The payday loan
service allows people to gain access to short term funding, for relatively small loans, fast. Before deciding to go down this credit route, you should make certain considerations to ensure that you are deciding on the best option for your situation.

1) Do you really need a Payday Loan?

Is it absolutely essential that you take out a payday loan? Or can that new outfit / ipod or week-end away wait?

If paying for something that you want, and the additional money in interest payments for a payday loan to be able to buy it, is going to stretch you so that you run out of money next month, then perhaps you should consider whether you could rather save up and buy what you need at a later date, rather than borrow money to pay for it.

Of course, if you are aware of the additional costs of buying or paying for something at the time you want it, and are happy with these, and can afford them from your next wage payment, then there should be no problem taking out a payday loan.

2) What is the length of time you need a cash advance for?

Cash advance payday loans are short-term loans. They are designed to bridge the gap between now and your next payday. If you need to borrow money for a lengthy period of time, then a payday loan won’t be ideal.

You can extend the repayment of a payday loan to a subsequent payday by paying the interest payment each month until you clear the full balance. However, the more you do this, the more your original loan costs you. So, if you plan to gain access t some additional money for a long period of time, you should look for alternative forms of credit.

3) How much money do you need to borrow?

Payday loans are typically valued between £80 - £800. However, payday loan providers are not likely to lend you £800 if you only earn £800 as the idea is that you can afford to pay back the payday loan on your next payday.

So, if you are looking to borrow more than £800 and/or more than you can afford to pay back on your payday, then you should look for alternative forms of credit.

4) Do you meet the criteria for a payday loan?

The criteria for most payday loans are as follows:

- To be over 18 years old
- To be a UK resident
- To be in full time employment
- To have a debit card for the bank account one’s wages are paid into.

By their very title, you are required to be in full time employment when applying for a payday loan. If you are a student or currently unemployed, you will not be able to apply for a payday advance.

Obviously, if you don’t meet these, then you will not be eligible for a payday loan.

Some payday loans companies also require that you have a cheque book. However, there are enough payday loan providers that don’t require this that you should be able to borrow from one that does not require this.

5) Are your wages paid directly into your bank account?

Most, if not all, payday loan companies will require a direct bank transfer of your wages onto your debit card account. If you are paid by cheque or cash, you will, therefore, not be eligible for a payday loan.

6) Can you afford to pay a payday loan back?

If you know that you are not going to be able to afford to repay a payday loan, then you should look elsewhere for a solution to your credit problem.

Payday loan providers will allow you to extend a payday loan by paying the interest each month until you can clear the full payday loan. However, it is not advisable to take out a payday loan planning to do this because it will make the cost of your cash advance more expensive than if you paid one interest fee for the advance.

7) Are you aware of the different processes involved in applying for a payday loan?

You need to decide what is important for you when applying for a payday loan. Some companies require that you provide various forms of documentation, including bank statements, on which to base your loan approval. This process can mean that you can’t receive a same day payday loan. If you want to get your cash advance as quickly as possible with the easiest application route, then you should look out for payday loan providers that offer same day instant cash loans online. You will then be able to apply online, receive an instant approval decision and get your cash that same day. Very often, however, they will carry out a credit check in order to be able to make the application process as quick as possible and to be able to offer faxless payday loans. If you do not mind having a credit check on your credit report, then this is a good route to be able to get cash fast.

Are you aware of the cost of a payday loan?

Before deciding to take out a payday advance loan you need to be aware of the costs and make sure that the benefits outweigh the costs for you.

Most payday loans companies charge an interest fee of 25% of the loan - although some charge more than this, so be sure to find one that doesn’t charge more if you decide to go with a payday loan.

All finance companies are required to quote an APR (Annual Payment Rate). At a 25% cost of credit for a loan due for repayment 31 days away the typical APR is 1286.1%. While this looks extremely high, one needs to bear in mind that APR involves looking at the payment rate annually, when a payday loan is due for repayment after a month. What is important is the cost of credit within that month - typically 25%. So, for every £80 you borrow, you need to pay £20 in interest. You need to consider whether you are happy to pay this amount of interest to be able to take advantage of the fast cash payday loan service.

9) Are you in a position where your credit and debts are getting uncontrollable?

If you already have a lot of outstanding credit / debt and are battling to meet monthly payments, then you should consider that a payday loan may not be a good option for you.

A payday loan should not be used as a means of solving long term credit / debt problems. If it is used in this way, it will more than likely only add to these problems. You should only take out a payday loan if you are going to be able to afford to pay it back and only if it is used for a short-term credit problem.

10) Is a payday loan your best option?

You need to consider what alternative options are available to you at a particular time and assess whether the benefits of a payday loan outweigh the benefits of its alternatives, also taking into account the cons, including costs, of the various options.

There are times when a payday loan may be a good option at a certain time and/or in a certain situation. You need to weigh up the costs and the benefits and decide whether it is the right form of credit for you at a particular time.

If you have a job, you can get a payday loan. Unlike other loans that require a credit check or collateral, payday loans have your next paycheque as collateral and anyone who has a job is usually approved for these loans, regardless of credit history. You should know when you should and should not use a payday loan.

The purpose of payday loans is to give you the cash you need so that you can make it until the next payday. You can sign up for an online site that allows payday loans and can get an advance on your next paycheque. The payday loan company will verify your employment and will use your paycheque as collateral for the money that you borrow from them. Come payday, you have to pay back the money that you borrowed plus interest.

One reason that you should consider these types of loans is if you are short due to an emergency. If you have had a financial emergency and cannot last until payday, you should consider getting a payday loan to help you over the hump. Instead of going without food or other necessities, you should use payday loans. You can then pay the money back when you get paid and get your finances caught up. Everyone has emergencies now and then that can cost them cash. If you are out of cash and cannot last until you get your paycheque, you should consider a payday loan.

Another reason to get a payday loan is if you have an opportunity for a great deal that cannot wait until payday. Often, if you find a great deal, you will not be able to wait until payday to take advantage of the offer. Instead of passing up on a good thing, you can seek out loans from a payday lending company.

What if you have an emergency and need money and cannot wait until payday? This is another good reason to use a payday loan. These loans are designed to get you through tough times that you may experience when living from payday to payday. If you are like most people, you have very little money put aside for emergencies and eagerly await your next paycheque. This is when a payday loan will help you. You should sign up with a company that will be able to make you these types of loans.

You should not use payday loans for idle purposes and on things that can wait until you get paid. You do not want to abuse lending powers and pay interest on money that you do not need to borrow. If it can wait until payday, you are better off to do so and not seek out loans. If not, however, it can be comforting for you to know that you can get a payday loan that will rescue you from a financial bind and get you the money that you need so that you can make it until the next payday. Make sure that you borrow responsibly and pay back any loans promptly to avoid interest or late fees.

Today, many people regularly find they are short on cash and need a little help to get them by until their next pay check. Those looking for payday cash loans will find all they need at many reputable online payday loan services. Applying for a loan is very easy and quick. At some payday loan sites, you’ll even find an option to select the state in which you reside in, and it will connect you to an online payday loan application for the loan provider in your area.

All online payday loan services have their very own professional lenders available who can assist you in any way possible. Most sites have support agents that are available 24 hours a day, which makes obtaining payday loans online much quicker.

There are many different terms that payday loans are referred to, such as fast payday cash, payday advance, payroll advance, short-term cash loans, instant payday advance, and cash advances.

Whatever you call a payday loan it ultimately means the same thing. Online payday loans are fast becoming the number one choice for many Americans to obtain money when it is needed the most. The online payday loan transactions are quick, easy, and safe. The most convenient part of obtaining an instant payday loan is that you can do it online and there are a wide range of online financial centres to choose from. Every online payday lender has professional staffs that are able to approve applications in minutes.

Another reason why payday loans are so convenient for many people are the minimal application and documentation requirements. The basic requirements are as follows:

1) Applicant must by currently employed

2) Applicant must be earning at least $1200 per month

3) Must have an active checking account

4) Applicant must be 18 years of age or older

5) Applicant must be a U.S. citizen

One thing you don’t need for a payday loan is a good credit history. Most payday loan lenders do not run any credit checks so applicants never have to worry about having bad or no credit ratings.

With the exponential growth of technology, it is now very easy for any individual to apply for payday loans from the comfort of their home, office or local internet cafe. With online applications, customers never have to wait in long lines at a check cashing or payday loan store.

Not only is convenience a main factor, it’s also the most confidential way to obtain the loans you need. It is perfect for any emergency situation whenever someone is short on cash. The payday loan gives the applicant an immense level of flexibility. Most payday loan lenders loan up to $500, as long as the applicant meets all required qualifications.

Much has been written about the rates charged by payday loan lenders and regulations to govern the industry but at the end of the day as long as there is a demand for such loans, there will be companies willing to provide them.

Insurance companies offer a variety of discounts on their home and automobile policies. One of which is called a group discount. A group discount can lower the cost of the premium, is available to almost anyone and is a good way for an insurer to market their various products. A group discount is a great way to save money on cost of an insurance policy.

A group discount that is applied to an insurance policy will lower the cost of the premium that is being paid for the policy. This is because discounts including a group discount are designed to lower the cost of an insurance policy. A group discount can be described as group of individuals that all belong to the same club or group. A group discount is used more or less as a general discount on an insurance policy. Although sometimes it is beneficial to belong to a group because some insurers sometimes provide a greater discount depending on the type of group that a person belongs. Usually the more specialized the group the larger the discount that is provided.

A group discount provided by an insurer is available to just about anyone. This is because many insurance companies lists of authorized groups are fairly large. An insurer will usually add a group once they get enough requests from either their policyholders or agents. There are many common groups that are available for a group discount. There are credit unions, alumni associations, dentists as well as a chamber of commerce and any other group which has many member to make it worthwhile to the insurer to add the group. This is why it is possible for just about anyone to obtain a group discount because one exists for just about everyone.

A group discount is a great way for an insurer to market their products to a broad range of people. This is because along with the benefits of an insurance policy an insurer can tout the various discounts that make their company competitive or cheaper than another. Many times an insurance company will rely on their own representative to market their products. They will also use insurance agents whether they are a captive agent or an independent agent. It is worthwhile for an insurer to offer a group discount because it is a good way to provide savings on a policy while at the same time using the discount in their advertising.

A group discount is a great way for an insured to save money on their insurance premium. A group discount is usually a discount that is added automatically to an insurance policy. The only decision to make is choose the type of group that a person belongs that will provide the biggest discount.

Also known as residual income, passive income is money you earn or receive long after your initial work is done.

Let’s look at a few examples of passive or residual income.

Royalties Many authors will argue the point that promotion is hard work and I agree, but the fact remains that royalties are a form of passive income. This is due to the fact that the bulk of the work is done in the writing for an author and in the actual publication on the part of the publisher. Once this is accomplished and initial investments are recouped, the rest is considered passive income, especially on books that remain in print for a long time or those which are constantly being reprinted. Another form of passive income is royalties from movie rights and merchandise which are generated as a result of the book.

While we’re talking about royalties, thinkgas, oil, and other natural resources which produce long-term income as the result of a single well. Yes there is maintenance involved in these types of ventures. But, ask the person whose only job was to agree for someone to drill on his land how much work he does to receive that check every month! None, nada, he doesn’t lift a finger Passive Income.

Renewal Commissions is another form of passive income known mostly in the insurance or investment industry. The initial sale is made and every month or year that the policy is renewed the sales person receives a commission. Granted there may be follow-up or service work, but that is a minor thing compared to the income one sale can generate.

Affiliate sales are a form of passive income. I’ll devote a whole article to this subject, but a simple example of affiliate sales is this: You sign up for the service, receive a code to past on your website or blog and every time someone accesses that code to purchase a product, you get a percentage of the sale. For authors, reviewers or book lovers, Amazon has a wonderful affiliate program.

Google Adsense is another form of passive income. You place ads on your blog or website, every time someone clicks a link and follows through, you receive an income. Google is good about ads that actually relate to your blog or website. For instance, if you’re a writer, the ads will most likely be for writer or publisher services.

Now, many of these programs give you an “account” and your account must reach a certain amount before you actually receive any money, but this is still a form of passive income.

Another form of passive income I can think of is articles. Once the original article is written and sold and the time has passed for your rights to be returned, there are sites like this one where you can post your articles for a “per click” income. Again, some places wait until your income is at a certain level before you actually receive that money, but the funds are still yours. There are other article sites where you can post your articles, name your price and they share with you the money you generate.

There is no doubt that the recession has had a devastating affect on entrepreneurial endeavour worldwide. But there are always two ways to look at a recession: it is either the down curve of at the end of a boom, or it is the beginning of the up curve of the next boom. Entrepreneurs all around the world are waiting eagerly for the latter definition to become the more popular. Knowing when is the right time to jump back into the swamp is the key to avoiding the alligators. Even when there are signs of a recovery on the way, there is always the fear of the dreaded “double dip”. This happens when the economy is just not strong enough to sustain continued upward thrust and is usually the case when large numbers of people have been made redundant or lost their businesses. This is certainly the case at the moment. There are horrendous numbers being put about in the UK for instance, with the possibility of three million on the dole by next year. This is bound to have an additional impact on the economy. Entrepreneurs looking for their break will probably sit things out until employment numbers start to rise again.

But it’s not as simple as that. Wait too long and you may lose the best opportunity of your life. The key to being a successful entrepreneur is being ahead of the crowd. The guy who started buying gold six months ago is now laughing all the way to the bank. Whoever buys in now is taking more of a risk because the curve is already at record levels. This does not mean it can’t go higher, just that the risk level goes up. While this might be the perfect time to buy property as sector prices begin to creep up, there is nothing to say that the current upswing is not down to some over optimistic purchases from cash rich buyers. The real increases won’t begin until first time buyers are back on the scene and with mortgages much harder to come by now, that may not be for some time. The average deposit required to buy a house in the UK now is 35,000. There aren’t many youngsters with that sort of money under the mattress.

But smart people will be on the lookout for opportunities. For instance, governments all around the world will be busy putting together incentives for employers to take on more staff. This might be the perfect time to set up a small manufacturing base with a competitive labour cost. Most high streets will be showing empty shops for lease or buy. Locations which a few years ago might have been deemed as “dead mens’ shoes” are now free and waiting for occupation. But the very fact that there are so many gives pause for thought. Is this the best time to step in and sign some low cost leasing arrangement with a desperate landlord, or will you be landing yourself with some unnecessary overheads for a couple of years before the retail sector really picks up steam again?

The impact of the recession on entrepreneurs has been to give a dent to their confidence. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It was overconfidence which got us into this mess in the first place. Perhaps the next generation of business leaders will build in more realistic risk into their forecasts. Whatever the future holds, the prize as always will go to the most innovative, the most courageous and the most creative of entrepreneurs. The recession will not deprive men and women of ideas, the opposite is true. Necessity is the mother of invention. We can look forward to some brilliant developments in consumer products which in themselves will help to pull us up out of the pit. The world needs good entrepreneurs, with the daring to do what others fear, now more than ever.

Almost everywhere you look these days you can find advertisements for payday loans. And like other financial products, you can usually conclude that the more a product is advertised, the higher the profit margins it provides for the seller.

Pay Day loans come under the guise of a variety of titles including; cash advance loans, check advance loans, quick cash loans, post-dated check loans, and deferred deposit check loans. But no matter what they call it, the product is always essentially the same.

What are Payday Loans

Payday loans are small quantity, short-term, high interest loans. The way they typically work is that the borrower writes a personal check payable to the lender for the amount they desire to borrow plus the “loan fee”. The lending company then gives the borrower the amount of the check minus the “loan fee” in cash. So for example, if you wanted to borrow $100 for two weeks you might write a check for $115 and receive the $100 in cash.

They are targeted towards those individuals who need a small amount of cash for a short period of time. In theory they might be helpful for a family who, for example had an unexpected expense arise this month that they had to pay for right away. This left the family short on funds to keep up with their regular obligations like rent and food. This is the rationale behind the loans and it is the opportunity for individuals to get access to quick cash without the need for extensive credit checks that make the loan, on face value, seem worthwhile.

Why They Are Bad

The problem is in the details. Returning to the example of the person who borrowed $100, let us now imagine that the two weeks are up. And at the end of the term of the loan, the borrower must either “redeem” the check by paying the lender the $115 in cash or roll over the loan for another two weeks. This adds another $15 dollars to the payment meaning that come two weeks later $130 is owed. For those unfamiliar with the lending industry, this may not seem like a bad deal. After all, the lender is taking quite a bit of risk, seeing as he hasn’t even checked your credit, right?

Well, not exactly. The most insidious part of Payday loans is the amount of interest they bear. A yearly home mortgage may be in the vicinity of 8%, while a Credit Card, which by most accounts verges on usury, charges in the vicinity of 30 – 40% in interest annually. But comparing that to a Payday loan, which has an annual interest rate of 400 – 700%, is startling.

A Payday loan is one of the most expensive legal lines of credit that a person can procure. On top of that, unlike a regular loan where if you default you can be hassled for late payments, a Pay Day loan company can by contrast simply deposit the check. When it bounces you will have committed a prosecutable crime that the Payday Company can use as leverage to get you to pay at any cost. In effect, they can threaten you, almost immediately, with criminal proceedings in a way that regular creditors cannot.

So why do Payday loans exist. The cynic would simply say that they exist because the lending industry is a powerful lobby that lines the campaigns of many politicians. And while that is certainly true in part, it is also important to consider that despite their shortcomings, Payday loans may fill a useful niche for a very small portion of the population.

Making the Best of Payday Loans

Those individuals who cannot attain credit cards, have no friends or family to loan then money, and cannot procure an advance from their employer, often have nowhere to turn for a bit of extra cash to fill a very short term need. Under these circumstances, and only under these circumstances, can one find an acceptable use for Payday loans. In these types of situations, it is important for borrowers to carefully examine the conditions of the loan. For while it is essential that borrowers avoid the “rollover-trap” the reality is that some will not. And if you fall into that unfortunate few, it is important that you know the contract you have signed.

Of particular note in the contract is:

-What recourse the lender will take if you fail to pay on time

-What the APR of the loan you are taking is

-What the rollover policy of the lending agency is and,

-What their history with pursuing criminal actions against those that default is

While knowing these things and comparing them with their competitors will not convert the decision to take a Payday loan into a pleasant one, it will help limit the damage of those loans and hopefully eliminate the possibility of you slipping into the rollover-trap that captures so many Payday Loan users.

When you’ve never purchased life insurance before, it seems as if the possibilities are mind-boggling. There are several approaches you can take. By asking yourself the following questions, you’ll be on the right track to purchasing your first life insurance policy.

What do you need life insurance for?
There are several reasons people choose to purchase life insurance; some people simply want funeral costs covered, while others want to make sure that their beneficiaries will be well taken care of for the rest of their lives. The reason behind your decision will help narrow your choices between the many policies that are available to you.

What are you willing to pay for the type of coverage you’ve chosen?
After you’ve decided why you need life insurance, it’s time to get quotes. Premiums vary greatly between companies, and they’ve all got different requirements on each policy. Look over your finances and be brutally honest with yourself about what you can afford and if the end result will be worth the life insurance you’re about to pay for.

Is this the best company to work with?
When you’ve found a quote that fits within your budget, you’ll need to make sure that the company is reputable and that you won’t end up paying your premiums for nothing. Asking friends and family if they’ve had successful dealings with a company is fine, but you’ll need to be more thorough. The Better Business Bureau and your state’s Insurance Commission are invaluable resources - they’ll have records on each company’s reputations.

Once you’ve found a policy - and a company - that fits your needs, you’re all set to purchase your first life insurance policy. You’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your beneficiary(ies) will be taken care of, just as you intended.

As I write this, it’s early December, and try as I might, I can’t remember what my new year’s resolution was last time around. One thing I can say with near hundred percent certainty is that whatever it was, I failed to keep it. Maybe you’re the same. Maybe you resolved to quit smoking, lose weight, or read more. We all make promises with ourselves, then fail to keep those promises. Worst of all, those promises might be exactly what we need most. Consider this: When was the last time you backed up your computer files? Last month? Last year? Never?

Let’s make a new year’s resolution together, you and I. Let’s promise to back up our computers. It’s important, I promise. Just yesterday the automatic backup feature in MS Word saved me about an hour’s work when my computer froze up. Given that I haven’t backed up my computer in almost a year, I can’t even imagine how much data I’d lose if I suffered a power surge or hard drive failure. It can happen to the best of us, and often does. Even high end hard drive manufacturers report an average failure rate of between five and eight per thousand every year. That may not sound like much, but let’s face it, somebody has to be those five to eight people. Feeling lucky? There are about 185 million household PCs in the U.S., according to Computer Industry Almanac, so that means about 150,000 hard drives fail each year. But even if your drive stays intact, about a tenth of all computers suffer minor data loss in any given year. A power surge, the magnets in your home stereo speakers, or even an accidental nudge can affect data storage. According to a report from the ONTRACK data recovery service, data loss can be caused by natural disasters (3% of cases), computer viruses (7%), software problems (14%), and plain old user error (a whopping 32%). Now, I’m sure you never hit a wrong keyboard button, but do you have a button on your computer that prevents a bolt of lightning? I didn’t think so.

WHEREAS our data is important, and disaster can befall even the most noble and undeserving of us, BE IT RESOLVED that you and I shall back up our computer files forthwith.

Amen, brothers and sisters. Now, where and how do we start?

STEP ONE: Choosing Favorites

Not all files are important enough to preserve for posterity. The most critical files on a computer are its operating system files. If you’re a good little consumer, you bought the operating system and kept those CDs handy and secure from data loss. If you’re not, then remind yourself to go stand in the corner later. The drones at Microsoft did not work for years just to watch you steal their work. It’s people like you that keep Bill Gates from buying his second planet. Now that you’ve been suitably chastised, either go buy a legal copy of the operating system, or include the necessary files in your “must back up” list.

The same principle goes for software applications. Maybe you bought an ad and spyware blocker you really like, but the company that coded it has since gone out of business (perhaps because other consumers weren’t as scrupulous as you). If so, include the files you need to run the app in your must list.
Now it’s time to look at the remaining files on your computer and prioritize. If you’re not a digital packrat like me, it may be possible to save everything. If so, congratulations. I don’t have ten gigabytes of portable media at my disposal, so when I back up my computer, I’ll be leaving a few gigs of MP3s and questionable Windows Media files at risk. One of the first things I will save is the folder I use to save my writing assignments, because that data represents money in my pocket. I’ll back up my email address book, plus my digital photography and fiction writing efforts. I can live without “Milkshake” (what was I thinking?), but the guitar piece my friend recorded and sent to me is going on the list. Your results may vary.

STEP TWO: In Which I Tell You Where You Can Put It

That’s right, this is the section in which I’ll tell you where to store your data. It’s not a good idea to put backup files on another drive on the same computer. That defeats the whole purpose. Duplicating your files on another computer in the same LAN is almost as risky, because computer viruses can spread as fast as an imaginary Anna Kournikova JPEG. You need to find a portable storage medium that can hold all the files on your must list. Your options include floppy diskettes, portable hard drives, optical drives, tape drives, and remote servers. We’ll look at each in turn.

Hard diskettes, the old familiar 3.5” squares, hold up to 1.44 megabytes of data. They’re cheap, but 1.44 MB is less than two percent of the ten gigs of data on my hard drive. Even if each of those files were smaller than 1.44 MB (and each weren’t), I’m not keen on the idea of buying, labeling, and storing fifty diskettes. Next idea, please.

Most computer experts rely on removable hard drives for memory backups. The most popular of these drives are the Zip drive from Iomega and the ORB drive from Castlewood. They’re relatively inexpensive and hold up to two gigs of data. Basically, you’ll save your data on a Zip disk, then transfer it from the disk to the portable drive. The catch is that removable drives fail about as often as regular hard drives. They may even be more susceptible to damage from dust and rough handling. A sub-option here is to use a permanent hard drive as a removable drive. At up to two hundred gigs, conventional hard drives are bigger than removable drives, and prices have dropped enough in recent years to make this idea practical. Whatever kind of hard drive you decide to use, make sure to keep it isolated from dust, magnetic charges, and static electricity.

Optical drives use a laser to store information, rather than a magnet. Even if you’re not a tech junkie, that’s probably enough information to give you a clearer idea what we’re talking about: namely, CDs and DVDs. Less common are EO (erasable optical) and WORM (write once, read many) media; they’re less common because they cost over $1000 per drive. CDs, on the other hand, cost less than a buck and can hold up to 650 megabytes. DVDs hold up to five gigs and cost about fifteen dollars apiece. Most computers nowadays have either a CD or DVD writer (or both), but write times can be slow. My CD writer, for example, works best on the 300 kilobyte per second setting—if then. I’ll be using the remote server option. At $250 and up, tape drives are more expensive and slower than hard drives or optical media, hence less common, but also extremely reliable.

Remote servers are third party companies that store data online for a fee. This is a great option for broadband Internet users, especially people like me who don’t own a reliable data writer. SkyDesk runs http://www.Backup.com , Back-Up Solutions maintains http://www.BackUpHelp.com , and Iomega hosts iServer ( http://www.Iomega.com ). XDrive ( http://www.xdrive.com ), once a free service, now charges ten bucks a month for up to five gigs of storage. Promotions and other rates change, so it’s a good idea to shop around before selecting a remote storage service.

STEP THREE: Git ’er Done

Now it’s time to put the files you want to save on the storage medium you’ve chosen. There are several ways to do this. Your CD writer, for example, may come with proprietary disk writing software. That application may even include a backup option. If it does, and you’re more familiar with that software than Windows features, then that’s the way to go. Otherwise, backup is still relatively easy on all MS operating systems since Windows 98. Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows XP Professional include a built-in Backup utility. To run it, just click on Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then Backup. How easy was that? If you’re using the XP Home edition, you may need to add the utility manually. If so, insert the Windows XP CD into your disk drive and wait for the “Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP” screen. (You may need to double-click the CD icon in My Computer.) Then click on Perform Additional Tasks and Browse This CD. In Windows Explorer, double-click the ValueAdd folder, then Msft, then Ntbackup. Double-clicking on Ntbackup.msi will install the utility. Once it’s installed, you can also run the program by clicking Start and Run, then typing msbackup.exe (Windows 98 and Windows ME) or ntbackup.exe (Windows XP) in the Open field. Click OK, and you’ll be off to the races.

Incidentally, the Windows XP Backup utility also includes a bonus application called the Automated Recovery Wizard. This creates a bootable floppy that initiates backup if the hard drive must be replaced. Other options for “disaster recovery” include BackUp MyPC from Stomp ( http://www.StompInc.com , $79) and Norton Ghost 9.0 from Symantec ( http://www.Norton.com , $69.95). Ghost actually allows users to duplicate the contents of their computer over the Internet. Both have earned stellar reviews from top PC magazines.

Don’t let another month go by without protecting the files you value most. My girlfriend justifies her messy car by saying she “lives out of it.” Well, I live out of my computer. It’s not just my office; it’s the home of cherished memories in the form of pictures, MP3, and other data files. I’m resolved to keep it safe.

Life Insurance is a legal contract between you and a life insurance company with the purpose of providing an income to spouse, children or other beneficiaries in the event of your death.

There are two different categories of Life Insurance. Term Insurance is designed to provide death benefits for a specific time period. It is set up to pay a death benefit if a person should die in this specific time period. The most common term for life insurance is 20 years. Term Insurance has many benefits: it is relatively inexpensive to purchase initially. The reason for this is because your only paying for this death benefit if the death occurs during this specific time period or “term”. Term life insurance is great for young couples just starting a family. It is affordable and offers high levels of coverage.

The drawback to Term life insurance is that when you initially start out, your payments are low and coverage is high, but at the end of your 20 year term you decide you still need coverage and the cost is much higher because your are now 20 years older. If you are in good health your premiums will be higher. If you have had any medical conditions in the past 20 years, you may not even qualify for life insurance. Some term life insurance policies do offer a provision that will allow a person to convert their term into permanent life insurance in the first few years of the policy.

The other type of life insurance is Permanent Life Insurance. Permanent is just that-as long as the premiums are paid, the death benefits are paid. One of the benefits a person receives from Permanent Life Insurance is that it has a cash value. That means you can borrow money on it. There is no need for a credit check on this type of loan. Basically the life insurance is the collateral.

The drawback to Permanent life insurance is cost. It is much higher premium than that of a term policy.