The money invested in the equity index fund is invested entirely in shares, and the price development follows the fund’s return.
When you buy shares, you become a partner in the company you buy shares in. As a partner, you get to participate in the company’s profits. You can also take part in any increases in the share price.
Stocks are the best way to invest money. Historically, equities are the asset class that has delivered the best returns over time. Over the past 100 years, equities have produced an average of 8-10% yearly return. It may sound small, but it gives fantastic results with the interest-on-interest effect over time.
Mutual Funds
Mutual fund returns are divided proportionately between risk-free interest rates and market returns on shares. If the market is doing well, mutual funds that invest more in stocks will perform better than those that take less risk.
Investing in mutual funds is safe and sound. When you put your money in a fund, the fund’s team of experts will invest your money in various securities and assets. The type of securities in which the fund invests your money is determined by the type of fund you choose.
You can choose between, for example, equity funds, fixed-income funds, or index funds. An equity fund invests your money in stocks; a fixed-income fund invests your money in interest-bearing investments; an index fund invests your money so that your return follows a particular index, and so on. We recommend investing in equity or index funds under 50 because they provide the best return.
Make Objectives for Your Investments
You must understand why you are spending and what you hope to achieve with your funds. Otherwise, you’ll be like a directionless ship at sea, with no purpose or direction. Capital growth, preservation, revenue, and speculation are common investing goals. For example, an investment portfolio aiming for capital growth will differ significantly from one seeking income and perform differently over time.
You can be unhappy with your results if you’re unclear about your objectives. You may have followed the approach to the letter, but you were pursuing the incorrect goal.
Keep Down the Investment Turnover
“Don’t borrow stocks, purchase companies,” as the adage goes. Don’t acquire shares until you understand that the short-term stock exchange is illogical, volatile, and inconsistent if you cannot hold a firm for 3 to 5 years.
Apart from the risk, there are tax benefits to keeping your investments. Long-term investment gains are expected to be lower than short-term business income, and dividends from such investments are frequently taxed lower than payouts from recent portfolio additions.
Minimizing the Costs
Fees, brokerage charges, sales charges, and other mutual fund expenditures are all dollars that can’t be multiplied for you. While a cost-to-income ratio of less than 1% may not appear significant, it increases with time. You might save hundreds, thousands, or even millions by the time you finish if you uncover methods to cut costs earlier in your investing timeline.
Learn To Take Advantages of The Tax-Efficient
The Roth IRA and the 401 are two attractive investment tax shelters for low-income people and the middle class in the United States. Both accounts propose tax advantages that may make them quite profitable, but there are certain limitations and donation limits to be aware of. If you carry money out of these accounts before 5912, you’ll have to pay penalties tax (though there are exceptions to this rule). People who learn to take advantage of the tax-efficient get to save more than ordinary people could do.
Don’t Pay Excessively on An Asset
There is no escaping the fact that pricing significantly impacts the results you receive from your portfolio, and short-term stock values vary. The financial value of a solid investment might be overvalued. The economic analysis is helpful in this situation. You might feel more confident buying a stock at a reasonable price if you investigate the firm’s financial information.
On the other hand, a cheap cost does not compensate for a poor investment. You can’t continue to complete well by buying an affordable stock with low earnings yields until you have the basis to think the firm will expand considerably or undergo a reversal.
Expand
When you diversify, you distribute your danger across diverse sectors, industries, methodological approaches, and geographic locations. When something terrible happens, like a firm going bankrupt or even a natural catastrophe affecting sectors in a specific region, the effect will only affect a portion of your portfolio. Sure, you’ll feel the consequences, but not as strongly as if you’d invested all your wealth in one firm or location.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
How Fluorescent Lights Can Lower Your Energy Costs
Fluorescent lights save money by consuming up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs while delivering the same level of brightness, resulting in significantly lower electricity bills and reduced maintenance costs. When businesses switch from incandescent to fluorescent lighting, they typically see immediate reductions in monthly utility expenses of 50-75% on their lighting costs alone, plus substantial savings from bulbs that last 10 times longer.
As the founder of Complete Controller, I’ve managed energy expenses for hundreds of businesses over the past 20 years, and I’ve witnessed the transformative impact of strategic lighting upgrades firsthand. One retail client reduced their annual lighting costs by $3,400 simply by replacing 60 incandescent bulbs with fluorescent tubes—a change that paid for itself in under four months. This article breaks down the science behind fluorescent efficiency, provides real savings calculations you can apply to your space, and reveals when fluorescent technology still beats newer alternatives for specific business needs.
How do fluorescent lights save money on energy costs?
Fluorescent lights save money through 75% reduced energy consumption, 10x longer lifespan, and lower heat output compared to incandescent bulbs
Energy savings come from converting 20-25% of electricity into visible light versus incandescents’ 5% efficiency rate
Lifespan extends to 10,000-15,000 hours compared to 1,200 hours for traditional bulbs
Heat reduction saves additional money on air conditioning costs in commercial spaces
Total cost savings average $30-40 per bulb over its lifetime through combined energy and replacement savings
Why Fluorescent Lights Are More Efficient Than Incandescent Bulbs
Fluorescent lights deliver 50-100 lumens per watt, while incandescent bulbs only provide 15 lumens per watt—making fluorescents four to six times more energy efficient. This dramatic efficiency gap exists because fluorescent technology converts electrical energy into light through a fundamentally different process than the century-old incandescent design.
Traditional incandescent bulbs work by heating a tungsten filament until it glows, wasting 95% of their energy as heat. Fluorescent bulbs use electricity to excite mercury vapor, which produces ultraviolet light that activates a phosphor coating to create visible light. This process generates minimal heat waste, directing most energy into actual illumination.
Energy output comparison: Numbers that matter
The practical impact becomes clear when comparing identical light output:
Annual savings per bulb: $5.40 in electricity costs alone
10-bulb office conversion: Saves $54 annually just in energy
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for approximately 15% of the average household’s electricity consumption and 17% in commercial buildings. With lighting representing such a significant portion of energy use, upgrading to efficient fluorescent technology creates meaningful reductions in overall utility costs.
The Real Cost Savings: What to Expect When You Switch
Switching from incandescent to fluorescent lights typically reduces lighting electricity consumption by 75%, translating to immediate monthly savings on utility bills. The total savings extend beyond energy costs to include reduced bulb replacement expenses, lower maintenance labor, and decreased cooling costs from reduced heat output.
A medium-sized office replacing 20 standard 60-watt incandescent bulbs with 15-watt fluorescent equivalents saves approximately $150 annually on electricity alone. Factor in the 10-13x longer lifespan of fluorescent bulbs, and maintenance savings add another $80-100 per year in reduced bulb purchases and labor costs.
Calculating your potential annual savings
To calculate your specific savings potential:
Count your current incandescent bulbs and note their wattage
Multiply total watts by daily usage hours, then by 365 days
Divide by 1,000 to get annual kilowatt-hours (kWh)
Multiply kWh by your electric rate (average $0.13/kWh)
Calculate the same for fluorescent replacements (using 75% less wattage)
Subtract fluorescent cost from incandescent cost for annual savings
Real-world example: School district saves $1.6M annually
Cherry Creek School District in Colorado replaced outdated fluorescent and HID fixtures with ultra-efficient LED technology across 69 schools. While this represents an upgrade beyond basic fluorescents, it demonstrates the massive savings potential of lighting efficiency improvements:
Annual energy savings: $1.6 million
Environmental impact: Equivalent to removing 3,000 cars from roads
Payback period: Under 15 years
Student benefit: Improved learning environments with better light quality
Even smaller businesses see proportional results. A local restaurant chain I worked with replaced 80 incandescent bulbs with fluorescent tubes and saved $2,400 in the first year—enough to cover two months of their bookkeeping services with Complete Controller.
How to Choose the Right Fluorescent Lights for Your Space
Selecting appropriate fluorescent bulbs maximizes both energy savings and lighting quality for your specific environment. Different fluorescent technologies suit different applications, from compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for residential use to high-output tubes for warehouses.
Modern fluorescent options include T8 tubes (1-inch diameter), T5 tubes (5/8-inch diameter), and spiral CFLs that fit standard sockets. Each type offers specific advantages: T8s provide excellent efficiency for offices, T5s deliver high output in compact fixtures, and CFLs work perfectly for residential applications.
Bulb types and where they shine
For Offices and Retail Spaces:
T8 linear tubes in 4-foot lengths
3500K-4100K color temperature for productivity
Electronic ballasts for flicker-free operation
80-85 CRI (Color Rendering Index) for accurate colors
For Warehouses and Industrial Settings:
High-output T5 or T8 fixtures
5,000K color temperature for clarity
Enclosed fixtures for durability
Motion sensors to maximize savings
For Homes and Small Businesses:
Spiral or covered CFLs in standard bases
2,700K-3,000K for warm, comfortable light
Dimmable options where needed
ENERGY STAR certified for quality assurance
Common Challenges and Modern Solutions
Today’s fluorescent technology addresses most historical complaints through improved designs and components. Electronic ballasts eliminate the flickering and humming that plagued older magnetic ballast systems, while advanced phosphorcoatings provide warm, natural light colors that rival incandescent quality.
The mercury content in fluorescent bulbs remains their primary drawback, requiring proper recycling to prevent environmental contamination. Each CFL contains 1-5 milligrams of mercury—enough to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water if improperly disposed. However, the EPA notes that fluorescents actually reduce overall mercury emissions by decreasing coal-fired power plant electricity demand.
Safe handling and disposal best practices
Locate recycling centers through Earth911.com or your local waste authority
Transport bulbs in original packaging or wrapped in newspaper
Never throw fluorescent bulbs in regular trash
Clean up broken bulbs carefully using EPA guidelines
Consider LED alternatives for frequently switched locations
Many major retailers including Home Depot and Lowe’s offer free CFL recycling programs, making responsible disposal convenient for businesses and homeowners.
Comparing Fluorescent Lights to LEDs: Making the Smart Choice
While LED technology offers superior efficiency, fluorescent lights remain cost-effective for many applications where lower upfront costs or existing fixtures make them practical. Understanding the trade-offs helps you make informed decisions based on your specific needs and budget.
The University of Michigan’s 2023 study found LED lighting is 18-44% more efficient than T8 fluorescent lamps. However, fluorescents still dramatically outperform incandescents and cost significantly less than LEDs upfront, making them valuable for budget-conscious upgrades.
Spaces with constant-on lighting (reduces switching stress)
Temporary installations under 5 years
Areas where LED compatibility issues exist
The federal government’s new efficiency standards, requiring 120 lumens per watt by 2028, signal the eventual phase-out of traditional fluorescents. However, existing stock remains available, and many businesses benefit from fluorescent upgrades as an intermediate step toward eventual LED conversion.
Maximizing Your Fluorescent Investment Today
Twenty years of helping businesses optimize their operations has taught me that perfect solutions rarely exist—smart compromises do. Fluorescent lighting exemplifies this principle: not the absolute best technology available, but often the right choice for specific situations.
My recommended approach for maximum savings:
Audit first: Document every bulb’s wattage, daily usage hours, and replacement history
Prioritize high-use areas: Upgrade constantly-on lights before occasionally-used ones
Buy quality: ENERGY STAR certified bulbs last longer and perform better
Track results: Monitor actual energy bills to verify projected savings
Plan ahead: Consider LED-ready fixtures when replacing ballasts
One manufacturing client implemented this systematic approach and reduced lighting costs by 68% while improving workplace visibility. They started with fluorescent upgrades in 2019 and are now gradually transitioning to LEDs as fixtures require replacement—a measured strategy that maximizes ROI at each step.
The path to energy efficiency doesn’t require perfection on day one. Start with the changes that make sense for your situation, track the results, and build on your success. Whether you’re managing a single office or a multi-location business, strategic lighting upgrades deliver predictable savings that compound over time.
Ready to illuminate more savings opportunities in your business? The team at Complete Controller specializes in identifying and tracking cost reductions across all your operations. Visit Complete Controller to discover how our financial experts can brighten your bottom line through strategic expense management and detailed cost analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fluorescent Lights Save Money
Do fluorescent lights use less electricity than LED bulbs?
No, LEDs use 18-44% less electricity than fluorescent bulbs according to recent university studies. However, fluorescents still use 75% less power than incandescent bulbs, making them a significant upgrade for those not ready for LED investment.
How much can switching to fluorescent lights save on a household’s electricity bill?
The average household saves $30-40 per fluorescent bulb over its 10,000-hour lifespan through reduced energy use and fewer replacements. With 20 bulbs, that’s $600-800 in total savings.
Are there any environmental issues with fluorescent bulbs?
Yes, fluorescent bulbs contain 1-5 milligrams of mercury requiring special recycling. However, they prevent more mercury emissions by reducing coal-fired electricity generation than they contain.
How long do fluorescent bulbs last compared to incandescent?
Fluorescent bulbs last 10,000-15,000 hours versus 1,200 hours for incandescents—approximately 10-13 times longer, significantly reducing replacement costs and maintenance time.
Do fluorescent lights really produce “harsh” or “cold” light?
Modern fluorescents offer warm color temperatures (2700K-3000K) matching incandescent warmth, plus options ranging to daylight (5000K+). Electronic ballasts eliminated flickering, creating pleasant, efficient illumination.
PacLights.com. (2024). Why how to replace fluorescent tube light bulb is the Smart Choice for energy savings. https://www.paclights.com
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
Look around you, and you will see nearly everyone connected to the internet. It is no coincidence but the beginning of a trend that can potentially reshape our lives. The concept of the Internet of Things is here. Though it is still in a rudimentary form, it is making its way into our lives fast. Connectivity is the day’s mantra, and IoT is the means to achieve it.
Who would have imagined a day when your home appliances follow your commands? You can control your voice commands as you have appliances with basic internet connectivity. Surprisingly, IoT tech showed a lot of promise during its early stages of development. Today, this tech is leaps and bounds more efficient and bug-free and is progressing fast. Let us have a look at what the future of the IoT holds:
IoT Meets AI
It was inevitable that both techs would finally meet each other. We see this happening more than before. Introducing AI with IoT will help corporations achieve optimum efficiency without increasing costs. It is estimated that combining both technologies will also reduce waste.
Furthermore, AI will help improve overall procedural efficiency while reducing associated risks. In simple words, managers will have access to the analytical data they can use to draw proficient insights. Keeping ongoing trends in mind, we will likely see the safe integration of smart devices, as they will be protected in real-time, reducing security vulnerabilities and risks.
Edge Computing
Edge computing is in its infancy but is being matured and will likely be available this year. The concept is designed to improve efficiency by reducing the amount of data transmitted. Furthermore, it can also help reduce the distance that a given type of data needs to travel. This technology will come in handy for significant data users.
Remember that big data involves processing a tremendous amount of data, while infrastructure can handle some data. The technology will also reduce frequent speed slowdowns when many users are logged in. Tech innovations such as self-driving cars and process deliveries will use this tech in the future.
Enhanced Security
Connecting devices and gadgets was the first step. The next big thing in IoT would be to secure every connected device. Keep in mind that more connected devices increase the risk of cyber threats. Hackers and vulnerabilities are always around to pounce on connections with weak security and protection.
We will see companies paying more attention to the security of connected devices. IT administrators will have their work cut out as they monitor vulnerabilities, ensuring all connections remain concealed from cyberattacks.
Digital Twins are Now Possible
Do not get it wrong, as it is an upcoming concept in IoT that will become mainstream. The digital trend is a virtual asset corresponding to a physical object. Through this, the thing is now open for thorough testing using digital tech before its implementation in the real world.
The emergence of the digital twin is making room for new possibilities in the IoT. We will see this tech catching up big time in the coming years. Digital Twins will allow users to save money, test objects and gadgets, and provide accurate data using simulative methods. This technology will tremendously benefit manufacturing, services, industries, and automobiles.
Smart Cities are Now Possible
Urban centers are becoming more interconnected than before. Introducing IoT to achieve a safe and smart city is no longer a fantasy. Many cities across the world are being connected using IoT. It will bring a digital revolution that has not been seen before. Urban transformation is merely a pilot project for now, but it will connect cities into one fast, powerful, centrally connected network when implemented.
These cities will have city blocks, neighborhoods, and houses connected through the central network. The same network will control resources such as electricity and water. Moreover, the web will also calculate the amount of waste produced and when to dispose of it. Governments and tech providers have plans for smart cities using cutting-edge tech and the IoT.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Track Finances Using a Personal Finance Spreadsheet
Control finances using a personal finance spreadsheet. One of the simple tools for controlling expenses is the spreadsheet. It is easily adaptable to your financial reality. You can build the table you want. In addition, it is easily understood, as you only need to list the expenses to have control.
Swap High Debt and Interest for Lower Interest to Control Your Finances
A habit you should have is always looking at the interest rate of everything you hire, whether a service or a credit card. You will be amazed at how much you pay in fees. Compare values and always opt for the lowest interest.
Cut Unnecessary Expenses
List all your expenses so you can balance them. You will see where your money is going. From there, you can know what is essential and what is superfluous. With this, it is possible to cut unnecessary expenses, one of the main tasks for capital accumulation.
Pay Your Bills on Time
Pay your bills on time. If we do not have control of the accounts, we may even forget about some slips. One way to never get lost is to pay your bills on time. You avoid headaches or even fines that would take part of the income.
Create a Financial Reserve for Emergencies; Save a Little Every Month
Another fundamental step to having reasonable control of personal finances is to create a financial budget. Indeed, you have needed money in emergencies, and you had to take it out of other expenses or even borrow it.
Negotiate Overdue Debts
Negotiate overdue debts. The ideal to build solid financial wealth is to have no debt. But when we become aware of this, we are always already in debt.
Use Your Credit Card Wisely
One of the most significant difficulties we often face when building equity is to spend the credit card consciously. It would help if you established valid criteria because the interest rate on cards is among the highest. A credit card is an additional tool for your purchases.
Create a Shopping List Before Going to the Supermarket
Before going to the supermarket, make a list for shopping. If you have the habit of going to the supermarket several times during the month, whenever you remember that you need something, you know what it is like to spend more than you planned. We usually buy more than we need. Therefore, the idea behind this tip is simple: we need to go to the supermarket as little as possible to avoid expenses.
Create Concrete Personal Finance Goals
It is not easy to achieve goals without goals. For example, if you want to do ten tasks a week, you need to have at least one goal: by the middle of the week, you will have completed half of the functions. In financial terms, your goals must be entirely achievable. You can either establish how much you should spend in the month or how much you should earn.
Understand the Difference Between Fixed and Variable Expenses to Control Personal Finances
Two fundamental concepts for organizing finances are fixed expenses and variable expenses. A fixed cost is one whose value remains, regardless of the month, such as your rent, car payment, cable TV, or gym.
Use the 50-15-35 Rule to Control Personal Finances
Use the 50-15-35 rule to manage personal finances. This rule states that you should dedicate 50% of your finances to essential expenses, 15% to financial priorities, and 35% to lifestyle. Necessary expenses are everything you need to support yourself daily: electricity, water, market, gas, etc.
Invest Your Money, Even if it is Little
It is no use being moderate in spending and organized in planning if you are not making your money work. It would be best to acquire assets; you must have alternatives that will multiply your money without generating many expenses. Always invest, even if you have little left for that month. There are several market investment types; good research will show you the best way.
Instruct Your Family About Personal Finance
You can be responsible for all your family’s finances. But that is not enough if only you understand the subject. Financial education is critical to the family’s asset growth, although income is only through a person.
Do Not Use Overdraft
Many people who go bankrupt believe that overdraft is a kind of credit. Instead, it is debt! For example, if you have one hundred reais in your account, and the bank gives you $300 in overdraft, which does not mean you have $400 in credit. You have $100, but $300 is available to borrow. And therein lies the danger: overdraft interest rates are usually the highest.
Use an App to Keep Your Finances Up to Date
Use an app to keep your finances up to date. Another tool that can help you control your finances is an application. They are easy to use and always in the palm of your hand.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
You have decided to buy your car; you have already decided on the model you want; you even know where you will buy it, but do you know how to buy it on credit? We want to help you with this procedure of great importance to make the best decision and release the car you have dreamed of. Here are five tips you should consider to buy your car on credit.
Consider Your Budget
To make a good decision, you must consider how much money you have to buy your car. Remember that you should avoid acquiring a debt that exceeds your payment capacity so that this credit helps you manage your savings according to your payment capacity and thus settle your debt as soon as possible.
A down payment is usually unnecessary for your loan, but giving one is a good idea: you won’t have to borrow a large amount, and your monthly payment will be lower. (In general, for every $1,000 you put down, your monthly car payment drops by $15 to $18, according to Edmund’s data from November 2017.) Use Bank of America’s auto loan calculator to learn how a down payment can affect your monthly auto loan payment.
Analyze Your Ability to Pay
Give yourself the time to do the math. Consider your income, your expenses, and your savings. This financial analysis will determine how much you can pay monthly for your car credit.
Your credit score helps determine the interest rate you pay on an auto loan. Better credit can help you get a more favorable interest rate, which will affect your overall car budget. You can also get your credit outcome free through your credit card provider.
Doing this exercise will also allow you to identify unnecessary expenses to avoid having healthy personal finances.
Save to Pay as Much Down Payment as You Can
Paying as much down payment as possible will help you settle your credit as soon as possible; therefore, your payment time will be shorter, and the amount of interest to be paid will be lower.
For this reason, our recommendation is regarding your savings. If you do not have protection at that second that allows you to pay a significant down payment, your best option is to save or seek extra income to help you have a more attractive down payment.
Choose the Payment Term that Best Suits Your Ability to Pay
It would help if you considered, according to your income, how much you can pay month after month, which will guide you to choose the most appropriate term for your needs, which can be 12, 18, 24, or more months.
Buying your car is much easier than it was for your parents. The Internet offers many sellers beyond your local area (who can ship vehicles to your location but for a fee), which can mean more options within your price range. You can search and narrow your choices by viewing online car ratings in safety or car-type categories (such as SUVs and hybrids). Learn more about how to buy and even refinance a car online.
For new cars, ask multiple dealers for price quotes. If you’re looking for used cars, ask for a Carfax report, which offers a used car’s history, including any accidents.
Although the idea is to choose the shortest possible term, because the amount of interest you must pay will be less, you must stay within your payment possibilities.
Make Your Payments on Time
It would help if you were organized with your finances to make your financing payments on time to avoid possible penalties. Consider that late payment fees are usually high, making it difficult to pay off your debt; avoid these unforeseen events by keeping your finances in order.
We know how complicated it can be to obtain financing to buy your car, so we seek to help you get it to obtain a vehicle loan that fits what you want to buy.
Prequalify with Us Online in Less than 5 Minutes
Are you ready to launch? Then visit us at your nearest dealership so our advisors can put you behind the wheel of the truck you love. We have more than 30 lots throughout Texas and provide financing without social or credit.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Investing in the stock market can double your money every ten years, and Buy and Hold is one of your options when choosing a strategy to start investing.
I started investing with Buy and hold, also known as investing in dividends and buying and holding. I have three different investment strategies, and one remains this. Anyway, I already told you that it is not my preferred strategy.
There is one thing about dividends I do not like, which I did not know at first. But do not hurry, I will tell you later.
What are Buy and Hold?
Buy and Hold (B&H) is a long-term investment strategy based on buying shares of stable companies that distribute dividends and hold them indefinitely. Of course, on occasion, claims will be sold, such as, for example, in the irreparable deterioration of the company. These types of companies are known as Blue Chips.
It is not enough to make a purchase, and that is it; you must invest continuously and constantly (that is why it is a long-term strategy).
It is essential to try to buy at the best possible prices, but choosing the right companies is necessary (if you never want to sell, you must choose very well). The objective of the Buy and Hold is to obtain dividend income that allows you to have an extra salary, just as if you bought a property and rented it.
Earlier, I told you that I have three strategies, and the three share these characteristics, so they are not unique to Buy and Hold.
Invest in the Long Term
You are not looking for a punch. The intention is not to buy and sell continuously but to buy to hold indefinitely.
There are three reasons why a person becomes a long-term investor.
It requires less time, freeing you of continuously watching the markets
It is practical and likely to result in meaningful wealth creation
It reduces fees and taxes and keeps more money in your account.
Invest in Equity and the Stock Market
Therefore, what characterizes Buy and Hold is that you buy shares of large and stable companies that distribute dividends.
Desired Characteristics in Companies – Blue Chips
Companies with continued benefits Suppose we buy a company to maintain it indefinitely. In that case, we must ensure that it always benefits in times of prosperity or crisis. We do not want a company that has a bad year every three years or things like that. We are looking for companies with stable and growing benefits.
Large companies
Small companies are easily manipulated and may have problems due to their size, so acquiring large companies with high market capitalization is essential.
Companies that distribute dividends continuously
The key to Buy and Hold is to look for a periodic income, so we want companies to share a portion of their profits as dividends.
We are looking for companies with a good dividend distribution history, not cyclical companies that pay dividends only in the good years.
Companies that have been in the stock market for years
We are looking for companies with a history of benefits and dividends, so companies must take 5-10 years or more in the stock market to have that history.
Many new companies go public continuously, getting a lot of publicity, so many people invest in them. Not having a history behind it makes it exceedingly difficult to predict whether the bet will go well.
All in All
Long-term investing requires perseverance, conviction, and the capacity to do nothing when others are active with their portfolios. Investment in the stock market gives you leverage for years as its profits change with the stock market variation. Whenever you build a new house, strive to make it a double or triple-story, as it will be the best investment to provide you with a long-term profit.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
It was the most challenging point in our whole process of entrepreneurship since we were used to giving express weekend escapes or each new holiday. But if you want to save to travel the world (and not a 15-day trip), you must also sacrifice your passion for travel.
I know it’s not easy to stay still, but your pocket will thank you, and, in the end, it will be worth the sacrifice. In our case, we were one year without traveling to start together, and now we begin our long-awaited adventure.
Refrain from Being Exquisite with Food
It has been the most challenging point for me (Gabriela) since I am a “foodie” and always thinking about eating. But to save, we had to say goodbye to the cravings and cook our food. Did you know we ate only tuna and tomatoes for almost a year? It is prevalent to eat outside if you work, but the food will always be cheaper if you cook it yourself.
Say Goodbye to Parties and Outings with Friends
This point has been one that cost us a lot and that almost none of our friends understood. Why had we disappeared? And if you are like your friends and we love to go to fashionable clubs or eat out, you will have to say goodbye for a while! We know these are the few getaways from our reality, but have you ever thought about how much each of these exits cost you?
Do the accounts of how much you could save by eliminating?
coffee with friends
the departures on Fridays
Frater Thursdays
the beers on the weekends
Going to the cinema
If your dream is enormous, you can leave these exits aside to take care of saving to travel around the world.
Ask Your Parents for Space
Are you paying rent? Or do you have your own house? If you plan to leave for a good time, you can ask your parents to make you a space at home for a few months, it may seem uncomfortable, but it is a great option to help you save for your trip. In our case, we rotate house between parents the last two months before leaving for a trip. In November 2017, we lived in Yeyo’s parent’s house, and in December, where my parents were. It meant significant savings in service expenses, and they did not become a problem as they knew that we would soon be traveling. Sure, they even pamper you more because they know you’re leaving!
Sell What You do not Need
We return to the point of minimalism, but how important it is to have only the necessary things! In our case, we put almost everything for sale. We had a living where we never sat, a dining room with six chairs we did not occupy, two televisions for lack of one, and so many things. Take advantage of a weekend to clean your house and see what you did not use more than a year ago. After organizing a sale on Facebook and your social networks, we could sell everything in less than a week. Do you have a car? Sell it and use public transport. That’s what Yeyo did, even though he absolutely loved his Jeep.
Plan Your Trip in Time
And the final point to save money to travel the world is to be flexible and plan your trip well in advance. We know that sometimes we want to improvise, and that’s fine, but always remember that you will save a reasonable sum of money while you buy your air tickets and even land at least three months in advance.
Conclusions About Saving Money to Travel Around the World
Making a long or much better trip without a return date is not impossible, and millionaires or those who took the lottery cannot only play in Las Vegas. On the contrary, we can all travel the world if we plan well and travel a little slower without many amenities. If you plan well and take each of the tips and methods to save money in this article, we are sure you will achieve your goal.
But you want to go even further and have the personalized help you need to overcome your mental, financial, and information obstacles. In that case, you can see our traveling coaching service, where we will turn you into an expert traveler ready to take your first trip worldwide.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Finding out more about your prospects before you start marketing your business is good. For example, you can do market research to discover who your customers are and how you can best solve their problems, monitor different industries worldwide, and investigate how your main competitors are doing. You can consult a business expert if you need clarification about communicating your message or which channel is appropriate for your company.
Specific About Marketing
You have to be careful that marketing must adhere to the Marketing Act. The purpose of The Marketing Act was to combat misleading and coercive marketing. The design or promotion of your marketing should look like marketing rather than just some information, knowledge facts, or anything else. It must also be apparent who handles marketing and should not be deceptive.
Marketing Information Needed
The Marketing Act specifies the types of marketing used and the information marketers should include. The information requirement states that you must consist of content in your marketing likely to be of particular interest to a customer, such as product content, features, and pricing. Although the law does not provide a comprehensive list, you must determine what information to include.
Calculate Your Budget
To get a first starting point for how big your market budget should be, you need to link it to your goals. One way to do this is to start from your plan and count backward with the help of the measured values you know. As one of your concrete goals, you should figure out how many new customers you will get in during the year. How many leads are required to bring in these customers, based on your conversion rate (conversion of leads to customers)? Then, you calculate how much reach you need to get so much information, such as how much traffic you need to your website. When you know that, it’s easier to figure out what budget is necessary to create that traffic and reach.
Use a Rule of Thumb
Using a standard rule of thumb means allocating a certain percentage of your sales to your marketing budget. To know how large a share you can choose to be at the same level as your competitors or based on how much you invested in your marketing last year. You can also start with your industry index to indicate how much you should invest in your marketing.
Use Your Free Google Listing
The first step to making it easier for customers to find you is to market your business more effectively. Consumers today will Google everything, but especially when it comes to products and services, they always prefer someone near; this is where Google comes in. You need to create a free Google My Business account, making it much easier for local customers to find you. Ensure all your information is filled in correctly and include a website link. Once you fill out the Google My Business form and submit it, you get instant online visibility, and you’ll start appearing on Google Maps as people search for what you’re selling.
Work with Branding
When trying to take your company to a higher level, one of your most valuable marketing tactics is to work with your brand. Do not stick to designing a logo, as more is needed. Customers will remember your brand if they recognize and know it, which could positively affect your sales results. Branding can be miraculous for a small, local business, and making it work isn’t as difficult as you would imagine. Consider your desired demographic and tailor your brand, color theme, and tone of voice to represent that audience. Although the brand can develop, especially as you grow, it must have a solid foundation. Branding is a top priority when it comes to knowing how to market your business locally.
Web Presence is Necessary
In addition to Google My Business and Facebook pages, you should also consider making your web presence using a website where users can get desired information anytime. It must be easy to use, mobile-friendly, and consistent with your new brand. You do not have to learn to code or hire someone to design your website. Several easy-to-use website creations and hosting systems are available, so even if you don’t have any technical abilities, you can get your small company online and look fabulous in no time. There are many ways to get more out of your website as you become more accustomed to these marketing methods, but having a web presence is essential.
Business Cards and Stationery
After you’ve developed your brand identification and have visibility on both website and social media platforms, the next step is to ensure that you seem as professional as possible. If you are handing out service invoices on scrap paper or discussing your business with potential customers, you must look at some branded products. Business cards are essential for distributing to relatives and friends and when meeting new people who may become prospective local customers. Word of mouth is just as important as having a website for promoting a local business, and to make your business successful, you should have to be professional. Knowing how to market your business locally means combining traditional and modern marketing methods.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Investing is hip again! Some of you may already be investing, while others have yet to take your first steps in the investment world. It is essential if you want to build up a reserve for the future.
In the Past: Effects Under the Mattress
It was once different when people bought securities and received an official title deed instead. Securities could be registered but were often anonymous. These were called bearer securities.
The major drawback was that the finder was considered the owner when someone previously lost those bearer securities. He could collect the interest, dividends, and capital (at maturity) without any problem. And then there’s the story of the baker who returned from vacation, turned on his oven, and only then realized that he had hidden all his bearer securities in the range and saw his fortune go up in smoke!
Now: Everything in a Brokerage Account
You may no longer issue new bearer securities since January 2008. Bearer securities registered in a securities account have been converted into ‘dematerialized’ securities. These are not physical securities but securities whose ownership is recorded in a register of names. Anyone who owns stakes on paper can still collect or write them in a securities account. But there is a penalty of 10% on the value and another 10% increase in fines yearly. Because the fine will be the same as the value in 2025, securities will be worth nothing in practice.
Securities are all kept in a brokerage account today. This securities account is linked to a savings or current account by default. All dividends or interest are automatically deposited into that existing savings account.
Why a Securities Account?
A securities account offers you as an investor many advantages:
Safe: No risk of loss or theft.
Practical: transactions such as exchanging, collecting dividends, and paying out securities at maturity happen automatically.
Tradable: securities in a securities account are always in line with the market and can be traded immediately.
Straightforward: You have an up-to-date overview of your portfolio via the Internet or the extracts you receive with every change in your trading account.
Method
Like your other accounts, a securities account has an IBAN (international bank account number) and at least one holder (the owner). A securities account can belong to several persons (co-holders), and it is also possible to designate authorized representatives.
A mandate account is linked to your securities account at Crelan. The Crelan Current Account from which the purchase of the securities is settled and into which the dividends, interest, and securities sold and maturing are paid out.
The holder of the mandate account must be the same as that of the securities account. Exception: The mandate account may be a joint account for married and legally cohabiting partners.
Rates and Costs
Management fee: see the list of rates for private individuals. The management fee includes the Crelan Performance Pack and the Crelan Excellence Pack.
Custody fee: see rate list of private individuals. The custody and follow-up of securities issued by Crelan are free.
Taxes: Customers with average assets in securities accounts of $500,000 or more are subject to a wealth tax of 0.15% per year (situation 2018).
Let me explain what it is about: if you buy bonds, shares, or other securities, you have been followed for several years to place them in a securities account. A so-called bearer delivery is no longer allowed.
There are advantages to placing your securities in a brokerage account; they cannot be stolen or go up in flames. Your bank also ensures proper follow-up by automatically cutting the dividends and notifying you of critical transactions. Of course, it should not offer this free service, but it is paid for. How much precisely is that compensation? Your bank itself determines that.
Tip: View the cost of security accounts at the various banks here
Fees for Transfers
The stock of costs is not finished because your bank may also charge fees if it must transfer your securities to another financial institution. And here, too, they are free to determine these costs themselves or to change them. In the latter case, if desired, they must inform their customers at least two months before switching. If they do not, you will tacitly accept the new rates.
Banks appear to be eager to make use of that freedom. For example, MeDirect and BNP Paribas Fortis charge $150 per line. Suppose you have shares of 6 companies and four different investment funds in your trading account, then the cost of switching to another bank can already rise to $1,500.
Other banks are less fierce, although that is also relative: Belfries charges $75 per line. With a fee of $60.50, this practice often deters many investors from transferring their securities to another bank. Experts even consider this outright hostage-taking.
Many banks do not charge any fees to receive securities. It is also good to know that some banks will refund (part of) your transfer costs if you switch to them.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The debates are extensive, and there are conflicts of opinion even on many essential matters. Bitcoin, for example, appears to have been created as a form of payment in the past, but more and more people today perceive Bitcoin as primarily a new investment category. People also have differing views on whether Bitcoin will replace the current system or be a new financial product alongside all the others. True crypto enthusiasts regard Bitcoin as the future money, while skeptics predict it will crash.
For some, cryptocurrencies are an elusive form of payment. However, several currencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, have recently seen a surge in popularity. Companies are increasingly investing a portion of their money in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are frowned upon; the first e-sale of property took place in the Netherlands using Bitcoin. Is cryptocurrency, then, the currency of the future?
The Price of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrencies have been around for about ten years, although it has received greater attention in recent years. This increased attention is also because the market price of cryptocurrencies has shifted dramatically in a good direction around 2020. People were seeking new methods to invest due to the recession and low-interest rates on savings accounts. Moreover, more prominent organizations’ faith in cryptocurrencies grew, driving the worth of the coins to skyrocket. The trust in currencies increased significantly, and Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple reached new highs earlier this year, resembling those seen earlier this year on their way to new highs. These record highs boosted faith in these currencies even further. Since, after all, the price of cryptocurrencies is determined by their value.
Don’t Want to Miss the Boat?
The concern about whether cryptocurrencies will eventually replace traditional currencies is major. That could be something that lasts a long time. Nonetheless, there have been some exciting advancements in the area, and cryptocurrencies are becoming more widely accepted as legitimate money in the future.
Because of the rising confidence in crypto technology and its improved security, the future of cryptocurrencies appears bright. The European Union, for instance, implemented several restrictions on the crypto industry in 2020. These restrictions ensure that future inventions and advances will be more readily adopted.
Would you like to avoid missing out on Bitcoin, Ripple, and other crypto coins? After that, you may create a new account with a dealer like Litebit. After that, you can invest a portion of your wealth or savings that you are willing to invest in cryptocurrencies. Remember that these are highly volatile currencies. As quickly as the coins might increase, they could fall precipitously due to unfavorable news.
Consequently, it’s essential to be aware that investing in cryptocurrencies carries the risk of potential financial loss, so staying informed about any crypto-related events is crucial.
Can You Borrow in Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is difficult to utilize because it has zero-sum game characteristics. You can lend and deposit simultaneously with ordinary money besides paying. In the case of Bitcoin, the return, whether positive or negative, is ultimately determined by the Bitcoin price. Consequently, the fortune of someone who takes out a Bitcoin loan is, by definition, inverted to that of the investor. People who bought Bitcoin at the start of 2020 and can collect their earnings at a much higher price are receiving much attention. However, someone who would have taken out a home loan in Bitcoin, for example, has seen the value of his debt in ordinary money skyrocket and is undoubtedly insolvent. I’m unaware of how many individuals have taken out a Bitcoin loan.
As previously stated, the underlying issue is that there is no core Bitcoin economy to track all revenue and costs in Bitcoin. Ethereum (or any other crypto, for this matter) can only do a poor job of fulfilling the role of money as long as people’s daily income and spending are in traditional money.
Bitcoin does serve as an asset, although one with a significant level of risk due to its tremendous volatility. As a result, a probable essential function for Bitcoin in the upcoming financial system appears to be that of an asset.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
