacks, thus it's preferred by merchants who want to sell intangible or virtual items on internet without paying a merchant account provider.
Filling up e-gold is easy with the use of the sites that pay in e-gold. It's anonymous and buyers/sellers can only identify you by your e-gold account number and a userid. Now before we fill those up, first open a free account at e-gold ( http://www.nabaza.com/egold.htm ). Kindly make your password as secure as possible by combining random lowercase, uppercase, and numerals on a 12 to 16 character password. Remember, even if you see admin@e-gold.com sending you an email requiring you to verify, type in your userid, password, chances are it's not the owners/admins of e-gold but it's the latest phishing techniques of those who want to rob your e-gold. Please read ( http://antihacking.blogspot.com/ ) for more details on different gimmicks of hackers/phishers just for you to give them your userid and password. So reminder, don't give your access to e-gold to anyone.
Here are some e-gold sites that lets you fill up your e-gold account in no time. They are all free to join.
Linkburst http://www.nabaza.com/w/lb.php
Opt-in-pays http://www.nabaza.com/w/op.php
Russian Bride http://www.nabaza.com/w/ru.php
Cashsurf.nabaza.net http://cashsurf.nabaza.net/
Downlines.nabaza.net http://downlines.nabaza.net/
Flyinads.nabaza.net http://flyinads.nabaza.net/
I think with top 6 egold programs, you can't lose, for more please visit this: http://www.nabaza.com/egoldrocks.htm
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Buying Jewelry For Your Business Part 1 Buying Gold Jewelry
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a no-brainer choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly woman) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and annotations continue on and on. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.
Gold Jewelry Basics
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a no-brainer choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly woman) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and annotations continue on and on. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.
Gold Jewelry Basics
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Monday, January 29, 2007
E-gold Investing: Make Money With Currency Trading
Many people are already starting to pay attention to the newest online trend: E-gold investing.
E-gold investing is a all about a system that allows you to profit from the money that is being traded everyday on the internet. What you're doing when you are trading e-gold (or e-currencies) is that you are providing the backup for internet money. Let me go back a bit. What exactly do I mean by "backup for internet money"?
There is a cashflow of all of the money that is being moved throughout the internet every day. However, this money has to have, for every dollar that is being backed up, a physical backup of that dollar must exist.
This is a very superficial explanation about how the dxgold system works, but to be honest, to profit from it, you don't have to understand exactly how it works to profit from it. If I were to put the e-gold training courses into a metaphor I would say it's very much like driving a car. You don't need to know how it works in order to use it properly.
What you do need to know is the egold exchange process and every step of the way. This may sound complex, but once you get to know it, it becomes a daily routine that takes about five minutes just to check up on.
Investing in e-gold is something that I could describe as a great investing strategy, if you are investing in the long run.
It isn't as fast as a rising stock in wall street, it isn't something that will double your profits in a couple of days, but it is something you can expect to generate a good income from. And the important keyword in that past sentence would be to Expect, because this is a safe long term strategy that is guaranteed to make a profit for you.
This is why I personally think it is plain silly not to learn this currency trading system. You even know how much money you will make each day in advance.
For some it may be tough, but saving a couple of hundred dollars and investing in e-gold can be a very wise decision. As many people have experienced already, it can even turn into a "hands off" second income without the 8 to 5 job.
E-gold is all about discipline. Is about the discipline of having your money work for you and letting it grow, without getting an urge of a shopping spree and taking your money out of your account.
If you think you can wait for a few months and are interested in getting a second income, then the e-gold system could be a good fit for you.
Many people are already starting to pay attention to the newest online trend: E-gold investing.
E-gold investing is a all about a system that allows you to profit from the money that is being traded everyday on the internet. What you're doing when you are trading e-gold (or e-currencies) is that you are providing the backup for internet money. Let me go back a bit. What exactly do I mean by "backup for internet money"?
There is a cashflow of all of the money that is being moved throughout the internet every day. However, this money has to have, for every dollar that is being backed up, a physical backup of that dollar must exist.
This is a very superficial explanation about how the dxgold system works, but to be honest, to profit from it, you don't have to understand exactly how it works to profit from it. If I were to put the e-gold training courses into a metaphor I would say it's very much like driving a car. You don't need to know how it works in order to use it properly.
What you do need to know is the egold exchange process and every step of the way. This may sound complex, but once you get to know it, it becomes a daily routine that takes about five minutes just to check up on.
Investing in e-gold is something that I could describe as a great investing strategy, if you are investing in the long run.
It isn't as fast as a rising stock in wall street, it isn't something that will double your profits in a couple of days, but it is something you can expect to generate a good income from. And the important keyword in that past sentence would be to Expect, because this is a safe long term strategy that is guaranteed to make a profit for you.
This is why I personally think it is plain silly not to learn this currency trading system. You even know how much money you will make each day in advance.
For some it may be tough, but saving a couple of hundred dollars and investing in e-gold can be a very wise decision. As many people have experienced already, it can even turn into a "hands off" second income without the 8 to 5 job.
E-gold is all about discipline. Is about the discipline of having your money work for you and letting it grow, without getting an urge of a shopping spree and taking your money out of your account.
If you think you can wait for a few months and are interested in getting a second income, then the e-gold system could be a good fit for you.
Coin Magic
Coin magic is the universal phrase for illusions using one or more coins, which are maneuvered so as to trick and mystify the spectators. It is well received by nearly every audience and all ages, and it is highly esteemed by magicians. A great deal of inventiveness has gone into developing each effect in the great diversity of coin tricks available in books on magic, but a large amount of them can be condensed to a small number of fundamentals - for instance vanishes, productions and palms, but no self-working tricks - united in some order to create the desired result.
Coin magic is frequently perceived as a tricky branch of the art. Learners of coin magic frequently have a disappointing start, as they discover that they are "caught" performing their sleights. The routine used in coin magic is of the greatest significance. The patter narrative is tied in strongly with the routine. Make use of the magical gesture as a misdirection device.
One of the grand magical gestures to make a coin disappear is to have one positioned in your hand, then make some passes over it with your other hand, and then make it vanish. Another good magic trick is to make a coin disappear and resurface in the spectator's hand. Even simple coins can vanish, but there are also magic coins that you can pick up online to get you started.
This type of magic can be plenty of fun, even if you're just doing it to astound your family and friends. Some popular sleight of hand tricks are The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Biting Coin, Palm Transfers, The Utility Switch, Folding Coin and Coin Switches. The best dimensions of the coin you will use while performing coin magic will be determined by the size of your hands and fingers.
Coin magic is the universal phrase for illusions using one or more coins, which are maneuvered so as to trick and mystify the spectators. It is well received by nearly every audience and all ages, and it is highly esteemed by magicians. A great deal of inventiveness has gone into developing each effect in the great diversity of coin tricks available in books on magic, but a large amount of them can be condensed to a small number of fundamentals - for instance vanishes, productions and palms, but no self-working tricks - united in some order to create the desired result.
Coin magic is frequently perceived as a tricky branch of the art. Learners of coin magic frequently have a disappointing start, as they discover that they are "caught" performing their sleights. The routine used in coin magic is of the greatest significance. The patter narrative is tied in strongly with the routine. Make use of the magical gesture as a misdirection device.
One of the grand magical gestures to make a coin disappear is to have one positioned in your hand, then make some passes over it with your other hand, and then make it vanish. Another good magic trick is to make a coin disappear and resurface in the spectator's hand. Even simple coins can vanish, but there are also magic coins that you can pick up online to get you started.
This type of magic can be plenty of fun, even if you're just doing it to astound your family and friends. Some popular sleight of hand tricks are The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Biting Coin, Palm Transfers, The Utility Switch, Folding Coin and Coin Switches. The best dimensions of the coin you will use while performing coin magic will be determined by the size of your hands and fingers.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
E-Gold
E-gold is a digital currency, used extensively on the Internet for making payments in exchange for goods and services.
It is one of the first digital e-currency providers, having started in 1996. E-gold accounts are backed by actual physical gold, dollar for dollar. You can take delivery of the physical gold if you wish, although there is an additional handling charge.
The E-gold e-currency is tied directly to the value of gold, so it's not possible to use outside influences to affect the value of it... unless one has the ability to affect the spot price of gold. Being tied to the price of gold, e-gold accounts fluctuate up and down with the value of national currencies as they move with the spot price of gold.
While gold is the most popular precious metal digital currency in use, E-gold also offers the platinum, palladium and silver precious metals as digital currency.
Funding an e-currency account is the job of a third party called a Market Maker. A market maker is a merchant who exchanges national currencies for e-currencies, and places them in your online currency account. Similarly, they will buy your ecurrency and pay you in your national currency when you wish to exchange your egold for currency.
You can fund an e-gold with paypal, or buy e-gold with a credit card if you wish, though the market maker will charge up to 15% to do so. This is largely because of the cost to him of fraudulent charge backs.
E-currencies are now accepted fairly extensively by online merchants in exchange their products and services, mainly catering to people, who for whatever reason, don't have or can't get, a credit card.
E-gold is a digital currency, used extensively on the Internet for making payments in exchange for goods and services.
It is one of the first digital e-currency providers, having started in 1996. E-gold accounts are backed by actual physical gold, dollar for dollar. You can take delivery of the physical gold if you wish, although there is an additional handling charge.
The E-gold e-currency is tied directly to the value of gold, so it's not possible to use outside influences to affect the value of it... unless one has the ability to affect the spot price of gold. Being tied to the price of gold, e-gold accounts fluctuate up and down with the value of national currencies as they move with the spot price of gold.
While gold is the most popular precious metal digital currency in use, E-gold also offers the platinum, palladium and silver precious metals as digital currency.
Funding an e-currency account is the job of a third party called a Market Maker. A market maker is a merchant who exchanges national currencies for e-currencies, and places them in your online currency account. Similarly, they will buy your ecurrency and pay you in your national currency when you wish to exchange your egold for currency.
You can fund an e-gold with paypal, or buy e-gold with a credit card if you wish, though the market maker will charge up to 15% to do so. This is largely because of the cost to him of fraudulent charge backs.
E-currencies are now accepted fairly extensively by online merchants in exchange their products and services, mainly catering to people, who for whatever reason, don't have or can't get, a credit card.
Why Invest Money in Stocks?
Are you considering investing in stocks? Many people have chosen stocks as their primary wealth building vehicle.
There are a ton of reasons for investing in stocks but Ill leave you with the most beneficial reasons.
When you buy a stock you are actually a partial owner of the company and if you do your research you can own a very successful company that will reward you for years to come.
Stocks on average grow over 10% a year and thats a lot more than a certificate of deposit (CD) at your local bank.
Your risk is minimal as long as you dont put all your money in one stock or in companies that are similar. Youll want to diversify some of your money into other companies.
You will be taking part in an American pastime and will be learning more and more about your finances.
You will be helping the economy when a company first sells their stock to the public they have what is called an Initial Public Offering (IPO) which brings money in for the company and helps them grow.
So you see investing your money in stocks is really a good thing and if you have some money you can afford to lose (yes stocks can go down) then you should seriously consider learning more about the stock market and investing some of your money in it.
Are you considering investing in stocks? Many people have chosen stocks as their primary wealth building vehicle.
There are a ton of reasons for investing in stocks but Ill leave you with the most beneficial reasons.
When you buy a stock you are actually a partial owner of the company and if you do your research you can own a very successful company that will reward you for years to come.
Stocks on average grow over 10% a year and thats a lot more than a certificate of deposit (CD) at your local bank.
Your risk is minimal as long as you dont put all your money in one stock or in companies that are similar. Youll want to diversify some of your money into other companies.
You will be taking part in an American pastime and will be learning more and more about your finances.
You will be helping the economy when a company first sells their stock to the public they have what is called an Initial Public Offering (IPO) which brings money in for the company and helps them grow.
So you see investing your money in stocks is really a good thing and if you have some money you can afford to lose (yes stocks can go down) then you should seriously consider learning more about the stock market and investing some of your money in it.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Investing Online - What You Need To Know First
Are you looking to start investing online? Without the right knowledge and information online investing can be an intimidating experience. However, if you do your research before starting and see what different online brokers offer, you can turn it into a very profitable and rewarding experience. There are several very important tips you need to know before starting to invest online.
The first features you need to look for before you start investing online is trading commissions. Trading expenses can be all over the map when it comes to online brokers. Costs can run anywhere from $4 all the way to $40 and more. If you plan on investing small amounts of money into stocks then you need to make sure your online broker has low trade expenses (under $15) or these costs will eat up all your account balance and any profits.
When choosing where to start investing online you should also be aware of account fees and account minimums. In order to protect any profits that you make you need to make certain that your account has low account maintenance fees, preferably an account with no account maintenance fees. Many online investing companies will charge you anywhere from $15 up to $80 a year just to have an IRA retirement account. However, there are sites that offer free IRA retirement accounts and these are the ones you should go to when opening an online investing account.
Numerous online investment companies also have a set minimum account balances. If you account falls below that minimum balance required, you will get charged a fee. Over time these fees can take your balance down to $0! It is crucial to make certain that the online brokerage company you choose has no minimum account balances.
Quite a few of the larger brokerage companies will charge higher fees because they offer sophisticated investment research tools. These can be great to have, however, most of these tools you will never use. The tools you will need and use can be found at different sites online at no cost. It really is not necessary to pay for the sophisticated research tools, so be sure you are not paying higher fees to have them.
If you do your research prior to opening an investment account online it will make investing much easier and more profitable. There are many advantages to investing online, such as; lower costs, being able to place trades on your own, saving time, and most importantly it will be easier to build your wealth. Just be sure to shop around before you make your decision.
Are you looking to start investing online? Without the right knowledge and information online investing can be an intimidating experience. However, if you do your research before starting and see what different online brokers offer, you can turn it into a very profitable and rewarding experience. There are several very important tips you need to know before starting to invest online.
The first features you need to look for before you start investing online is trading commissions. Trading expenses can be all over the map when it comes to online brokers. Costs can run anywhere from $4 all the way to $40 and more. If you plan on investing small amounts of money into stocks then you need to make sure your online broker has low trade expenses (under $15) or these costs will eat up all your account balance and any profits.
When choosing where to start investing online you should also be aware of account fees and account minimums. In order to protect any profits that you make you need to make certain that your account has low account maintenance fees, preferably an account with no account maintenance fees. Many online investing companies will charge you anywhere from $15 up to $80 a year just to have an IRA retirement account. However, there are sites that offer free IRA retirement accounts and these are the ones you should go to when opening an online investing account.
Numerous online investment companies also have a set minimum account balances. If you account falls below that minimum balance required, you will get charged a fee. Over time these fees can take your balance down to $0! It is crucial to make certain that the online brokerage company you choose has no minimum account balances.
Quite a few of the larger brokerage companies will charge higher fees because they offer sophisticated investment research tools. These can be great to have, however, most of these tools you will never use. The tools you will need and use can be found at different sites online at no cost. It really is not necessary to pay for the sophisticated research tools, so be sure you are not paying higher fees to have them.
If you do your research prior to opening an investment account online it will make investing much easier and more profitable. There are many advantages to investing online, such as; lower costs, being able to place trades on your own, saving time, and most importantly it will be easier to build your wealth. Just be sure to shop around before you make your decision.
Is There Risk in Real Estate Investing?
I have learned that investing is all about research. So many people express how risky real estate investing can be, however there can be no risk when you know what you are doing. Risk comes from being unsure.
Thorough research provides knowledge about your market or area of investment. In real estate investing knowing your market is the key. Know the population, employment, good locations, supply and demand for housing and other characteristics about your market. This is better than just assuming that property will go up in value or that you will get someone to rent your investment property.
There are a few ways that you can go about getting this type of information:
1) Speak to your city officials to find out the population projection for your desired investment market.
2) Use the Internet to do as much research as possible.
3) Put together a team of professionals. Realtors, lawyers, mortgage brokers, appraisers, property managers etc.
4) Read your local paper.
5) Tour the area and pretend as though you were a resident there.
There are other ways to find information. This may seem like too much work but would you rather put in less work and create more risk?
Anyway these are just some basics on eliminating the so called risk that may be involved in real estate investing.
I have learned that investing is all about research. So many people express how risky real estate investing can be, however there can be no risk when you know what you are doing. Risk comes from being unsure.
Thorough research provides knowledge about your market or area of investment. In real estate investing knowing your market is the key. Know the population, employment, good locations, supply and demand for housing and other characteristics about your market. This is better than just assuming that property will go up in value or that you will get someone to rent your investment property.
There are a few ways that you can go about getting this type of information:
1) Speak to your city officials to find out the population projection for your desired investment market.
2) Use the Internet to do as much research as possible.
3) Put together a team of professionals. Realtors, lawyers, mortgage brokers, appraisers, property managers etc.
4) Read your local paper.
5) Tour the area and pretend as though you were a resident there.
There are other ways to find information. This may seem like too much work but would you rather put in less work and create more risk?
Anyway these are just some basics on eliminating the so called risk that may be involved in real estate investing.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Wonderful White Gold Wedding Rings
The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. Theres nothing quite like it.
Some people never grow tired of the look of pure gold jewelry. Gold, being our most precious metal, is often a first choice among couples looking for that perfect gold wedding ring.
While yellow gold remains very popular with the wedding crowd. Many people prefer the brilliant hue of a white gold wedding ring.
White gold will look beautiful on you whether youre a man or a woman. You can find online a great selection of white gold diamond wedding rings and white gold wedding ring sets. Also, if youre looking for something a little fancier that can also become a piece of wonderful keepsake jewelry, white gold makes a very elegant engraved wedding ring that can be passed on to future generations.
The one thing you need to be aware of when buying a white gold wedding ring is that it will need periodic maintenance in order to keep its luster.
To obtain its much desired glittering white color, white gold is coated with another alloy called Rhodium (the natural color of white gold is really light gray). Rhodium will wear down after a while, so to maintain your rings luster, youll need to visit your local jeweler about every 12-18 months and have it re-plated with a new coating of Rhodium. The cost for this should be very reasonable.
Whether youre looking for a plain gold wedding band, or a wedding ring with sparkling diamonds, white gold is an excellent choice for those looking for something a little extra special.
The elegant and sophisticated look of glittering, gleaming gold. Theres nothing quite like it.
Some people never grow tired of the look of pure gold jewelry. Gold, being our most precious metal, is often a first choice among couples looking for that perfect gold wedding ring.
While yellow gold remains very popular with the wedding crowd. Many people prefer the brilliant hue of a white gold wedding ring.
White gold will look beautiful on you whether youre a man or a woman. You can find online a great selection of white gold diamond wedding rings and white gold wedding ring sets. Also, if youre looking for something a little fancier that can also become a piece of wonderful keepsake jewelry, white gold makes a very elegant engraved wedding ring that can be passed on to future generations.
The one thing you need to be aware of when buying a white gold wedding ring is that it will need periodic maintenance in order to keep its luster.
To obtain its much desired glittering white color, white gold is coated with another alloy called Rhodium (the natural color of white gold is really light gray). Rhodium will wear down after a while, so to maintain your rings luster, youll need to visit your local jeweler about every 12-18 months and have it re-plated with a new coating of Rhodium. The cost for this should be very reasonable.
Whether youre looking for a plain gold wedding band, or a wedding ring with sparkling diamonds, white gold is an excellent choice for those looking for something a little extra special.
Investing: The Art Of Making Your Money Work For You
There is a lot to know about investing. It all depends on
what type of investing you are interested in as well. There
are many different types of investment options out there. So
what is investing, specifically?
When you invest, you are paying in a certain amount of
money
that you expect to grow with time. Most investments are
considered long term investments meaning you will not get
your money back right away but if you leave your money in,
it can multiply dramatically over time. Types of Investing:
Real Estate Investing, Bonds, Stock Investing, Mutual
Funds,
401K. With stock investing, many of the younger investors
see the market as a way to get rich quick. They are quick
to sell off the stock that they have when it goes up or if
they see it go down a little, they get nervous and sell it
off. If they hold the investment and ride it out, they are
much more likely to see it grow.
If you are going to be investing, the key to success is
asset allocation. You need to vary your assets by
investing in more than one type. So just how do you do this
exactly? Well, you need to know what the 4 major types are
first.
(1) U.S. Stocks are one. They are represented by the S&P
500
Index (2) Foreign Stocks is another; represented by EAFE
Index (Europe, Australia and Far East) (3) Real estate,
represented by the National Association of Real Estate
Investment Trusts Equity Index (4)
Commodities;represented
by the Goldman Sachs.
The key to a growing portfolio is finding a balance
between the ups and downs of these many assets. For
example, if one year stocks seem to be down, real estate or
commodities may be up. So if you are ready to get started
with investing, what do you need to know? First, you need to
decide how much money you have to invest safely.
If you decide to invest in mutual funds, you will be asked
if you want a high, medium or low risk stock. If you invest
in high, there is of course, more risk involved but if it is
successful, you will see much higher returns. If you go with
a low risk, you will not lose as much if it doesn't work
out but you will not gain large amounts if it is successful.
It's really all about how much money you have and how
much
you feel comfortable with risking.
Whatever you choose, there is really no reason not to
invest. There are so many opportunities that can be tried
with little investment and little risk of loss. If you are
considering it,it is easy to learn a little more about it to
form your decisions of which way to go and then invest your
money and watch it grow! The money you invest may return
money for your college, kid's college, retirement, to buy a
house or whatever your needs are. There's no reason not to
get started today.
There is a lot to know about investing. It all depends on
what type of investing you are interested in as well. There
are many different types of investment options out there. So
what is investing, specifically?
When you invest, you are paying in a certain amount of
money
that you expect to grow with time. Most investments are
considered long term investments meaning you will not get
your money back right away but if you leave your money in,
it can multiply dramatically over time. Types of Investing:
Real Estate Investing, Bonds, Stock Investing, Mutual
Funds,
401K. With stock investing, many of the younger investors
see the market as a way to get rich quick. They are quick
to sell off the stock that they have when it goes up or if
they see it go down a little, they get nervous and sell it
off. If they hold the investment and ride it out, they are
much more likely to see it grow.
If you are going to be investing, the key to success is
asset allocation. You need to vary your assets by
investing in more than one type. So just how do you do this
exactly? Well, you need to know what the 4 major types are
first.
(1) U.S. Stocks are one. They are represented by the S&P
500
Index (2) Foreign Stocks is another; represented by EAFE
Index (Europe, Australia and Far East) (3) Real estate,
represented by the National Association of Real Estate
Investment Trusts Equity Index (4)
Commodities;represented
by the Goldman Sachs.
The key to a growing portfolio is finding a balance
between the ups and downs of these many assets. For
example, if one year stocks seem to be down, real estate or
commodities may be up. So if you are ready to get started
with investing, what do you need to know? First, you need to
decide how much money you have to invest safely.
If you decide to invest in mutual funds, you will be asked
if you want a high, medium or low risk stock. If you invest
in high, there is of course, more risk involved but if it is
successful, you will see much higher returns. If you go with
a low risk, you will not lose as much if it doesn't work
out but you will not gain large amounts if it is successful.
It's really all about how much money you have and how
much
you feel comfortable with risking.
Whatever you choose, there is really no reason not to
invest. There are so many opportunities that can be tried
with little investment and little risk of loss. If you are
considering it,it is easy to learn a little more about it to
form your decisions of which way to go and then invest your
money and watch it grow! The money you invest may return
money for your college, kid's college, retirement, to buy a
house or whatever your needs are. There's no reason not to
get started today.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
How to Mine the Dirt Out of Your Gold
So, you have a beautiful gold necklace that needs cleaning? Although gold is tarnish-resistant, it does get dirty and smudged and needs cleaning now and again. Try to stay away from harsh soaps, powders, lotions, and even natural skin oils as these will actually cut down on golds brilliance over time. When you clean your gold necklaces, the cleaning process actually removes this buildup of residue and restores the original sparkle and shine that makes your piece of coveted jewelry precious and brilliant for many years to come.
The next time you think about discarding your old toothbrush with soft bristles, think twice! Combine a mild detergent with a small amount of toothpaste and buff your jewelry in a circular motion, then wash off the mild dishwashing liquid and water along with the toothpaste and buff with a soft cloth. Your gold necklace will love you for it.
If you have an extensive jewelry collection or even just a few gold necklaces, remember to get a good jewelry-polishing cloth. They are made of cotton with one side that is treated with the chemical that helps remove tarnish and the other side is used to buff the jewelry. This is an inexpensive way to clean your jewelry that works well. After all, when you purchased your gold jewelry, no doubt the acquisition cost was high and this will extend the value of your gold necklace considerably. Your jewelry cloth will become darkened after extended use, but this is quite normal and doesn't mean that you need to replace it right away, but rather you can continue using it until the fabric itself wears out. No matter what type of jewelry you own, it is important to take care of each item individually. Remember to keep your most precious pieces, including gold necklaces, safely tucked away in a dark, airtight jewelry box in a safe, storage area.
So, you have a beautiful gold necklace that needs cleaning? Although gold is tarnish-resistant, it does get dirty and smudged and needs cleaning now and again. Try to stay away from harsh soaps, powders, lotions, and even natural skin oils as these will actually cut down on golds brilliance over time. When you clean your gold necklaces, the cleaning process actually removes this buildup of residue and restores the original sparkle and shine that makes your piece of coveted jewelry precious and brilliant for many years to come.
The next time you think about discarding your old toothbrush with soft bristles, think twice! Combine a mild detergent with a small amount of toothpaste and buff your jewelry in a circular motion, then wash off the mild dishwashing liquid and water along with the toothpaste and buff with a soft cloth. Your gold necklace will love you for it.
If you have an extensive jewelry collection or even just a few gold necklaces, remember to get a good jewelry-polishing cloth. They are made of cotton with one side that is treated with the chemical that helps remove tarnish and the other side is used to buff the jewelry. This is an inexpensive way to clean your jewelry that works well. After all, when you purchased your gold jewelry, no doubt the acquisition cost was high and this will extend the value of your gold necklace considerably. Your jewelry cloth will become darkened after extended use, but this is quite normal and doesn't mean that you need to replace it right away, but rather you can continue using it until the fabric itself wears out. No matter what type of jewelry you own, it is important to take care of each item individually. Remember to keep your most precious pieces, including gold necklaces, safely tucked away in a dark, airtight jewelry box in a safe, storage area.
Gold Panning For Fun & Profit
How Much Gold Can I Expect To Find?
The definitive answer is -- it depends. There are many variables. The amount of gold recovered varies tremendously. You may find a few small nuggets every few pans, while your friend 10 feet away will find nothing but gold dust.
The most difficult lesson to learn is where gold hides. The path of water, amount of gold moving, types of rocks and speed of the water over the life of the stream, all affect gold and where it settles. This means that you may find decent flakes at a specific spot, but never find anything else there again.
There is no reliable way to tell how much gold will be found. If you go to the same area each time, you will be able to get a feel for the amount that you typically recover.
Personally, on a 4-hour hike along a stream mostly visiting with friends, I will typically find 1/8th of a gram of gold. Not much, but enough to make it fun and be visible. If I am not being lazy and decide to work specific spots, a lot more can consistently be found and occasionally a nugget too.
What Is It Worth?
That is another variable question. The biggest variable affecting the value of gold is the purity. In some places, gold can be 24 karat and other places it will be very coarse and only be 14 karat or less. 24 karat gold is worth about $10 a gram and may often be worth more as an art piece.
To put the size into perspective, a piece of gold the size of a grain of rice can weight a gram. It doesnt take a lot of flakes in the bottom of a vial to add up to a gram or 2
Even if you do not have much gold, and even it isnt pure, it has another value -- sentimental. There is something almost magical about having a vial of gold that YOU found. Inside that vial is the story of the look on your face the first time you found a decent sized flake or nugget, perhaps the memory of a visit with a old friend or how the stresses of the week melted away after finding some color. Perhaps your vial will become a legacy that you pass to your children as a reminder of the many fond memories from taking them panning and hoping they do the same with their children.
This potentially life long hobby is fun, great exercise and is applicable to anywhere in the world. Once you start finding gold you may find yourself counting the seconds until you can go back and turn over the rock just to the left of where you had been digging.
How Much Gold Can I Expect To Find?
The definitive answer is -- it depends. There are many variables. The amount of gold recovered varies tremendously. You may find a few small nuggets every few pans, while your friend 10 feet away will find nothing but gold dust.
The most difficult lesson to learn is where gold hides. The path of water, amount of gold moving, types of rocks and speed of the water over the life of the stream, all affect gold and where it settles. This means that you may find decent flakes at a specific spot, but never find anything else there again.
There is no reliable way to tell how much gold will be found. If you go to the same area each time, you will be able to get a feel for the amount that you typically recover.
Personally, on a 4-hour hike along a stream mostly visiting with friends, I will typically find 1/8th of a gram of gold. Not much, but enough to make it fun and be visible. If I am not being lazy and decide to work specific spots, a lot more can consistently be found and occasionally a nugget too.
What Is It Worth?
That is another variable question. The biggest variable affecting the value of gold is the purity. In some places, gold can be 24 karat and other places it will be very coarse and only be 14 karat or less. 24 karat gold is worth about $10 a gram and may often be worth more as an art piece.
To put the size into perspective, a piece of gold the size of a grain of rice can weight a gram. It doesnt take a lot of flakes in the bottom of a vial to add up to a gram or 2
Even if you do not have much gold, and even it isnt pure, it has another value -- sentimental. There is something almost magical about having a vial of gold that YOU found. Inside that vial is the story of the look on your face the first time you found a decent sized flake or nugget, perhaps the memory of a visit with a old friend or how the stresses of the week melted away after finding some color. Perhaps your vial will become a legacy that you pass to your children as a reminder of the many fond memories from taking them panning and hoping they do the same with their children.
This potentially life long hobby is fun, great exercise and is applicable to anywhere in the world. Once you start finding gold you may find yourself counting the seconds until you can go back and turn over the rock just to the left of where you had been digging.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Gold Investments: A Few Helpful Tips
Throughout history, gold has been a highly valued substance. It's unique properties and relative scarcity caused almost every world culture to use it as a form of money, as well as a way to "store" value. Although it has lost much of its importance as a form of currency, gold investments still provide a great way to protect your money and diversify a portfolio.
Over the past few years, gold prices have been steadily rising. There is a very good chance this trend will continue over the long-term, making it a good idea to put some money into gold investments now. Also, buying gold is a great way to hedge against other investments. Due to uncertainty in the stock market and the value of the US dollar, it's a good idea to put 10-20% of your money into a hedge fund in order to protect yourself. Gold and silver have always been considered to be among the best forms of hedge investments because they have relatively stable values (due to very small changes in supply).
How to Invest in Gold
Before you buy gold, it's a good idea to get the help of an investment consultant. This is especially true if you've never invested in gold before. He or she can help you determine the best moves to make based on your own personal financial goals and risk tolerance. If you already have a personal financial adviser, tell him or her that you'd like to use gold to hedge your portfolio. If he or she doesn't have much experience dealing in gold investments you may want to find someone who does.
If you're interested in profiting from the price movements of gold, buying gold bullion coins are an excellent option. The best choices are the American Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Britannia, and the Australian Nugget coins. You can buy gold bullion coins from precious metal and coin dealers, both offline and online.
Before making a gold bullion purchase, always shop around for the best prices, as the markup on coins will vary from dealer to dealer. Also, do everything possible to make sure the dealer you're buying from has been in business for awhile and has a good reputation. If possible preserve your gold coins in the original mint packaging and protect them from scratches to maximize resale value.
Gold bars are another gold investment option you may want to look into. Smaller bars are usually more expensive (per ounce) than large bars but are often easier to sell. In general, bars carry a higher price premium than coins. As with gold bullion coins, only buy and trade with reputable dealers.
Throughout history, gold has been a highly valued substance. It's unique properties and relative scarcity caused almost every world culture to use it as a form of money, as well as a way to "store" value. Although it has lost much of its importance as a form of currency, gold investments still provide a great way to protect your money and diversify a portfolio.
Over the past few years, gold prices have been steadily rising. There is a very good chance this trend will continue over the long-term, making it a good idea to put some money into gold investments now. Also, buying gold is a great way to hedge against other investments. Due to uncertainty in the stock market and the value of the US dollar, it's a good idea to put 10-20% of your money into a hedge fund in order to protect yourself. Gold and silver have always been considered to be among the best forms of hedge investments because they have relatively stable values (due to very small changes in supply).
How to Invest in Gold
Before you buy gold, it's a good idea to get the help of an investment consultant. This is especially true if you've never invested in gold before. He or she can help you determine the best moves to make based on your own personal financial goals and risk tolerance. If you already have a personal financial adviser, tell him or her that you'd like to use gold to hedge your portfolio. If he or she doesn't have much experience dealing in gold investments you may want to find someone who does.
If you're interested in profiting from the price movements of gold, buying gold bullion coins are an excellent option. The best choices are the American Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, the Britannia, and the Australian Nugget coins. You can buy gold bullion coins from precious metal and coin dealers, both offline and online.
Before making a gold bullion purchase, always shop around for the best prices, as the markup on coins will vary from dealer to dealer. Also, do everything possible to make sure the dealer you're buying from has been in business for awhile and has a good reputation. If possible preserve your gold coins in the original mint packaging and protect them from scratches to maximize resale value.
Gold bars are another gold investment option you may want to look into. Smaller bars are usually more expensive (per ounce) than large bars but are often easier to sell. In general, bars carry a higher price premium than coins. As with gold bullion coins, only buy and trade with reputable dealers.
Treasure Hunting - Part Two
Treasure hunting begins at home. People regularly find famous old books and valuable antiques in their attics, so get up there and look. One couple opened their walls while remodeling, and found them insulated with thousands of old and valuable movie posters. In the thirties a theater owner ahd put them there. The couple sold $200,000 worth of the posters, the last I heard.
There are many more ways to go treasure hunting. I used to take the old telegraph pole insulators form along train tracks, to sell for $4 each at an antique store. They were otherwise being shot to pieces by hunters over the years. The colored glass ones are usually the more valuable ones.
Panning For Gold
For $10 you can buy a gold pan, and start prospecting. It's easier to see the gold in the green plastic ones. Most federal lands are open to prospectors without a permit. I've only seen gold in my pan in Canada (there isn't much gold in Michigan), but people have better luck in the mountain streams of the southeast and southwest. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon in any case.
Treasure Hunting With A Metal Detector
Metal detectors start under $200. I've found a few hundred coins, but none of them have been valuable ones. When the city tore up old sidewalks, a woman in our town used her detector to find coins . She sold one to a local coin shop for $700. A friend tells me that her husband and her have found many pieces of gold jewelry at the beach with their detector. It's also common to use metal detectors to find gold nuggets in the southwest.
Treasure Hunting In The Streets
Collecting cans for 37 cents a pound is a tough way to make a living. Here in Michigan and other states, however, there's a 10 cent deposit on every beverage container. During festivals I see people with bags of hundreds of cans they collected in the parks and garbage containers. Some travel here every year during the Cherry Festival, just to collect returnable bottles and cans that week.
I spoke to a man who went to the big concerts to collect beer and pop cans in the parking areas. He said he makes over $100 in a few hours (plus the time to take them to the store). Collecting "returnables" can be an unpleasant way to make money, but an old guy in town here tells me he pays the rent doing this.
Treasure hunting is about having the right frame of mind. There are treasures to be found everywhere. I once found a chest with foreign notes and coins in the crawl space under our house. Hotel owners report that visitors tuck money in the bedside bible, and forget to take it with them. Sometimes you just have to look.
Treasure hunting begins at home. People regularly find famous old books and valuable antiques in their attics, so get up there and look. One couple opened their walls while remodeling, and found them insulated with thousands of old and valuable movie posters. In the thirties a theater owner ahd put them there. The couple sold $200,000 worth of the posters, the last I heard.
There are many more ways to go treasure hunting. I used to take the old telegraph pole insulators form along train tracks, to sell for $4 each at an antique store. They were otherwise being shot to pieces by hunters over the years. The colored glass ones are usually the more valuable ones.
Panning For Gold
For $10 you can buy a gold pan, and start prospecting. It's easier to see the gold in the green plastic ones. Most federal lands are open to prospectors without a permit. I've only seen gold in my pan in Canada (there isn't much gold in Michigan), but people have better luck in the mountain streams of the southeast and southwest. It's a nice way to spend an afternoon in any case.
Treasure Hunting With A Metal Detector
Metal detectors start under $200. I've found a few hundred coins, but none of them have been valuable ones. When the city tore up old sidewalks, a woman in our town used her detector to find coins . She sold one to a local coin shop for $700. A friend tells me that her husband and her have found many pieces of gold jewelry at the beach with their detector. It's also common to use metal detectors to find gold nuggets in the southwest.
Treasure Hunting In The Streets
Collecting cans for 37 cents a pound is a tough way to make a living. Here in Michigan and other states, however, there's a 10 cent deposit on every beverage container. During festivals I see people with bags of hundreds of cans they collected in the parks and garbage containers. Some travel here every year during the Cherry Festival, just to collect returnable bottles and cans that week.
I spoke to a man who went to the big concerts to collect beer and pop cans in the parking areas. He said he makes over $100 in a few hours (plus the time to take them to the store). Collecting "returnables" can be an unpleasant way to make money, but an old guy in town here tells me he pays the rent doing this.
Treasure hunting is about having the right frame of mind. There are treasures to be found everywhere. I once found a chest with foreign notes and coins in the crawl space under our house. Hotel owners report that visitors tuck money in the bedside bible, and forget to take it with them. Sometimes you just have to look.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Internet Goldrush
We were taught in school about the gold rushes. There were a few of them. There was the California gold rush, Klondike gold rush, and Australian rush. Now there were more but just to name a few. People sold and gave up everything to go and hunt for gold. They had no idea how to do it. They figured they learn when they got there. As we all know most lost everything and their lives went to pot. There were many that succeed too.
Well we have another gold rush happening now. But the gold nuggets are the internet. There have been many many people who have made fortunes on the internet whether it be from starting a dot com or selling products, information and ideas
There are so many people rushing to the internet to make their fortunes too. Now maybe their not throwing everything away and traveling thousands of miles to god only knows where. But I have seen and heard of people quitting their jobs to work on the internet full time. Now again many have succeeded but most don't. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Knowledge is key.
The internet can change your life. It can teach you almost anything. Every day people are logging in or onto the internet. They are looking for information, looking to buy something. Many actually go online to play games, whether it be Role playing games, or the latest thing. TEXAS HOLD'EM. What I am trying to say here is that I don't think we really realize yet how big the internet is going to be! You need to sit up and take notice.
You need to take stock of what you know. Would other people be interested in that info? Do I have info that others would be interested in? You don't always have to use other peoples information or products. Everyday people goo to the internet looking for how to do this and how to do that.
Learn to put your information out there. Learn to pan for your gold. Everyone can find their own gold they just need to pan for it. Learning is the key. It just takes less dangerous methods these days to pan for your gold.
We were taught in school about the gold rushes. There were a few of them. There was the California gold rush, Klondike gold rush, and Australian rush. Now there were more but just to name a few. People sold and gave up everything to go and hunt for gold. They had no idea how to do it. They figured they learn when they got there. As we all know most lost everything and their lives went to pot. There were many that succeed too.
Well we have another gold rush happening now. But the gold nuggets are the internet. There have been many many people who have made fortunes on the internet whether it be from starting a dot com or selling products, information and ideas
There are so many people rushing to the internet to make their fortunes too. Now maybe their not throwing everything away and traveling thousands of miles to god only knows where. But I have seen and heard of people quitting their jobs to work on the internet full time. Now again many have succeeded but most don't. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. Knowledge is key.
The internet can change your life. It can teach you almost anything. Every day people are logging in or onto the internet. They are looking for information, looking to buy something. Many actually go online to play games, whether it be Role playing games, or the latest thing. TEXAS HOLD'EM. What I am trying to say here is that I don't think we really realize yet how big the internet is going to be! You need to sit up and take notice.
You need to take stock of what you know. Would other people be interested in that info? Do I have info that others would be interested in? You don't always have to use other peoples information or products. Everyday people goo to the internet looking for how to do this and how to do that.
Learn to put your information out there. Learn to pan for your gold. Everyone can find their own gold they just need to pan for it. Learning is the key. It just takes less dangerous methods these days to pan for your gold.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Where to Invest Your Money
If you are new to investing, or even if you've been playing the market for a while, investment options can be overwhelming. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds. How do you pick the best place to invest your money? That's quite a decision!
Here are some tips that can help you get started:
If you are planning for a long-term investment, it may be wisest to go with stocks. History shows that stocks outperform other investing options over the long term. For example, from 1926 to 2004, the stock market had an average annual gain of 10.4%, compared with only 5.4% for bonds and even less for other forms of investing.
That said, stocks may not be such a good option for short-term investing. They tend to be more risky and can undergo severe losses. Unless you're planning to keep your money there for a long time, you might not want to weather the stress of the stock market's ups and downs. Overall, a company's earnings are going to be the biggest player in a stock's fluctuation.
If you're willing to take a little bit of risk with your investing-or a lot-you probably will notice a bigger payoff. Stocks, for example, are a riskier investment than bonds. But again, stocks tend to bring in a much higher return. On the other hand, there is also the chance that your stock will dip and you may suffer a great loss. That's all part of the game.
If you're looking for a low-risk, surefire investment strategy, U.S. Treasury bonds may be the way to go. The government has a lot of power over these bonds. Because of this, investing in these bonds is generally considered risk-free. Keep in mind, however, that bonds don't do so well when interest rates rise. Conversely, when interest rates go down, bond prices rise. This is particularly true with long-term bonds.
To be safe, the best advice is to diversify your portfolio. If you practice investing in a number of different areas, you are least likely to lose it all. (Remember the Enron scandal? Don't make that mistake!) Some investments will go up, others will go down. But at least you can be pretty sure you won't lose it all. Chances are, with a little research, some self-education, and careful investing, you'll build your savings substantially. Happy investing!
If you are new to investing, or even if you've been playing the market for a while, investment options can be overwhelming. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds. How do you pick the best place to invest your money? That's quite a decision!
Here are some tips that can help you get started:
If you are planning for a long-term investment, it may be wisest to go with stocks. History shows that stocks outperform other investing options over the long term. For example, from 1926 to 2004, the stock market had an average annual gain of 10.4%, compared with only 5.4% for bonds and even less for other forms of investing.
That said, stocks may not be such a good option for short-term investing. They tend to be more risky and can undergo severe losses. Unless you're planning to keep your money there for a long time, you might not want to weather the stress of the stock market's ups and downs. Overall, a company's earnings are going to be the biggest player in a stock's fluctuation.
If you're willing to take a little bit of risk with your investing-or a lot-you probably will notice a bigger payoff. Stocks, for example, are a riskier investment than bonds. But again, stocks tend to bring in a much higher return. On the other hand, there is also the chance that your stock will dip and you may suffer a great loss. That's all part of the game.
If you're looking for a low-risk, surefire investment strategy, U.S. Treasury bonds may be the way to go. The government has a lot of power over these bonds. Because of this, investing in these bonds is generally considered risk-free. Keep in mind, however, that bonds don't do so well when interest rates rise. Conversely, when interest rates go down, bond prices rise. This is particularly true with long-term bonds.
To be safe, the best advice is to diversify your portfolio. If you practice investing in a number of different areas, you are least likely to lose it all. (Remember the Enron scandal? Don't make that mistake!) Some investments will go up, others will go down. But at least you can be pretty sure you won't lose it all. Chances are, with a little research, some self-education, and careful investing, you'll build your savings substantially. Happy investing!
Why Asia Owns America
The Forgotten Benefits of the Gold Standard
One of the benefits of the gold standard, long forgotten, was that it acted to regulate imbalances in trade. Under the gold standard, trade imbalances between countries were unsustainable because they would self correct over time. Here is an example of how that worked: When a country would export more than it imported, it would accumulated more gold. That is because it could take the surplus foreign currency received in trade and convert it to gold.
As you have learned, when gold entered a country from outside its borders, it always caused inflation. That is because the surplus of gold (money) relative to the goods and services available for purchase always bids up those prices. When a country's goods become more expensive, they also become less attractive to its trading partners. As a result, the country cannot export as much as it once could.
Back in the days of the gold standard, more gold would then flow out of the country than would come in, because imports would exceed exports. Because of less gold in the country, prices would eventually decline to where they had been originally.
World War I began in 1914, although the United States did not enter the war until 1917. In the early years of the war, England and France depended heavily on the United States to provide them with arms. As a result, gold flowed into the Unites States, while arms flowed out. The incoming gold allowed the banks to loan more money, causing the money supply in the U.S. to increase by nearly 50 percent during the period 1914 -1917.
When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, England and France had all but exhausted their supplies of gold. As a favor to England and France, the U.S. suspended the gold standard and began providing armaments on credit. Additionally, the U.S. printed money to provide for its own troops. During the next three years, the money supply again increased by almost 50 percent. When the war was over, the Allies looted Germany. With the spoils, England and France paid back their loans to the United States. As a result, even more gold flowed into the United States.
The Forgotten Benefits of the Gold Standard
One of the benefits of the gold standard, long forgotten, was that it acted to regulate imbalances in trade. Under the gold standard, trade imbalances between countries were unsustainable because they would self correct over time. Here is an example of how that worked: When a country would export more than it imported, it would accumulated more gold. That is because it could take the surplus foreign currency received in trade and convert it to gold.
As you have learned, when gold entered a country from outside its borders, it always caused inflation. That is because the surplus of gold (money) relative to the goods and services available for purchase always bids up those prices. When a country's goods become more expensive, they also become less attractive to its trading partners. As a result, the country cannot export as much as it once could.
Back in the days of the gold standard, more gold would then flow out of the country than would come in, because imports would exceed exports. Because of less gold in the country, prices would eventually decline to where they had been originally.
World War I began in 1914, although the United States did not enter the war until 1917. In the early years of the war, England and France depended heavily on the United States to provide them with arms. As a result, gold flowed into the Unites States, while arms flowed out. The incoming gold allowed the banks to loan more money, causing the money supply in the U.S. to increase by nearly 50 percent during the period 1914 -1917.
When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, England and France had all but exhausted their supplies of gold. As a favor to England and France, the U.S. suspended the gold standard and began providing armaments on credit. Additionally, the U.S. printed money to provide for its own troops. During the next three years, the money supply again increased by almost 50 percent. When the war was over, the Allies looted Germany. With the spoils, England and France paid back their loans to the United States. As a result, even more gold flowed into the United States.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Gold as International Currency of E-Commerce
With the wide use of the Internet the world is becoming a fast paced, international market place. The age of months of travel on the Silk Road has become obsolete and along with it perhaps the 100s of countries currency.
The Euro was invented in the spirit of more efficient trade and has succeeded in making it easier for merchants within Europe to negotiate and sell to one another. What is to stop the gradual progression to a single world currency? Well the Euro and the Dollar are all examples of top down currencies that are controlled tightly by the issuing government. There is another currency that has been around longer then all the current governments and is just beginning to awaken from a 40-year nap.
Various places such as; GoldMoney and E-Gold issue digital gold. These are examples of a bottom up currency. What is interesting about basing money out of gold is the fact that it isnt new. It is, in fact, the oldest form of money and up until fairly recently (1972) most of the worlds currencies could be exchanged directly into gold.
It is still early in its development, but I think that for more and more people, a day will come when they will order a product like our voice changing software MorphVOX, from anywhere in the world and pay for it in grams of gold. No longer will they have to worrying about the number dollars that convert into their local money on that given day.
Perhaps it is peoples growing distrust that the government has not been a good custodian of a citizens national money, or it is the convenience of the internationally recognize value of gold, but whatever it is the use of digital gold on the internet seems to be growing.
With the wide use of the Internet the world is becoming a fast paced, international market place. The age of months of travel on the Silk Road has become obsolete and along with it perhaps the 100s of countries currency.
The Euro was invented in the spirit of more efficient trade and has succeeded in making it easier for merchants within Europe to negotiate and sell to one another. What is to stop the gradual progression to a single world currency? Well the Euro and the Dollar are all examples of top down currencies that are controlled tightly by the issuing government. There is another currency that has been around longer then all the current governments and is just beginning to awaken from a 40-year nap.
Various places such as; GoldMoney and E-Gold issue digital gold. These are examples of a bottom up currency. What is interesting about basing money out of gold is the fact that it isnt new. It is, in fact, the oldest form of money and up until fairly recently (1972) most of the worlds currencies could be exchanged directly into gold.
It is still early in its development, but I think that for more and more people, a day will come when they will order a product like our voice changing software MorphVOX, from anywhere in the world and pay for it in grams of gold. No longer will they have to worrying about the number dollars that convert into their local money on that given day.
Perhaps it is peoples growing distrust that the government has not been a good custodian of a citizens national money, or it is the convenience of the internationally recognize value of gold, but whatever it is the use of digital gold on the internet seems to be growing.
Coin Magic
Coin magic is the universal phrase for illusions using one or more coins, which are maneuvered so as to trick and mystify the spectators. It is well received by nearly every audience and all ages, and it is highly esteemed by magicians. A great deal of inventiveness has gone into developing each effect in the great diversity of coin tricks available in books on magic, but a large amount of them can be condensed to a small number of fundamentals - for instance vanishes, productions and palms, but no self-working tricks - united in some order to create the desired result.
Coin magic is frequently perceived as a tricky branch of the art. Learners of coin magic frequently have a disappointing start, as they discover that they are "caught" performing their sleights. The routine used in coin magic is of the greatest significance. The patter narrative is tied in strongly with the routine. Make use of the magical gesture as a misdirection device.
One of the grand magical gestures to make a coin disappear is to have one positioned in your hand, then make some passes over it with your other hand, and then make it vanish. Another good magic trick is to make a coin disappear and resurface in the spectator's hand. Even simple coins can vanish, but there are also magic coins that you can pick up online to get you started.
This type of magic can be plenty of fun, even if you're just doing it to astound your family and friends. Some popular sleight of hand tricks are The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Biting Coin, Palm Transfers, The Utility Switch, Folding Coin and Coin Switches. The best dimensions of the coin you will use while performing coin magic will be determined by the size of your hands and fingers.
Coin magic is the universal phrase for illusions using one or more coins, which are maneuvered so as to trick and mystify the spectators. It is well received by nearly every audience and all ages, and it is highly esteemed by magicians. A great deal of inventiveness has gone into developing each effect in the great diversity of coin tricks available in books on magic, but a large amount of them can be condensed to a small number of fundamentals - for instance vanishes, productions and palms, but no self-working tricks - united in some order to create the desired result.
Coin magic is frequently perceived as a tricky branch of the art. Learners of coin magic frequently have a disappointing start, as they discover that they are "caught" performing their sleights. The routine used in coin magic is of the greatest significance. The patter narrative is tied in strongly with the routine. Make use of the magical gesture as a misdirection device.
One of the grand magical gestures to make a coin disappear is to have one positioned in your hand, then make some passes over it with your other hand, and then make it vanish. Another good magic trick is to make a coin disappear and resurface in the spectator's hand. Even simple coins can vanish, but there are also magic coins that you can pick up online to get you started.
This type of magic can be plenty of fun, even if you're just doing it to astound your family and friends. Some popular sleight of hand tricks are The Classic Palm, The Finger Palm, Classic Palm Vanish, Biting Coin, Palm Transfers, The Utility Switch, Folding Coin and Coin Switches. The best dimensions of the coin you will use while performing coin magic will be determined by the size of your hands and fingers.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Slot Machine Basics 101
Let's begin with a little bit of basic knowledge about slot machines.
Modern Slot Machines work on a computer program that randomly selects winning combinations. Winning percentages and odds are set by the manufacturer and are calculated by millions of spins made with computer simulations.
A Slot Machine is a mechanical device employing three, four, five, or more circular reels of varying dimensions. Each of these reels has several symbols, either painted on or attached to it. Most common designs are Cherries, Bars, the Jackpot Symbol, and the Number 7.
Theme Machines are very popular, using red, white, and blue 7's symbol which trade on American patriotism. To better understand Slot Machine Strategies and how Winning at Slot Machines can be easy, you must first know what kind of Slot Machine you are playing and understand Slot Machine Strategy.
Three Reels vs. Four Reels
Common sense should dictate that it is far easier to line up three matching symbols for a Slot Machine win, than four. To get four of anything is very hard, even on liberal Video Poker. On a Reel Slot Machine, three 7's can be achieved much more often than four 7's on a Four-Reel machine. Look for Three Reel machines to play.
Progressive Slots
Progressive Slot Machines are usually Four-Reel machines which offer an open-ended jackpot that increases in value after each pull on every machine within a linked group. The top jackpot can be won only if the maximum number of coins is played and all the winning symbols correctly line up on the pay line. Progressive Slots do not pay off very often, however if you want to play a Progressive Slots, pick one whose Primary and Secondary jackpots are at a high level.
Two-Coin vs. Three-Coin Machines
In a Two-Coin machine, for the top jackpot, or maybe even the top two or three jackpots, the second-coin play will pay considerably more than just double the one-coin jackpot. For example: top jackpot payoff on a Two-Coin machine is three 7's, paying $1,000, the same three 7's pays only $400 if you played only one coin. The Three Coin machine will show much higher payoffs for the top jackpots with the three coins played. Three-Coin machines might look more lucrative in their payoff than Two-Coin machines, but don't be fooled! The player also has to bet more to get the higher payout. Consequently, the player will lose more money. One final piece of advice: whatever slot you play, Two-Coin, Three-Coin, Four-Coin, etc., always play the maximum number of coins. If you don't, you are not maximizing your winnings.
One Payline vs. Three Paylines
Most Slot Machines show the Center line marked as a payline. To win you must line up a winning combination on that center payline and on that line only. But many machines show Three Paylines: at the top, center, and bottom of the window. This means that a winning combination lined up correctly on any of the three Paylines will pay. The advantage of Three-Paying Machines is they give you more chances of winning and you can get double and triple pays if winning combinations appear on more than one payline together. The disadvantages are that the payoffs are usually very small and the top jackpot is paid only if you line up the proper winning symbols in the correct sequence on the bottom, or third payline. Another disadvantage is that Three-Payline machines are always three-coin machines. Some machines offer five, or even eight paylines but, once again, you have to play five or eight coins per pull. Remember, great advice, play Two-Coin maximum, Three Reel, One Payline Slot Machines.
Double-Up Symbols
An increasing variety of machines now employ so-called Double-Up symbols on their reels. This symbol, usually circular or in the shape of a diamond in a circle, and always bearing the words "Double" across its face, can be very valuable to the slot player. The payoff amount is Double and these Double Symbols also substitute forany other symbol. However, there are not many Double Machines available at casinos. The good Double-Up machines are normally found stuck somewhere in the middle of a group of bad machines, or are relegated to some obscure part of the casino.
Let's begin with a little bit of basic knowledge about slot machines.
Modern Slot Machines work on a computer program that randomly selects winning combinations. Winning percentages and odds are set by the manufacturer and are calculated by millions of spins made with computer simulations.
A Slot Machine is a mechanical device employing three, four, five, or more circular reels of varying dimensions. Each of these reels has several symbols, either painted on or attached to it. Most common designs are Cherries, Bars, the Jackpot Symbol, and the Number 7.
Theme Machines are very popular, using red, white, and blue 7's symbol which trade on American patriotism. To better understand Slot Machine Strategies and how Winning at Slot Machines can be easy, you must first know what kind of Slot Machine you are playing and understand Slot Machine Strategy.
Three Reels vs. Four Reels
Common sense should dictate that it is far easier to line up three matching symbols for a Slot Machine win, than four. To get four of anything is very hard, even on liberal Video Poker. On a Reel Slot Machine, three 7's can be achieved much more often than four 7's on a Four-Reel machine. Look for Three Reel machines to play.
Progressive Slots
Progressive Slot Machines are usually Four-Reel machines which offer an open-ended jackpot that increases in value after each pull on every machine within a linked group. The top jackpot can be won only if the maximum number of coins is played and all the winning symbols correctly line up on the pay line. Progressive Slots do not pay off very often, however if you want to play a Progressive Slots, pick one whose Primary and Secondary jackpots are at a high level.
Two-Coin vs. Three-Coin Machines
In a Two-Coin machine, for the top jackpot, or maybe even the top two or three jackpots, the second-coin play will pay considerably more than just double the one-coin jackpot. For example: top jackpot payoff on a Two-Coin machine is three 7's, paying $1,000, the same three 7's pays only $400 if you played only one coin. The Three Coin machine will show much higher payoffs for the top jackpots with the three coins played. Three-Coin machines might look more lucrative in their payoff than Two-Coin machines, but don't be fooled! The player also has to bet more to get the higher payout. Consequently, the player will lose more money. One final piece of advice: whatever slot you play, Two-Coin, Three-Coin, Four-Coin, etc., always play the maximum number of coins. If you don't, you are not maximizing your winnings.
One Payline vs. Three Paylines
Most Slot Machines show the Center line marked as a payline. To win you must line up a winning combination on that center payline and on that line only. But many machines show Three Paylines: at the top, center, and bottom of the window. This means that a winning combination lined up correctly on any of the three Paylines will pay. The advantage of Three-Paying Machines is they give you more chances of winning and you can get double and triple pays if winning combinations appear on more than one payline together. The disadvantages are that the payoffs are usually very small and the top jackpot is paid only if you line up the proper winning symbols in the correct sequence on the bottom, or third payline. Another disadvantage is that Three-Payline machines are always three-coin machines. Some machines offer five, or even eight paylines but, once again, you have to play five or eight coins per pull. Remember, great advice, play Two-Coin maximum, Three Reel, One Payline Slot Machines.
Double-Up Symbols
An increasing variety of machines now employ so-called Double-Up symbols on their reels. This symbol, usually circular or in the shape of a diamond in a circle, and always bearing the words "Double" across its face, can be very valuable to the slot player. The payoff amount is Double and these Double Symbols also substitute forany other symbol. However, there are not many Double Machines available at casinos. The good Double-Up machines are normally found stuck somewhere in the middle of a group of bad machines, or are relegated to some obscure part of the casino.
Why Invest Money in Stocks?
Are you considering investing in stocks? Many people have chosen stocks as their primary wealth building vehicle.
There are a ton of reasons for investing in stocks but Ill leave you with the most beneficial reasons.
When you buy a stock you are actually a partial owner of the company and if you do your research you can own a very successful company that will reward you for years to come.
Stocks on average grow over 10% a year and thats a lot more than a certificate of deposit (CD) at your local bank.
Your risk is minimal as long as you dont put all your money in one stock or in companies that are similar. Youll want to diversify some of your money into other companies.
You will be taking part in an American pastime and will be learning more and more about your finances.
You will be helping the economy when a company first sells their stock to the public they have what is called an Initial Public Offering (IPO) which brings money in for the company and helps them grow.
So you see investing your money in stocks is really a good thing and if you have some money you can afford to lose (yes stocks can go down) then you should seriously consider learning more about the stock market and investing some of your money in it.
Are you considering investing in stocks? Many people have chosen stocks as their primary wealth building vehicle.
There are a ton of reasons for investing in stocks but Ill leave you with the most beneficial reasons.
When you buy a stock you are actually a partial owner of the company and if you do your research you can own a very successful company that will reward you for years to come.
Stocks on average grow over 10% a year and thats a lot more than a certificate of deposit (CD) at your local bank.
Your risk is minimal as long as you dont put all your money in one stock or in companies that are similar. Youll want to diversify some of your money into other companies.
You will be taking part in an American pastime and will be learning more and more about your finances.
You will be helping the economy when a company first sells their stock to the public they have what is called an Initial Public Offering (IPO) which brings money in for the company and helps them grow.
So you see investing your money in stocks is really a good thing and if you have some money you can afford to lose (yes stocks can go down) then you should seriously consider learning more about the stock market and investing some of your money in it.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Men's Gold Wedding Bands
Gold is still the most popular choice for men's wedding rings. Pure gold is a deep yellow color, soft, very malleable and is of 24 carats. The only things to consider when buying a gold wedding ring are the gold carat and gold color or the combination of gold colors available.
Typical mens wedding bands contain 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold. The higher the proportion of gold used indicates the cost and the value of the metal. All these mentioned carat wedding rings are hard and durable metals and are suitable for daily usage.
In the present market, gold is available in a wide range of different colors. However, the most popular is still yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold. Other gold colors such as bronze, peach, red and lime gold are also sometimes available. Each gold color contains the same proportion of pure gold, so all the gold colors having the same carat will have the same Vickers score. White gold is usually more expensive than yellow gold and rose gold.
When buying wedding bands, men should consider the metals performance in daily usage and the difference in price and color. Studies show that an 18-carat ring holds up to everyday wear compared to a 9-carat and 14 carat. Also, 18 carat gold ages better than 9ct and 14ct and so looks better with daily usage. So, 18ct is the superior metal for men's wedding rings provided that the ring is not a lightweight construction even though it is more expensive than 14 carat and 9 carat.
One major advantage with a gold wedding ring is that a simple gold wedding ring can normally be resized in the future by a local jeweler. However, a gold ring with ribbed edges, a wave or woven pattern or engraving might be a bit more difficult to resize without affecting the ring pattern.
Gold is still the most popular choice for men's wedding rings. Pure gold is a deep yellow color, soft, very malleable and is of 24 carats. The only things to consider when buying a gold wedding ring are the gold carat and gold color or the combination of gold colors available.
Typical mens wedding bands contain 9ct, 14ct and 18ct gold. The higher the proportion of gold used indicates the cost and the value of the metal. All these mentioned carat wedding rings are hard and durable metals and are suitable for daily usage.
In the present market, gold is available in a wide range of different colors. However, the most popular is still yellow gold, followed by white gold and rose gold. Other gold colors such as bronze, peach, red and lime gold are also sometimes available. Each gold color contains the same proportion of pure gold, so all the gold colors having the same carat will have the same Vickers score. White gold is usually more expensive than yellow gold and rose gold.
When buying wedding bands, men should consider the metals performance in daily usage and the difference in price and color. Studies show that an 18-carat ring holds up to everyday wear compared to a 9-carat and 14 carat. Also, 18 carat gold ages better than 9ct and 14ct and so looks better with daily usage. So, 18ct is the superior metal for men's wedding rings provided that the ring is not a lightweight construction even though it is more expensive than 14 carat and 9 carat.
One major advantage with a gold wedding ring is that a simple gold wedding ring can normally be resized in the future by a local jeweler. However, a gold ring with ribbed edges, a wave or woven pattern or engraving might be a bit more difficult to resize without affecting the ring pattern.
Self-Esteem and Getting Organized are Inseparable
Before I reveal what might be a significant revelation to you in just a moment, give a thought to your own self-esteem. How do you feel about yourself?
Now, one more question for you.
How well organized are you?
Notice that if you feel quite well organized then you probably feel quite good about yourself, i.e. your self-esteem is probably high.
Listen carefully: Whenever you feel a low self-esteem, you can probably bet that high up on the list of reasons why, is that you are not well organized in your life.
As you think about how many people spend time, effort, and money on so called personal development for improving self-esteem, guess at how many actually work on learning how to get organized. I mean REALLY organized?
Answer: Not many!
Important point: Consider that normal personal development revolves essentially around the topic of self-esteem, and spends very little time on how to get organized.
The results?
Low self-esteem DESPITE doing so called personal development.
In fact, if you are reading personal development books, listening to audio programs or attending seminars on personal development and self-esteem, then chances are youre caught in a loop.
Almost a vicious circle.
You do some personal development, and you feel better, and you get on with life, but the disorganization of your life catches up with you and so you go back to doing a bunch of personal development.
But think of this
How often do you learn about, or how much time do you invest in drum roll Getting Organized??
Now heres the thing: I discovered in my coaching that self-esteem and personal organization are the essential sides of the same coin. The coin that opens those gateways to all success.
Do you want to feel better about your self, your life, the way things are? Do you want to be more competent? And after reading this article, Do you want to get organized more than you have been?
If you neglect either side of that coin, you will never achieve those results, never!
You can focus on either of those sides separately, but ultimately organization depends on self-esteem, and vice versa, self-esteem depends on getting organized in your career development and personal life.
Technically said: The degree of your organization is commensurate to the degree of your self-esteem.
And for the metaphysically inclined: If you see yourself as getting organized, the positive expectation will lead you to get organized.
How can you actually apply both sides of this coin in how to get organized and improve your self-esteem?
Here is the key point I want you to understand in this short article:
By emotionally getting involved with taking more control of your personal areas at work and home you will begin feeling proud of your environment, and ever-more capable of getting organized.
Focusing intellectually on how to get organized, and emotionally super-charging that effort for all the positive emotions that come from being organized, will boost your self-esteem. And that provides ever more fuel to get organized even more.
(French Accent) Now zis iz Personal Development, no?
As that idea grows for you over the next few days you will understand that the times you feel genuinely and deeply good about yourself happens because you are recognizing an area of good organization. That should be a major theme of what Personal Development is all about.
Self-esteem and Getting Organized create a self-supporting positive feedback mechanism. The more you improve on one of them, the more the other will improve.
Your two pronged attack is to work on both, be mindful of both, understand how they both inter-relate, and ultimately combine as 2 sides of the same coin.
The coin that affords your every desire, and inevitably brings you all that you deserve.
Before I reveal what might be a significant revelation to you in just a moment, give a thought to your own self-esteem. How do you feel about yourself?
Now, one more question for you.
How well organized are you?
Notice that if you feel quite well organized then you probably feel quite good about yourself, i.e. your self-esteem is probably high.
Listen carefully: Whenever you feel a low self-esteem, you can probably bet that high up on the list of reasons why, is that you are not well organized in your life.
As you think about how many people spend time, effort, and money on so called personal development for improving self-esteem, guess at how many actually work on learning how to get organized. I mean REALLY organized?
Answer: Not many!
Important point: Consider that normal personal development revolves essentially around the topic of self-esteem, and spends very little time on how to get organized.
The results?
Low self-esteem DESPITE doing so called personal development.
In fact, if you are reading personal development books, listening to audio programs or attending seminars on personal development and self-esteem, then chances are youre caught in a loop.
Almost a vicious circle.
You do some personal development, and you feel better, and you get on with life, but the disorganization of your life catches up with you and so you go back to doing a bunch of personal development.
But think of this
How often do you learn about, or how much time do you invest in drum roll Getting Organized??
Now heres the thing: I discovered in my coaching that self-esteem and personal organization are the essential sides of the same coin. The coin that opens those gateways to all success.
Do you want to feel better about your self, your life, the way things are? Do you want to be more competent? And after reading this article, Do you want to get organized more than you have been?
If you neglect either side of that coin, you will never achieve those results, never!
You can focus on either of those sides separately, but ultimately organization depends on self-esteem, and vice versa, self-esteem depends on getting organized in your career development and personal life.
Technically said: The degree of your organization is commensurate to the degree of your self-esteem.
And for the metaphysically inclined: If you see yourself as getting organized, the positive expectation will lead you to get organized.
How can you actually apply both sides of this coin in how to get organized and improve your self-esteem?
Here is the key point I want you to understand in this short article:
By emotionally getting involved with taking more control of your personal areas at work and home you will begin feeling proud of your environment, and ever-more capable of getting organized.
Focusing intellectually on how to get organized, and emotionally super-charging that effort for all the positive emotions that come from being organized, will boost your self-esteem. And that provides ever more fuel to get organized even more.
(French Accent) Now zis iz Personal Development, no?
As that idea grows for you over the next few days you will understand that the times you feel genuinely and deeply good about yourself happens because you are recognizing an area of good organization. That should be a major theme of what Personal Development is all about.
Self-esteem and Getting Organized create a self-supporting positive feedback mechanism. The more you improve on one of them, the more the other will improve.
Your two pronged attack is to work on both, be mindful of both, understand how they both inter-relate, and ultimately combine as 2 sides of the same coin.
The coin that affords your every desire, and inevitably brings you all that you deserve.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Professional Logo Design - I Don't Need One; I am a Small Business!
You are a small business owner and you think that investing in getting a professional logo design for your company would be a waste of your limited budget. We at Logo Design Works believe that could be a costly mistake.
In this modern day and age, there are 1000s of companies in any given market. All these companies are competing to capture the attention of the target audience and gain the all important sale.
On the other side of the coin, individuals or potential customers are exposed to a bewlidering array of "brand noise" day in and dau out. From the time they get up in the moring, till they go to bed they come in contact with 100s of brand identities. To cope with this "brand noise", people have now evolved to effectively filter it out. This means that you need to have an identity that stands out from the rest and goes beyong just "noise".
The starting point of any core identity is a good visual image of your company in the form of your company logo. This visual image or logo is like you hand shake to the world. You might have 4 seconds to grab your potential customers attention and your company logo is the first point of contact. It can either create a positive or a negative impression on your customer.
Investing a little now in getting a decent professional company logo design would always more than pay for itself. Ignore it and you could be kicking yourself down the line.
You are a small business owner and you think that investing in getting a professional logo design for your company would be a waste of your limited budget. We at Logo Design Works believe that could be a costly mistake.
In this modern day and age, there are 1000s of companies in any given market. All these companies are competing to capture the attention of the target audience and gain the all important sale.
On the other side of the coin, individuals or potential customers are exposed to a bewlidering array of "brand noise" day in and dau out. From the time they get up in the moring, till they go to bed they come in contact with 100s of brand identities. To cope with this "brand noise", people have now evolved to effectively filter it out. This means that you need to have an identity that stands out from the rest and goes beyong just "noise".
The starting point of any core identity is a good visual image of your company in the form of your company logo. This visual image or logo is like you hand shake to the world. You might have 4 seconds to grab your potential customers attention and your company logo is the first point of contact. It can either create a positive or a negative impression on your customer.
Investing a little now in getting a decent professional company logo design would always more than pay for itself. Ignore it and you could be kicking yourself down the line.
Gold as International Currency of E-Commerce
With the wide use of the Internet the world is becoming a fast paced, international market place. The age of months of travel on the Silk Road has become obsolete and along with it perhaps the 100s of countries currency.
The Euro was invented in the spirit of more efficient trade and has succeeded in making it easier for merchants within Europe to negotiate and sell to one another. What is to stop the gradual progression to a single world currency? Well the Euro and the Dollar are all examples of top down currencies that are controlled tightly by the issuing government. There is another currency that has been around longer then all the current governments and is just beginning to awaken from a 40-year nap.
Various places such as; GoldMoney and E-Gold issue digital gold. These are examples of a bottom up currency. What is interesting about basing money out of gold is the fact that it isnt new. It is, in fact, the oldest form of money and up until fairly recently (1972) most of the worlds currencies could be exchanged directly into gold.
It is still early in its development, but I think that for more and more people, a day will come when they will order a product like our voice changing software MorphVOX, from anywhere in the world and pay for it in grams of gold. No longer will they have to worrying about the number dollars that convert into their local money on that given day.
Perhaps it is peoples growing distrust that the government has not been a good custodian of a citizens national money, or it is the convenience of the internationally recognize value of gold, but whatever it is the use of digital gold on the internet seems to be growing.
With the wide use of the Internet the world is becoming a fast paced, international market place. The age of months of travel on the Silk Road has become obsolete and along with it perhaps the 100s of countries currency.
The Euro was invented in the spirit of more efficient trade and has succeeded in making it easier for merchants within Europe to negotiate and sell to one another. What is to stop the gradual progression to a single world currency? Well the Euro and the Dollar are all examples of top down currencies that are controlled tightly by the issuing government. There is another currency that has been around longer then all the current governments and is just beginning to awaken from a 40-year nap.
Various places such as; GoldMoney and E-Gold issue digital gold. These are examples of a bottom up currency. What is interesting about basing money out of gold is the fact that it isnt new. It is, in fact, the oldest form of money and up until fairly recently (1972) most of the worlds currencies could be exchanged directly into gold.
It is still early in its development, but I think that for more and more people, a day will come when they will order a product like our voice changing software MorphVOX, from anywhere in the world and pay for it in grams of gold. No longer will they have to worrying about the number dollars that convert into their local money on that given day.
Perhaps it is peoples growing distrust that the government has not been a good custodian of a citizens national money, or it is the convenience of the internationally recognize value of gold, but whatever it is the use of digital gold on the internet seems to be growing.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 2)
Time has proven that collectors tend to make the most money in rare coins because they search out "undervalued coins" and buy during market lulls. Buying in today's market climate offers you superb upside profit potential.
PUT IN PERSPECTIVE – Rare coins have an extremely limited, fixed supply which has historically increased in value when demand overwhelms availability. This fact is documented in the enclosed "Dow-to-Gold Report." It clearly shows how rare coins go up as well as down in price with varying market cycles. We believe the most successful Rare Coin portfolios were built in down markets by systematically assembling a variety of choice, rare, and desirable coins, with a three to five year, or longer, holding period in mind.
HAVE A PRECISE FOCUS – Thousands of coins have been issued over the past 200 years. Very few collectors are experts on more than a few types of coins. For that reason alone, it's important to build a relationship with a firm that employs a team of knowledgeable Rare Coin Specialists and Numismatic Experts that are recognized as pillars of authority throughout the industry. Together, we can help you define your areas of interest, your investment goals, and our team of specialists can then guide you to a specific area of U.S. Coins designed to be both profitable and extremely enjoyable.
THE FOUR FACTORS FOR SUCCESS – To profitably build a balanced and diversified Hard Asset Portfolio, you need to know the driving forces behind the U.S. Rare Coin Market:
* STRONG DEMAND – We recommend U.S. Rare Coins that have a broad base of both active investors and collectors. The more wealthy, sophisticated, and avid the base of buyers in an area, the more successful your portfolio should be in the long run.
* SMALL SUPPLY – We recommend U.S. Rare Coins of the highest quality for the date that you can afford. These are always the hardest to find, most desirable collector coins and have historically been top market performers. In our opinion, these coins are always in demand by collectors and will be the easiest coins to liquidate later, and turn the best profits.
* STRONG PERFORMANCE HISTORY – Take the time to review the price history of any rare coin you purchase. Rare coins that have a good history of 200% to 300% price increases during recent bull markets, usually offer your an excellent profit potential in the next hot market. While past performance is no guarantee of future value, undesirable coins are losers in any market. It is of utmost importantance to remember that each rare coin must stand on the value of its own individual merit related to grade, price, eye appeal, and rarity.
* GENUINELY RARE – Finally, we recommend you acquire a selection of Genuinely Rare United States coins. There are fundamentally two ways to determine a coin's rarity. That is "Condition Rarity" and "Absolute Rarity." Condition Rarity is a coin that is rare in higher grades. Some coins are common in worn, circulated grades, yet there could be only five coins known to exist in higher mint-state grades of MS-63 to MS-65. Absolute Rarity is a coin that is rare in any grade. These are truly desirable gold coins that are hard to locate and acquire in all grades. These few coins that are Absolutely Rare in any grade are the "Blue Chip Recommendations" of the U.S. Rare Coin Market.
Time has proven that collectors tend to make the most money in rare coins because they search out "undervalued coins" and buy during market lulls. Buying in today's market climate offers you superb upside profit potential.
PUT IN PERSPECTIVE – Rare coins have an extremely limited, fixed supply which has historically increased in value when demand overwhelms availability. This fact is documented in the enclosed "Dow-to-Gold Report." It clearly shows how rare coins go up as well as down in price with varying market cycles. We believe the most successful Rare Coin portfolios were built in down markets by systematically assembling a variety of choice, rare, and desirable coins, with a three to five year, or longer, holding period in mind.
HAVE A PRECISE FOCUS – Thousands of coins have been issued over the past 200 years. Very few collectors are experts on more than a few types of coins. For that reason alone, it's important to build a relationship with a firm that employs a team of knowledgeable Rare Coin Specialists and Numismatic Experts that are recognized as pillars of authority throughout the industry. Together, we can help you define your areas of interest, your investment goals, and our team of specialists can then guide you to a specific area of U.S. Coins designed to be both profitable and extremely enjoyable.
THE FOUR FACTORS FOR SUCCESS – To profitably build a balanced and diversified Hard Asset Portfolio, you need to know the driving forces behind the U.S. Rare Coin Market:
* STRONG DEMAND – We recommend U.S. Rare Coins that have a broad base of both active investors and collectors. The more wealthy, sophisticated, and avid the base of buyers in an area, the more successful your portfolio should be in the long run.
* SMALL SUPPLY – We recommend U.S. Rare Coins of the highest quality for the date that you can afford. These are always the hardest to find, most desirable collector coins and have historically been top market performers. In our opinion, these coins are always in demand by collectors and will be the easiest coins to liquidate later, and turn the best profits.
* STRONG PERFORMANCE HISTORY – Take the time to review the price history of any rare coin you purchase. Rare coins that have a good history of 200% to 300% price increases during recent bull markets, usually offer your an excellent profit potential in the next hot market. While past performance is no guarantee of future value, undesirable coins are losers in any market. It is of utmost importantance to remember that each rare coin must stand on the value of its own individual merit related to grade, price, eye appeal, and rarity.
* GENUINELY RARE – Finally, we recommend you acquire a selection of Genuinely Rare United States coins. There are fundamentally two ways to determine a coin's rarity. That is "Condition Rarity" and "Absolute Rarity." Condition Rarity is a coin that is rare in higher grades. Some coins are common in worn, circulated grades, yet there could be only five coins known to exist in higher mint-state grades of MS-63 to MS-65. Absolute Rarity is a coin that is rare in any grade. These are truly desirable gold coins that are hard to locate and acquire in all grades. These few coins that are Absolutely Rare in any grade are the "Blue Chip Recommendations" of the U.S. Rare Coin Market.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Gold - The Ultimate Store of Wealth
Gold is Money
Gold is the only commodity produced for accumulation of wealth. All other commodities are produced to be consumed by industry. Coal for example is widely used in the production of energy. Gold, on the other hand, is not consumed, but stockpiled. It is this tendency to hoard gold rather than consume it that makes gold a store of value. Gold is money. Money has three consistent characteristics. It is a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. Gold has performed all three functions reliably for thousands of years. Paper money, on the other hand has proven to be very unreliable throughout the ages. Paper money is a bad store of wealth due to the fact that central banks around the world print too much of it. And the more money that gets printed, the less value it holds. Gold holds its value through political unrest and economic turmoil. These are events that often devalue paper money. In terms of purchasing power, gold can sustain its purchasing power over very long periods of time. It has after all been used as a currency for thousands of years. The reason that gold is more effective as a store of wealth is because it is a tangible asset and not someones liability written down in a book or stored on a computer system. It actually exists. And it shines. Gold is also not restricted by borders, its value is accepted the world over.
Gold as an Investment
Diversifying risk is key to any successful investment portfolio. Gold shows a low or negative correlation to most stocks and bonds. This is because people turn to gold as a safe haven when they perceive other investments to be too risky. Including gold in a portfolio of stocks, bonds and currencies greatly reduces the overall risk of the portfolio by decreasing volatility. Studies by investment professionals have shown that portfolio performance can be enhanced with a 10% gold allocation. Including gold in a portfolio is prudent and should always be considered. Gold helps protect an investment portfolio against a great number of possible economic conditions.
Gold is Money
Gold is the only commodity produced for accumulation of wealth. All other commodities are produced to be consumed by industry. Coal for example is widely used in the production of energy. Gold, on the other hand, is not consumed, but stockpiled. It is this tendency to hoard gold rather than consume it that makes gold a store of value. Gold is money. Money has three consistent characteristics. It is a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account. Gold has performed all three functions reliably for thousands of years. Paper money, on the other hand has proven to be very unreliable throughout the ages. Paper money is a bad store of wealth due to the fact that central banks around the world print too much of it. And the more money that gets printed, the less value it holds. Gold holds its value through political unrest and economic turmoil. These are events that often devalue paper money. In terms of purchasing power, gold can sustain its purchasing power over very long periods of time. It has after all been used as a currency for thousands of years. The reason that gold is more effective as a store of wealth is because it is a tangible asset and not someones liability written down in a book or stored on a computer system. It actually exists. And it shines. Gold is also not restricted by borders, its value is accepted the world over.
Gold as an Investment
Diversifying risk is key to any successful investment portfolio. Gold shows a low or negative correlation to most stocks and bonds. This is because people turn to gold as a safe haven when they perceive other investments to be too risky. Including gold in a portfolio of stocks, bonds and currencies greatly reduces the overall risk of the portfolio by decreasing volatility. Studies by investment professionals have shown that portfolio performance can be enhanced with a 10% gold allocation. Including gold in a portfolio is prudent and should always be considered. Gold helps protect an investment portfolio against a great number of possible economic conditions.
Buying Jewelry For Your Business Part 1 Buying Gold Jewelry
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a no-brainer choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly women) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and innovations are continual. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.
The Facts About Gold Jewelry
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Whether you presently own a retail or web based business and are looking for an additional profit center or you are thinking of starting a business, jewelry is a no-brainer choice for a proven product category. The buying public, (particularly women) never tires of jewelry as the choices in color, materials, finishes and styles are endless and innovations are continual. Every generation reinvents jewelry for itself in much the same way that it reinvents music and fashion. Styles change but the basic facts remain the same. If you are a seasoned professional, please consider the following a refresher course. To the new comer, use this information as a foundation for your ongoing jewelry education.
The Facts About Gold Jewelry
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Monday, January 15, 2007
E-Gold
E-gold is a digital currency, used extensively on the Internet for making payments in exchange for goods and services.
It is one of the first digital e-currency providers, having started in 1996. E-gold accounts are backed by actual physical gold, dollar for dollar. You can take delivery of the physical gold if you wish, although there is an additional handling charge.
The E-gold e-currency is tied directly to the value of gold, so it's not possible to use outside influences to affect the value of it... unless one has the ability to affect the spot price of gold. Being tied to the price of gold, e-gold accounts fluctuate up and down with the value of national currencies as they move with the spot price of gold.
While gold is the most popular precious metal digital currency in use, E-gold also offers the platinum, palladium and silver precious metals as digital currency.
Funding an e-currency account is the job of a third party called a Market Maker. A market maker is a merchant who exchanges national currencies for e-currencies, and places them in your online currency account. Similarly, they will buy your ecurrency and pay you in your national currency when you wish to exchange your egold for currency.
You can fund an e-gold with paypal, or buy e-gold with a credit card if you wish, though the market maker will charge up to 15% to do so. This is largely because of the cost to him of fraudulent charge backs.
E-currencies are now accepted fairly extensively by online merchants in exchange their products and services, mainly catering to people, who for whatever reason, don't have or can't get, a credit card.
E-gold is a digital currency, used extensively on the Internet for making payments in exchange for goods and services.
It is one of the first digital e-currency providers, having started in 1996. E-gold accounts are backed by actual physical gold, dollar for dollar. You can take delivery of the physical gold if you wish, although there is an additional handling charge.
The E-gold e-currency is tied directly to the value of gold, so it's not possible to use outside influences to affect the value of it... unless one has the ability to affect the spot price of gold. Being tied to the price of gold, e-gold accounts fluctuate up and down with the value of national currencies as they move with the spot price of gold.
While gold is the most popular precious metal digital currency in use, E-gold also offers the platinum, palladium and silver precious metals as digital currency.
Funding an e-currency account is the job of a third party called a Market Maker. A market maker is a merchant who exchanges national currencies for e-currencies, and places them in your online currency account. Similarly, they will buy your ecurrency and pay you in your national currency when you wish to exchange your egold for currency.
You can fund an e-gold with paypal, or buy e-gold with a credit card if you wish, though the market maker will charge up to 15% to do so. This is largely because of the cost to him of fraudulent charge backs.
E-currencies are now accepted fairly extensively by online merchants in exchange their products and services, mainly catering to people, who for whatever reason, don't have or can't get, a credit card.
Live Like You Were Made for Gold
I heard someone make the comment: you are settling for brass when you are made for gold. What an analogy! I began thinking of my life when do I settle for things? It may look good and be almost like the real thing, but it is not the best.
Brass is defined in the dictionary as: an alloy of copper and zinc. An alloy is a mixture or a combining of two substances where something has been added to lower the purity. Although brass can be shiny and durable, it is not gold.
On the other hand, gold is an element that is corrosion-resistant and the most malleable and ductile metal. Gold is a good thermal and electrical conductor and it is used as an international monetary standard. We use phrases like gold standard and they have a heart of gold to denote great value and purity.
In the course of living your life are you corrosion resistant? What little things have crept into your life and eaten away at your uniqueness, attitude, values, and perspective?
Oftentimes, I find that brass can be very enticing in my life. It seems good, but not great. Better but not best. Sometimes brass is quick and easy, when gold would mean waiting and struggling. When I make gold the standard, I find that I dont settle or accept the crumbs. For me, when I have gold in my life, there is a rightness that exists.
What about you, is gold your standard? In what ways do you settle in your life? Career? Relationships? How would your life be different if you lived everyday believing you were created for gold?
I heard someone make the comment: you are settling for brass when you are made for gold. What an analogy! I began thinking of my life when do I settle for things? It may look good and be almost like the real thing, but it is not the best.
Brass is defined in the dictionary as: an alloy of copper and zinc. An alloy is a mixture or a combining of two substances where something has been added to lower the purity. Although brass can be shiny and durable, it is not gold.
On the other hand, gold is an element that is corrosion-resistant and the most malleable and ductile metal. Gold is a good thermal and electrical conductor and it is used as an international monetary standard. We use phrases like gold standard and they have a heart of gold to denote great value and purity.
In the course of living your life are you corrosion resistant? What little things have crept into your life and eaten away at your uniqueness, attitude, values, and perspective?
Oftentimes, I find that brass can be very enticing in my life. It seems good, but not great. Better but not best. Sometimes brass is quick and easy, when gold would mean waiting and struggling. When I make gold the standard, I find that I dont settle or accept the crumbs. For me, when I have gold in my life, there is a rightness that exists.
What about you, is gold your standard? In what ways do you settle in your life? Career? Relationships? How would your life be different if you lived everyday believing you were created for gold?
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Gold Jewelry - Finest Jewelry
Gold jewelry adds beauty and elegance to Gods beautiful creation called woman. Gold jewelry always forms as the best of ornaments. An Indian marriage is considered incomplete without gold jewelry for the bride, the bridegroom and the other family members. Gold earrings jewelry or gold pendants jewelry are also given as gifts at the time of wedding. Gold is also regarded as a great investment, which is very useful at the hour of need.
Indian gold jewelry is also famous for its beautiful designs all over the world. In the traditional times also, gold jewelry added royalty to the wearer. Even today gold jewelry is very much in demand. Gold jewelry is precious so it has to be unique in its design. The beauty added to a gold jewel is through the fine craftsmanship and the quality of gold used in it.
Finest gold jewelry is not easy to find. However, a little search will lead you to the best gold jewelry stores where the fine designs speak for themselves. The intricate designs for all kind of gold jewelry are the result of the best craftsmanship. Indian gold jewelry is always a matter of pride. You can have the beautiful golden rays in the form of this jewelry. A wide variety of designs are available in gold necklace jewelry, gold pendants jewelry, gold earrings jewelry, gold rings jewelry and gold bracelets replica.
Gold bracelets replica are also very much in fashion these days. It is good to invest in replicas, as it saves your money and you can flaunt it as your style statement also. The market is flooded with gold bracelet replica adopted by the style of some of the famous personalities. You can also have gold replicas of antique jewelery that add the traditional beauty to you. You can also go for wholesale gold jewelry. From the manufacturers, you can get wholesale gold jewelry.
The unique designs and the pure gold from which it is made have to be up to the mark. From traditional to modern, there are all kinds of designs to suit you. The Indian gold jewelry will add charm to your collection. Design and quality are the two things for which you should never make a compromise.
Jaipur Jewelers offer you the best of quality and design in gold jewelry. Whether its gold necklaces, gold bangles, or gold earrings they have it all.
Gold jewelry adds beauty and elegance to Gods beautiful creation called woman. Gold jewelry always forms as the best of ornaments. An Indian marriage is considered incomplete without gold jewelry for the bride, the bridegroom and the other family members. Gold earrings jewelry or gold pendants jewelry are also given as gifts at the time of wedding. Gold is also regarded as a great investment, which is very useful at the hour of need.
Indian gold jewelry is also famous for its beautiful designs all over the world. In the traditional times also, gold jewelry added royalty to the wearer. Even today gold jewelry is very much in demand. Gold jewelry is precious so it has to be unique in its design. The beauty added to a gold jewel is through the fine craftsmanship and the quality of gold used in it.
Finest gold jewelry is not easy to find. However, a little search will lead you to the best gold jewelry stores where the fine designs speak for themselves. The intricate designs for all kind of gold jewelry are the result of the best craftsmanship. Indian gold jewelry is always a matter of pride. You can have the beautiful golden rays in the form of this jewelry. A wide variety of designs are available in gold necklace jewelry, gold pendants jewelry, gold earrings jewelry, gold rings jewelry and gold bracelets replica.
Gold bracelets replica are also very much in fashion these days. It is good to invest in replicas, as it saves your money and you can flaunt it as your style statement also. The market is flooded with gold bracelet replica adopted by the style of some of the famous personalities. You can also have gold replicas of antique jewelery that add the traditional beauty to you. You can also go for wholesale gold jewelry. From the manufacturers, you can get wholesale gold jewelry.
The unique designs and the pure gold from which it is made have to be up to the mark. From traditional to modern, there are all kinds of designs to suit you. The Indian gold jewelry will add charm to your collection. Design and quality are the two things for which you should never make a compromise.
Jaipur Jewelers offer you the best of quality and design in gold jewelry. Whether its gold necklaces, gold bangles, or gold earrings they have it all.
Investing Online - What You Need To Know First
Are you looking to start investing online? Without the right knowledge and information online investing can be an intimidating experience. However, if you do your research before starting and see what different online brokers offer, you can turn it into a very profitable and rewarding experience. There are several very important tips you need to know before starting to invest online.
The first features you need to look for before you start investing online is trading commissions. Trading expenses can be all over the map when it comes to online brokers. Costs can run anywhere from $4 all the way to $40 and more. If you plan on investing small amounts of money into stocks then you need to make sure your online broker has low trade expenses (under $15) or these costs will eat up all your account balance and any profits.
When choosing where to start investing online you should also be aware of account fees and account minimums. In order to protect any profits that you make you need to make certain that your account has low account maintenance fees, preferably an account with no account maintenance fees. Many online investing companies will charge you anywhere from $15 up to $80 a year just to have an IRA retirement account. However, there are sites that offer free IRA retirement accounts and these are the ones you should go to when opening an online investing account.
Numerous online investment companies also have a set minimum account balances. If you account falls below that minimum balance required, you will get charged a fee. Over time these fees can take your balance down to $0! It is crucial to make certain that the online brokerage company you choose has no minimum account balances.
Quite a few of the larger brokerage companies will charge higher fees because they offer sophisticated investment research tools. These can be great to have, however, most of these tools you will never use. The tools you will need and use can be found at different sites online at no cost. It really is not necessary to pay for the sophisticated research tools, so be sure you are not paying higher fees to have them.
If you do your research prior to opening an investment account online it will make investing much easier and more profitable. There are many advantages to investing online, such as; lower costs, being able to place trades on your own, saving time, and most importantly it will be easier to build your wealth. Just be sure to shop around before you make your decision.
Are you looking to start investing online? Without the right knowledge and information online investing can be an intimidating experience. However, if you do your research before starting and see what different online brokers offer, you can turn it into a very profitable and rewarding experience. There are several very important tips you need to know before starting to invest online.
The first features you need to look for before you start investing online is trading commissions. Trading expenses can be all over the map when it comes to online brokers. Costs can run anywhere from $4 all the way to $40 and more. If you plan on investing small amounts of money into stocks then you need to make sure your online broker has low trade expenses (under $15) or these costs will eat up all your account balance and any profits.
When choosing where to start investing online you should also be aware of account fees and account minimums. In order to protect any profits that you make you need to make certain that your account has low account maintenance fees, preferably an account with no account maintenance fees. Many online investing companies will charge you anywhere from $15 up to $80 a year just to have an IRA retirement account. However, there are sites that offer free IRA retirement accounts and these are the ones you should go to when opening an online investing account.
Numerous online investment companies also have a set minimum account balances. If you account falls below that minimum balance required, you will get charged a fee. Over time these fees can take your balance down to $0! It is crucial to make certain that the online brokerage company you choose has no minimum account balances.
Quite a few of the larger brokerage companies will charge higher fees because they offer sophisticated investment research tools. These can be great to have, however, most of these tools you will never use. The tools you will need and use can be found at different sites online at no cost. It really is not necessary to pay for the sophisticated research tools, so be sure you are not paying higher fees to have them.
If you do your research prior to opening an investment account online it will make investing much easier and more profitable. There are many advantages to investing online, such as; lower costs, being able to place trades on your own, saving time, and most importantly it will be easier to build your wealth. Just be sure to shop around before you make your decision.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Numismatics are for Collectors, Not Investors
As a precious metals investor, you may heard much about numismatic and "semi-numismatic" coins, particularly the St. Gaudens $20 double eagle gold coin. While coin collecting can be an interesting hobby, it is not necessarily related to metals investing. Coins of this type vary in value with the ebb and flow of the collector market and are not strictly tied to metal value. Also, these coins often go for much more over spot price than bullion coins.
One of the concepts that gets bandied about quite a bit is the idea of U.S. government confiscation. While it is true that the U.S. government did have a gold recall in 1933 by executive order of FDR, gold coins of a significant value over gold value were not subject to this recall. Many dealers use this to imply that in the event of another confiscation these older coins would fall in this category in order to sell these types of coins to the unsuspecting or newer metals investor. However, the confiscation issue is a red herring for several reasons:
The dollar was backed by gold in 1933 and the recall was designed at least in part to stop the run on banks; the dollar no longer has any metal backing.
St. Gaudens $20 coins in almost uncirculated to mint state conditions are still very common even considering their age due to decades of mass storage in European bank vaults.
There is nothing that states that numismatic items could not be confiscated in the event of another recall; the original executive order no longer has any force of law.
Gold is no longer used in regular-issue U.S. coinage (the American Eagle gold coin, although it has a face value, does not count) and is typically used only in jewelry and privately-held investment vehicles such as bars and bullion coins which would be harder to recall and account for. The majority of recalled gold coinage in 1933 was housed in bank vaults.
As gold is no longer used as a monetary instrument by the U.S. government, confiscation is unlikely in any event.
Now, you may be wondering about silver in regards to this as well. Silver held sway as coinage for longer than gold, and some silver coins can still be found in circulation. However, silver has never been subject to confiscation, and its status as an important industrial metal gives good reason to believe that there will never be a silver recall.
90% and 40% silver U.S. coinage is still widely available, and although it sounds contrary to what I stated above, these coins are a good value - as long as they can be bought at near silver spot or less. This is an important distinction to make, as old silver coinage (often referred to as junk silver) often carries very little to no value as a collector item over the metal value. These coins, if anything, are semi-numismatic, but don't bank on collector value.
In short, if you approach this from the perspective of a metals investor never look at a coin for collector value. Collector markets are often hard to get a pulse on, and numismatics are much more illiquid than their bullion counterparts. If you're paying more than spot plus a modest premium, you're paying too much.
As a precious metals investor, you may heard much about numismatic and "semi-numismatic" coins, particularly the St. Gaudens $20 double eagle gold coin. While coin collecting can be an interesting hobby, it is not necessarily related to metals investing. Coins of this type vary in value with the ebb and flow of the collector market and are not strictly tied to metal value. Also, these coins often go for much more over spot price than bullion coins.
One of the concepts that gets bandied about quite a bit is the idea of U.S. government confiscation. While it is true that the U.S. government did have a gold recall in 1933 by executive order of FDR, gold coins of a significant value over gold value were not subject to this recall. Many dealers use this to imply that in the event of another confiscation these older coins would fall in this category in order to sell these types of coins to the unsuspecting or newer metals investor. However, the confiscation issue is a red herring for several reasons:
The dollar was backed by gold in 1933 and the recall was designed at least in part to stop the run on banks; the dollar no longer has any metal backing.
St. Gaudens $20 coins in almost uncirculated to mint state conditions are still very common even considering their age due to decades of mass storage in European bank vaults.
There is nothing that states that numismatic items could not be confiscated in the event of another recall; the original executive order no longer has any force of law.
Gold is no longer used in regular-issue U.S. coinage (the American Eagle gold coin, although it has a face value, does not count) and is typically used only in jewelry and privately-held investment vehicles such as bars and bullion coins which would be harder to recall and account for. The majority of recalled gold coinage in 1933 was housed in bank vaults.
As gold is no longer used as a monetary instrument by the U.S. government, confiscation is unlikely in any event.
Now, you may be wondering about silver in regards to this as well. Silver held sway as coinage for longer than gold, and some silver coins can still be found in circulation. However, silver has never been subject to confiscation, and its status as an important industrial metal gives good reason to believe that there will never be a silver recall.
90% and 40% silver U.S. coinage is still widely available, and although it sounds contrary to what I stated above, these coins are a good value - as long as they can be bought at near silver spot or less. This is an important distinction to make, as old silver coinage (often referred to as junk silver) often carries very little to no value as a collector item over the metal value. These coins, if anything, are semi-numismatic, but don't bank on collector value.
In short, if you approach this from the perspective of a metals investor never look at a coin for collector value. Collector markets are often hard to get a pulse on, and numismatics are much more illiquid than their bullion counterparts. If you're paying more than spot plus a modest premium, you're paying too much.
Should You Buy White Gold Or Platinum?
I hear the same question time and time again. "They both look the same, so what's the difference?" Its true, white gold and platinum jewellery do look the same yet white gold is much cheaper than platinum. But before you rush to choose white gold, know the facts:
"I thought gold was yellow?" It is. The gold that is used to make jewellery is almost always not 100% pure. You may have heard the term "carat" to describe the purity of gold. This measure is a scale out of 24 where 24 carat is pure gold. 9 carat gold is thus 37.5% pure gold and 18 carat gold is 75% pure gold. The rest of the metal is actually a mixture of alloys. Gold is very soft and the alloys mixed with it helps make the metal harder. With white gold, white alloys are used to mix with the pure gold, and the result is a pale yellow metal. This pale yellow metal is then coated with Rhodium which is a very hard, expensive and white metal. The result is a bright white metal - white gold.
Platinum, on the other hand, is a metal that is naturally white. Platinum is rarer than gold, heavier, much harder and used in a purer form (usually 95%). Platinum is therefore much more expensive than gold.
The advantages of white gold over platinum when used in jewellery is that it is much more affordable. However, you may need to re-coat the item in Rhodium once or twice a year as wear and tear rubs away the coating and the pale, dull yellow gold becomes visible.
Platinum jewellery is initially more expensive, but it can be argued is more cost effective in the long run as when it scratches or becomes worn, it does not need to be re-coated.
Therefore, my metal of choice for jewellery is platinum. It does not only feel more substantial (as is heavier than gold), it is rarer and also more practical. Besides, when you buy an expensive piece of diamond jewellery, you want to know that you have bought the best!
I hear the same question time and time again. "They both look the same, so what's the difference?" Its true, white gold and platinum jewellery do look the same yet white gold is much cheaper than platinum. But before you rush to choose white gold, know the facts:
"I thought gold was yellow?" It is. The gold that is used to make jewellery is almost always not 100% pure. You may have heard the term "carat" to describe the purity of gold. This measure is a scale out of 24 where 24 carat is pure gold. 9 carat gold is thus 37.5% pure gold and 18 carat gold is 75% pure gold. The rest of the metal is actually a mixture of alloys. Gold is very soft and the alloys mixed with it helps make the metal harder. With white gold, white alloys are used to mix with the pure gold, and the result is a pale yellow metal. This pale yellow metal is then coated with Rhodium which is a very hard, expensive and white metal. The result is a bright white metal - white gold.
Platinum, on the other hand, is a metal that is naturally white. Platinum is rarer than gold, heavier, much harder and used in a purer form (usually 95%). Platinum is therefore much more expensive than gold.
The advantages of white gold over platinum when used in jewellery is that it is much more affordable. However, you may need to re-coat the item in Rhodium once or twice a year as wear and tear rubs away the coating and the pale, dull yellow gold becomes visible.
Platinum jewellery is initially more expensive, but it can be argued is more cost effective in the long run as when it scratches or becomes worn, it does not need to be re-coated.
Therefore, my metal of choice for jewellery is platinum. It does not only feel more substantial (as is heavier than gold), it is rarer and also more practical. Besides, when you buy an expensive piece of diamond jewellery, you want to know that you have bought the best!
Friday, January 12, 2007
What Makes a Good Investor
Many people talk of themselves as being investors. When I hear someone mentioning that he or she is investing some money I always ask them: Are you investing or trading? I usually get people confused with this little question. The fact is: Most people dont know what investing is and they cannot tell the difference between investing and saving on one hand and trading and gambling on the other hand.
So lets look at the four most common types of what you can do with your money if you dont spend it:
Saving
Saving is about preserving what you have without the intention of gaining anything. Saving money means you put money away in a safe place, so you can use it later to either invest it, spend it or do whatever you like with it. It does not mean exposing your assets to any type of risk at all. Saving could be in the form of a savings account, cash, gold or whatever does not put your money at risk. An investment fund or a 401K is NOT saving money. Investment funds like the name suggests is investing.
Investing
Investing has the idea of long term natural growth associated with it. Investing money means giving your money away with a certain amount of risk and the chance for a certain profit. Often the exact amount of the profit is not known in advance. So is the risk that you might lose your money or a part of it. In general an investment is a commitment to convert liquid assets into more illiquid types of assets for a minimum of 2 years or more. Yes, investing is a long-term commitment and something that has made many people unspeakably rich. Investing is not for nervous or paranoid people. It is for the smart and bold. If you are paranoid, you should be saving instead of investing. If you are looking to make quick cash you should be trading.
Trading
Trading is more similar to dealing in any particular goods. There game is buying low and selling high whether you are dealing in textiles, watches or stocks. The time horizon for a trader is short term. A trade can be from a few minutes to a few months. It doesnt really matter what the time frame is. What matters is your intention and mind set. If you strive to buy low and sell high, you are a trader not an investor.
Dont get excited over your trades. If you a seeking pleasure and you find that trading is actually fun and giving you a certain kick, then you are not trading you are gambling
There are different intentions associated with different types of actions. They could be described as below:
Mindset: Preserving
Action: Saving
Predictability: High
Risk: Low
Potential Reward: Safety
Mindset: Growing
Action: Investing
Predictability: moderate
Risk: moderate
Potential Reward: long-term appreciation
Mindset: Making money
Action: trading
Predictability: low
Risk: high
Potential Reward: high return
Mindset: Excitement
Action: gambling
Predictability: very low
Risk: very high
Potential Reward: loss
When you go from Saving down to gambling with each step predictability is decreasing and risk is increasing.
So when you think about investing your money, think of your goal first then decide what your strategy should be.
Many people talk of themselves as being investors. When I hear someone mentioning that he or she is investing some money I always ask them: Are you investing or trading? I usually get people confused with this little question. The fact is: Most people dont know what investing is and they cannot tell the difference between investing and saving on one hand and trading and gambling on the other hand.
So lets look at the four most common types of what you can do with your money if you dont spend it:
Saving
Saving is about preserving what you have without the intention of gaining anything. Saving money means you put money away in a safe place, so you can use it later to either invest it, spend it or do whatever you like with it. It does not mean exposing your assets to any type of risk at all. Saving could be in the form of a savings account, cash, gold or whatever does not put your money at risk. An investment fund or a 401K is NOT saving money. Investment funds like the name suggests is investing.
Investing
Investing has the idea of long term natural growth associated with it. Investing money means giving your money away with a certain amount of risk and the chance for a certain profit. Often the exact amount of the profit is not known in advance. So is the risk that you might lose your money or a part of it. In general an investment is a commitment to convert liquid assets into more illiquid types of assets for a minimum of 2 years or more. Yes, investing is a long-term commitment and something that has made many people unspeakably rich. Investing is not for nervous or paranoid people. It is for the smart and bold. If you are paranoid, you should be saving instead of investing. If you are looking to make quick cash you should be trading.
Trading
Trading is more similar to dealing in any particular goods. There game is buying low and selling high whether you are dealing in textiles, watches or stocks. The time horizon for a trader is short term. A trade can be from a few minutes to a few months. It doesnt really matter what the time frame is. What matters is your intention and mind set. If you strive to buy low and sell high, you are a trader not an investor.
Dont get excited over your trades. If you a seeking pleasure and you find that trading is actually fun and giving you a certain kick, then you are not trading you are gambling
There are different intentions associated with different types of actions. They could be described as below:
Mindset: Preserving
Action: Saving
Predictability: High
Risk: Low
Potential Reward: Safety
Mindset: Growing
Action: Investing
Predictability: moderate
Risk: moderate
Potential Reward: long-term appreciation
Mindset: Making money
Action: trading
Predictability: low
Risk: high
Potential Reward: high return
Mindset: Excitement
Action: gambling
Predictability: very low
Risk: very high
Potential Reward: loss
When you go from Saving down to gambling with each step predictability is decreasing and risk is increasing.
So when you think about investing your money, think of your goal first then decide what your strategy should be.
Favorite Gold Coins To Collect For Investment
Why Gold American Eagle Coins are Popular among Collectors
Gold coins are a favorite of coin collectors with an eye toward investment. Not only are golden coins lovely to behold, but they also have a value that is guaranteed, due to their precious metal content. The value of gold coins is usually higher than the value of their weight in gold bullion, making them a better investment than the gold market alone.
Many countries produce gold coins for collectors or for commemorative purposes. These coins oftentimes emphasize unique aspects of the countrys culture. Australia reveres its national animal with the Gold Kangaroo, for example, while China has a Gold Panda with a lovely design that changes every year. Canadas coin features a powerful national symbol with the golden Maple Leaf, and South Africa mints the Krugerrand. One of the worlds best selling coins, the Krugerrand features the South African national animal, the Springbok. Taking its place as one of the most popular gold coins among investors and collectors, however, is the American Gold Eagle. The American Gold Eagle stands out among other bullion coins because of its lovely design, and because its value is backed by the full strength of the United States government.
The Beauty of American Eagle Gold Coins
The Gold Eagle features a representation of Lady Liberty striding with torch in hand through a field of light rays on its front side. This image is inspired by a golden coin designed by Augustus Saint-Gauden and minted from 1907 to 1933. The Augustus Saint-Gauden Double Eagle is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful coins America has ever produced. On the flip side of the American Eagle gold coins is a nest full of bald eagles, the national bird of the United States. The nest represents the American dedication to unity and family. Furthermore, a special die is used when minting these coins, to bring the gold to an especially high shine and to make it easier to see small details in the design.
American Eagle Gold Coins have Guaranteed Value
American Eagle gold coins are valuable not only for their lovely appearance, but also because they are the only bullion coin whose gold content is guaranteed by the United States government. Each American Gold Eagle is stamped with its exact gold weight, as well as its face value. They are minted from 22-karat gold, which by law must be pure gold bullion mined from within the United States. This guarantee of the authenticity of the precious metals used to make American Eagle gold coins is highly valuable to investors.
Buying American Eagle Gold Coins
Golden American Eagles were first produced in 1985 and come in a variety of sizes and values, ranging from the 1/10th oz American Eagle coin with a face value of $5, all the way up to full ounce gold coins with a face value of $50. Remember that most gold coins are worth more than their legal tender amount. Although they re not available for purchase directly from the U.S. Mint, American Eagle can be commonly found for sale in coin shops, on the internet, by gold dealers, and at coin shows. There are also variations on the American Eagle that are minted from silver or platinum instead of gold.
Why Gold American Eagle Coins are Popular among Collectors
Gold coins are a favorite of coin collectors with an eye toward investment. Not only are golden coins lovely to behold, but they also have a value that is guaranteed, due to their precious metal content. The value of gold coins is usually higher than the value of their weight in gold bullion, making them a better investment than the gold market alone.
Many countries produce gold coins for collectors or for commemorative purposes. These coins oftentimes emphasize unique aspects of the countrys culture. Australia reveres its national animal with the Gold Kangaroo, for example, while China has a Gold Panda with a lovely design that changes every year. Canadas coin features a powerful national symbol with the golden Maple Leaf, and South Africa mints the Krugerrand. One of the worlds best selling coins, the Krugerrand features the South African national animal, the Springbok. Taking its place as one of the most popular gold coins among investors and collectors, however, is the American Gold Eagle. The American Gold Eagle stands out among other bullion coins because of its lovely design, and because its value is backed by the full strength of the United States government.
The Beauty of American Eagle Gold Coins
The Gold Eagle features a representation of Lady Liberty striding with torch in hand through a field of light rays on its front side. This image is inspired by a golden coin designed by Augustus Saint-Gauden and minted from 1907 to 1933. The Augustus Saint-Gauden Double Eagle is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful coins America has ever produced. On the flip side of the American Eagle gold coins is a nest full of bald eagles, the national bird of the United States. The nest represents the American dedication to unity and family. Furthermore, a special die is used when minting these coins, to bring the gold to an especially high shine and to make it easier to see small details in the design.
American Eagle Gold Coins have Guaranteed Value
American Eagle gold coins are valuable not only for their lovely appearance, but also because they are the only bullion coin whose gold content is guaranteed by the United States government. Each American Gold Eagle is stamped with its exact gold weight, as well as its face value. They are minted from 22-karat gold, which by law must be pure gold bullion mined from within the United States. This guarantee of the authenticity of the precious metals used to make American Eagle gold coins is highly valuable to investors.
Buying American Eagle Gold Coins
Golden American Eagles were first produced in 1985 and come in a variety of sizes and values, ranging from the 1/10th oz American Eagle coin with a face value of $5, all the way up to full ounce gold coins with a face value of $50. Remember that most gold coins are worth more than their legal tender amount. Although they re not available for purchase directly from the U.S. Mint, American Eagle can be commonly found for sale in coin shops, on the internet, by gold dealers, and at coin shows. There are also variations on the American Eagle that are minted from silver or platinum instead of gold.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Buying Gold Jewelry Without Being Ripped Off
Buying gold jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether youre considering a gift of gold jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Heres some information to help you get the best quality gold jewelry for your money, whether youre shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Gold
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry
is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Buying gold jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether youre considering a gift of gold jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Heres some information to help you get the best quality gold jewelry for your money, whether youre shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Gold
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, its usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry
is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name of the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you dont see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Congress Approves-9999 Fine Gold Coins
New .9999 fine (24 karat) 1-oz legal tender $50 gold coins will be added to the U.S. Mint's line of gold bullion coins in 2006 when President Bush signs into law a bill that Congress passed in December. The legislation calls for the Mint to have the coins ready to distribute by June 2006, but the coins may be ready before then.
The legislation authorizing the new .9999 fine gold coins was quite specific, mandating the design and even the method of packaging. For the first year of issuance, the coins "shall bear the original designs by James Earle Fraser, 'which appear on the 5-cent coin commonly referred to as the 'Buffalo nickel' or the '1913 Type 1'." This wording, without specifically saying it, calls for the obverse (front) of the coins to carry the famed Indian Head design by Fraser. The reverse will carry the equally-famed buffalo design.
Each Indian Head-Buffalo coin is to be encased in a protective capsule, possibly such as the capsules used by Australia's Perth Mint to protect its .9999 fine gold bullion coins, including the popular limited edition Lunar Series Gold Bullion Coins. The protective cases "shall be readily distinguishable" from the packaging for proof coins, which are also authorized by the bill.
For years, proof coins have been individually encapsulated in protective cases. Individually encapsulating bullion coins will be new to the U.S. Mint. The Mint's 22-karat (.9167 fine) American Gold Eagles, which are the world's best-selling gold bullion coins, are packaged twenty to a tube and are not individually encapsulated.
Production of the Indian Head-Buffalo coins will be unlimited, and they will be marketed toward gold investors who prefer .9999 fine (24-karat) gold coins. The U.S. Mint already has the world's best-selling gold bullion coins with its 22-karat (.9176 fine) Gold Eagles. Still, there is a huge market for pure gold coins, and the new Indian Head-Buffalo coins will give the U.S. Mint a product for that market. The Asian and Indian markets clearly prefer pure gold coins, while alloyed gold coins are more popular in the Western World.
Presently, the Royal Canadian Mint's .9999 fine Gold Maple Leafs are the world's best selling pure gold coins. However, the Gold Maple Leafs have fallen into disfavor with investors because of the ease with which they are damaged. To counter this, the Royal Canadian Mint recently introduced new packaging for the 1-oz Gold Maple Leafs.
The new packaging for the 1-oz Gold Maple Leafs will put the coins individually in capsules that are suspended in credit card sizes cards, twenty-five coins to a box. It is too early to gauge market acceptance of the new packaging for the Gold Maple Leafs.
Considering the popularity of the of Indian Head-Buffalo design, the U.S. Mint's new .9999 fine gold coins could provide stiff competition for the Gold Maple Leafs. Fraser's designs proved to be a winner in 2001 when the U.S. Mint produced a limited number of Indian Head-Buffalo $1 silver coins sets. The sets sold out immediately and today carry prices several times their initial offering prices.
The new Indian Head-Buffalo .9999 fine gold coins, however, will not be limited edition, at least not the first year. The bill permits the Mint to "change the maximum number of coins issued" in subsequent years. Further, the bill authorizes the Mint to change the designs on either the obverse or the reverse after the first year's production.
Although the U.S. Mint produces its popular American Gold Eagles in four sizes, 1-oz, -oz, -oz, and 1/10-oz, the new Indian Head-Buffalo pure gold coins will be minted in only one size: 1-ounce. With the popular Indian Head and Buffalo designs, the Mint's new .9999 fine gold coins could quickly become favorites with gold coin investors.
New .9999 fine (24 karat) 1-oz legal tender $50 gold coins will be added to the U.S. Mint's line of gold bullion coins in 2006 when President Bush signs into law a bill that Congress passed in December. The legislation calls for the Mint to have the coins ready to distribute by June 2006, but the coins may be ready before then.
The legislation authorizing the new .9999 fine gold coins was quite specific, mandating the design and even the method of packaging. For the first year of issuance, the coins "shall bear the original designs by James Earle Fraser, 'which appear on the 5-cent coin commonly referred to as the 'Buffalo nickel' or the '1913 Type 1'." This wording, without specifically saying it, calls for the obverse (front) of the coins to carry the famed Indian Head design by Fraser. The reverse will carry the equally-famed buffalo design.
Each Indian Head-Buffalo coin is to be encased in a protective capsule, possibly such as the capsules used by Australia's Perth Mint to protect its .9999 fine gold bullion coins, including the popular limited edition Lunar Series Gold Bullion Coins. The protective cases "shall be readily distinguishable" from the packaging for proof coins, which are also authorized by the bill.
For years, proof coins have been individually encapsulated in protective cases. Individually encapsulating bullion coins will be new to the U.S. Mint. The Mint's 22-karat (.9167 fine) American Gold Eagles, which are the world's best-selling gold bullion coins, are packaged twenty to a tube and are not individually encapsulated.
Production of the Indian Head-Buffalo coins will be unlimited, and they will be marketed toward gold investors who prefer .9999 fine (24-karat) gold coins. The U.S. Mint already has the world's best-selling gold bullion coins with its 22-karat (.9176 fine) Gold Eagles. Still, there is a huge market for pure gold coins, and the new Indian Head-Buffalo coins will give the U.S. Mint a product for that market. The Asian and Indian markets clearly prefer pure gold coins, while alloyed gold coins are more popular in the Western World.
Presently, the Royal Canadian Mint's .9999 fine Gold Maple Leafs are the world's best selling pure gold coins. However, the Gold Maple Leafs have fallen into disfavor with investors because of the ease with which they are damaged. To counter this, the Royal Canadian Mint recently introduced new packaging for the 1-oz Gold Maple Leafs.
The new packaging for the 1-oz Gold Maple Leafs will put the coins individually in capsules that are suspended in credit card sizes cards, twenty-five coins to a box. It is too early to gauge market acceptance of the new packaging for the Gold Maple Leafs.
Considering the popularity of the of Indian Head-Buffalo design, the U.S. Mint's new .9999 fine gold coins could provide stiff competition for the Gold Maple Leafs. Fraser's designs proved to be a winner in 2001 when the U.S. Mint produced a limited number of Indian Head-Buffalo $1 silver coins sets. The sets sold out immediately and today carry prices several times their initial offering prices.
The new Indian Head-Buffalo .9999 fine gold coins, however, will not be limited edition, at least not the first year. The bill permits the Mint to "change the maximum number of coins issued" in subsequent years. Further, the bill authorizes the Mint to change the designs on either the obverse or the reverse after the first year's production.
Although the U.S. Mint produces its popular American Gold Eagles in four sizes, 1-oz, -oz, -oz, and 1/10-oz, the new Indian Head-Buffalo pure gold coins will be minted in only one size: 1-ounce. With the popular Indian Head and Buffalo designs, the Mint's new .9999 fine gold coins could quickly become favorites with gold coin investors.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The Real Gold Mine
Financial security is something we all strive for, well most of us anyway. Some people are perfectly content living paycheck to paycheck and claiming their house is their savings. Part of me wishes I could be that relaxed to have such a laid back view of things.
For those of us that do want to have some level of financial security we try to save and invest our money at any opportunity. Some people do this on their own, while the majority of people have some sort of financial professional offering them advice. I personally have an account set up with a financial advisor. Most financial advisors will tell you to diversify your money and investments. But, do they really mean it? Yes, they mean it as long as it makes them money.
I feel in order to truly be diversified in your investments you need to have your stocks, bonds, and savings. But, the real gold mine is in precious metals. Very few people invest in precious metals, in comparison to the amount of people in the stock market. The most well-known precious metals are gold and silver, in addition to platinum and palladium (a by-product of platinum).
Precious metals retain their value very well. A major difference between precious metals and stocks or bonds is that gold and silver have actual value, meaning I could take it and give it to someone as a form of currency in some countries. The United States used to back its currency with gold and silver but they sold it all off in the past three decades or so. Now the dollar is backed by Congress.
Precious metals have many uses other than the obvious use in jewelry. Silver is used in X-ray film, gold is used in some electronics as a conductor of electricity, and there are many more for each of the metals. Because of how widely these metals are used and the importance of some of the applications in which they are used, the value will eventually continue to go higher and higher. For example, I have read some projections on the value of silver in the next ten years or so. Some experts predict silver will hit anywhere from $100 to $400 and ounce. The cheapest I have bought some of my silver for was $7.37 an ounce. Whether it hits those highs remains to be seen. But, because of the uses for these metals and the fact the supplies are limited it is a safe assumption that the value will raise as the supply on Earth lessens.
Investing in the stock market is different because you need to evaluate the company, its competition, the future potential, and many more factors. You have to concern yourself with the management of the company and the direction they are taking the company. With precious metals you do not have the same concerns. Gold is gold and silver is silver regardless of what else happens in the world. Its prices can fluctuate but it will not go out of business or be involved in billion dollar lawsuits that threaten the stability of the company. For these reasons I feel precious metals really are the true gold mine.
Financial security is something we all strive for, well most of us anyway. Some people are perfectly content living paycheck to paycheck and claiming their house is their savings. Part of me wishes I could be that relaxed to have such a laid back view of things.
For those of us that do want to have some level of financial security we try to save and invest our money at any opportunity. Some people do this on their own, while the majority of people have some sort of financial professional offering them advice. I personally have an account set up with a financial advisor. Most financial advisors will tell you to diversify your money and investments. But, do they really mean it? Yes, they mean it as long as it makes them money.
I feel in order to truly be diversified in your investments you need to have your stocks, bonds, and savings. But, the real gold mine is in precious metals. Very few people invest in precious metals, in comparison to the amount of people in the stock market. The most well-known precious metals are gold and silver, in addition to platinum and palladium (a by-product of platinum).
Precious metals retain their value very well. A major difference between precious metals and stocks or bonds is that gold and silver have actual value, meaning I could take it and give it to someone as a form of currency in some countries. The United States used to back its currency with gold and silver but they sold it all off in the past three decades or so. Now the dollar is backed by Congress.
Precious metals have many uses other than the obvious use in jewelry. Silver is used in X-ray film, gold is used in some electronics as a conductor of electricity, and there are many more for each of the metals. Because of how widely these metals are used and the importance of some of the applications in which they are used, the value will eventually continue to go higher and higher. For example, I have read some projections on the value of silver in the next ten years or so. Some experts predict silver will hit anywhere from $100 to $400 and ounce. The cheapest I have bought some of my silver for was $7.37 an ounce. Whether it hits those highs remains to be seen. But, because of the uses for these metals and the fact the supplies are limited it is a safe assumption that the value will raise as the supply on Earth lessens.
Investing in the stock market is different because you need to evaluate the company, its competition, the future potential, and many more factors. You have to concern yourself with the management of the company and the direction they are taking the company. With precious metals you do not have the same concerns. Gold is gold and silver is silver regardless of what else happens in the world. Its prices can fluctuate but it will not go out of business or be involved in billion dollar lawsuits that threaten the stability of the company. For these reasons I feel precious metals really are the true gold mine.
E-gold Invest: Make Money With Currency Trading
Many people are already starting to pay attention to the newest online trend: E-gold investing.
E-gold investing is a all about a system that allows you to profit from the money that is being traded everyday on the internet. What you're doing when you are trading e-gold (or e-currencies) is that you are providing the backup for internet money. Let me go back a bit. What exactly do I mean by "backup for internet money"?
There is a cashflow of all of the money that is being moved throughout the internet every day. However, this money has to have, for every dollar that is being backed up, a physical backup of that dollar must exist.
This is a very superficial explanation about how the dxgold system works, but to be honest, to profit from it, you don't have to understand exactly how it works to profit from it. If I were to put the e-gold training courses into a metaphor I would say it's very much like driving a car. You don't need to know how it works in order to use it properly.
What you do need to know is the egold exchange process and every step of the way. This may sound complex, but once you get to know it, it becomes a daily routine that takes about five minutes just to check up on.
Investing in e-gold is something that I could describe as a great investing strategy, if you are investing in the long run.
It isn't as fast as a rising stock in wall street, it isn't something that will double your profits in a couple of days, but it is something you can expect to generate a good income from. And the important keyword in that past sentence would be to Expect, because this is a safe long term strategy that is guaranteed to make a profit for you.
This is why I personally think it is plain silly not to learn this currency trading system. You even know how much money you will make each day in advance.
For some it may be tough, but saving a couple of hundred dollars and investing in e-gold can be a very wise decision. As many people have experienced already, it can even turn into a "hands off" second income without the 8 to 5 job.
E-gold is all about discipline. Is about the discipline of having your money work for you and letting it grow, without getting an urge of a shopping spree and taking your money out of your account.
If you think you can wait for a few months and are interested in getting a second income, then the e-gold system could be a good fit for you.
Many people are already starting to pay attention to the newest online trend: E-gold investing.
E-gold investing is a all about a system that allows you to profit from the money that is being traded everyday on the internet. What you're doing when you are trading e-gold (or e-currencies) is that you are providing the backup for internet money. Let me go back a bit. What exactly do I mean by "backup for internet money"?
There is a cashflow of all of the money that is being moved throughout the internet every day. However, this money has to have, for every dollar that is being backed up, a physical backup of that dollar must exist.
This is a very superficial explanation about how the dxgold system works, but to be honest, to profit from it, you don't have to understand exactly how it works to profit from it. If I were to put the e-gold training courses into a metaphor I would say it's very much like driving a car. You don't need to know how it works in order to use it properly.
What you do need to know is the egold exchange process and every step of the way. This may sound complex, but once you get to know it, it becomes a daily routine that takes about five minutes just to check up on.
Investing in e-gold is something that I could describe as a great investing strategy, if you are investing in the long run.
It isn't as fast as a rising stock in wall street, it isn't something that will double your profits in a couple of days, but it is something you can expect to generate a good income from. And the important keyword in that past sentence would be to Expect, because this is a safe long term strategy that is guaranteed to make a profit for you.
This is why I personally think it is plain silly not to learn this currency trading system. You even know how much money you will make each day in advance.
For some it may be tough, but saving a couple of hundred dollars and investing in e-gold can be a very wise decision. As many people have experienced already, it can even turn into a "hands off" second income without the 8 to 5 job.
E-gold is all about discipline. Is about the discipline of having your money work for you and letting it grow, without getting an urge of a shopping spree and taking your money out of your account.
If you think you can wait for a few months and are interested in getting a second income, then the e-gold system could be a good fit for you.
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