Life in the Fast Lane: Surety Bonds and Other Unlikely Requirements to Running a Used Car Dealership

It’s been three years since the recession began and times are still tough for many. Signs of a recovery, however, are starting to abound and President Obama in his 2011 State of the Union speech zoned in on reviving the economy, helping American businesses, and encouraging American innovation as his top priorities. One industry that’s experiencing healthy sales where the future looks optimistic is used car dealerships.

From February 2010 to February 2011, the used car market saw 12% growth and if the pace sustains the number of used car sold by the end of 2011 could hit 39.8 million. If you’ve always wanted your name plastered on license plate frames and the ability to drive any car off the showroom floor, a used car dealership is full of potential and people need cars in good economic times as well as bad. But how do you start a used car dealership?

Follow these six steps:

1. Begin with scouting locations in your area. It is important to find a commercially zoned lot that is flat. This will help make paving and construction of your dealership easier.
2. Next, obtain a dealer’s license from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. In most states, you are required to pass a written test, complete an application, and pay a fee before receiving a dealer’s license.
3. Acquire a used car dealer bond to meet state surety requirements and protect your customers from lemons and used cars with hidden problems.
4. Head to wholesale car auctions to supply your inventory. Also, determine whether you will buy and trade used cars from community members.
5. Find a bank to become the primary auto lender for your dealership.
6. Interview and hire part time mechanics and salesman to help you take the load of your shoulders.

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You’re Doing It Wrong: 6 Debt Repayment Mistakes You Are Probably Making

Getting into debt is easy, but paying it off can be extremely hard. It takes a considerable effort and a long-term commitment to working your way out towards being debt free. There are so many common pitfalls most people fall into when it comes to repaying debt that sometimes you don’t even realize you are making a mistake.

According to CCS, cited by globalnews.ca, 66% of Canadians believe that they know how to handle their financial situation. However, there is still a big percentage that is walking blindly in this area.

To help you reach your goal of being debt-free, here are six typical mistakes most people make when paying off their debt.

1.      You Fall in the Trap of Debt Consolidation

Let’s face it – it’s tempting to go to a debt consolidation company. But is it wise? Not so much. Usually because their goal is to take your money and run away. If that is not the case, though, they will most likely cost you more than your initial debt and will additionally damage your credit rating as well. A better option is to communicate directly with the creditor.

2.      Not Having a Strategy In Place

If you put it on paper, then it’s going to be harder to ignore or forget. It is important to have a clear goal and a plan of action. If you do not approach this matter in the right way, it will take a long time to repay that debt. And, considering that the average Canadian family has a debt of around $100,000, this is a sign that people aren’t looking at numbers very carefully.

3. Not Opening the Envelopes from Creditors

One of the most common mistakes most people make is avoiding opening the envelopes from creditors. Not seeing your bills won’t make the debt go away – it will only prolong your distress. If you actually see the numbers, then you might be more motivated to pay.

Even more, you should be on the lookout for mistakes made by the company. You do not want to have to pay more than needed. If this is the case, let the creditor know right away. Also, every three months you should check your credit report to make sure everything is fine there as well.

3.      You Spend Too Much

Do you know what the golden rule of paying back debt is? Saving money.And if you spend too much, you’ll definitely not manage to save any. To avoid this, create a monthly budget that is neither too rigid, nor too relaxed so that you can stick to it. Of course, sometimes spending a bit more on some things won’t throw your budget off the wagon, but if you constantly adopt a lifestyle that means living beyond your means, then you are on the path to failure.

4.      You Pay the Minimum

And it’s understandable why you choose to do so – it’s a good way to keep yourself on the surface while not spending so much. But is it a good idea? If you don’t want to pay huge amounts of money in interest over the years and don’t want to pay until you’re 90, then no, it’s not such a good idea. The goal is to finish repaying your debt as fast as possible, and the only way to do that is by paying as much as possible every month.

5.      You Keep Adding Debt

The safest way to make even your grandchildren pay for this debt is to add more debt.To prevent that, you must put a stop on whatever purchases with credit loans or credit cards you have in mind. The classic mistake is to pay thedebt by making another debt, and this will ultimately lead you toward outrageous sums in interest.

It is known that Canadians have become a bit too comfortable with debt, either because of necessity or because of habit. According to one study, 35% of Canadians list “impulse shopping” as the number one reason for consumer debt.

Do you have a plan for repaying your debt? Have you identified yourself with any of the situations above?

Author Bio: Ben Rogers, Web Content Manager for Assiniboine Credit Union.

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Things You Need To Take Care Of After A Loved One Passes

There are no words that can accurately describe the pain and sadness that comes from dealing with the death of a loved one. As anyone who has had to deal with this experience can tell you, failing to plan ahead can take a sad situation and turn it into something that is even more painful.

Discussing end-of-life plans with your family members can be extremely difficult. No one wants to think about the death of the people they love or about their own death. However, having this difficult discussion now can make the immediate aftermath of the death of a person you love more tranquil and less turbulent. This is especially the case when we are talking about dealing with a loved one who is terminally ill. Once you have this challenging discussion and once end-of-life arrangements have been made, the rest of the time can be spent focusing on caring for the terminally ill individual.

Things to Take Care of Immediately after a Loved one’s Death

The first thing that you will need to take care of is getting the deceased individual legally pronounced dead. If there is a doctor that is present at the time of death, he or she can do this. If not, another professional must be contacted. In the case of individuals who are under hospice care, a hospice nurse can declare the individual legally dead and also arrange transportation of the body. If the individual dies at home and they are not under hospice care, then you will need to dial 911. Having a do not resuscitate document prepared will allow the paramedics to simply take the deceased individual to a doctor and have the individual declared dead.

Additionally, arrangements should be made for transportation of the body. The mortuary or crematorium that you choose to prepare the body for burial is required by law to provide you with an exact price over the phone. From there, the deceased individual’s doctor should be contacted. Arrangements should be made to contact friends and family. Many times, it is beneficial to delegate this responsibility to another responsible and caring individual.

Take steps to look after any dependents that the deceased individual has. This would include taking steps to look after pets that might be in the home. Also, contact the deceased individual’s employer. Ask about any death benefits that the individual might have had. Also, make arrangements to collect any pay that is due the individual.

Steps to Take within the First Few Days after the Death of a Loved One

Make plans to arrange for the burial or cremation of the deceased loved one. This would include preparing an obituary. Arrange for individuals to care for the deceased individual’s home, get their mail, and answer any phone calls that they might have.

After the funeral, the focus will have to change to legal matters associated with your loved one’s death. This would include collecting financial documents, death certificates, and any insurance documents. It is a good idea to hire a probate lawyer so that they can review any wills or estate plans that were made.

If it is clear that your loved one died because of the negligence of another individual or because of malpractice on the part of a doctor, this would also be a good time to contact a Wrongful Death Lawyer Louisville. These lawyers will kindly work with you and help you make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve. Their assistance can be invaluable when dealing with the wrongful death of a loved one.

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Five Tips For Saving Money While Dealing With Legal Fees

Dealing with legal problems can be stressful in a lot of different ways, but many people who need to hire a San Diego lawyer, Bradley Corbett realize that they need to save money in order to pay their legal fees. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to save the money necessary to pay for a great North County DUI lawyer. These are five of the best.

1. Sell or rent out your car.

Your car probably costs you several hundred dollars a month between your car payment and gas. By selling it, you'll get rid of the expense and have extra money leftover. If you can't use public transportation or get rides from friends for a little while, consider using an online car service to rent your car when you're not using it.

2. Cut out your cable, cell phone, and other bills for stuff you don't really need.

You can still watch your favorite shows over your internet connection, and when you decide to turn the cable back on in a few months, you may qualify for lower, “new customer” rates. Swap out your cell phone for a pre-paid plan. You'll just pay for the time you use, and you'll save a lot of money.

3. Cut back on your utility bills.

There are plenty of ways to cut back on energy use. People adjust their thermostat, turn off lights, and even hang their clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. If your water bill is high, cut back on watering your lawn and take shorter showers. These are small changes, but they can save you hundreds of dollars a month.

4. Refinance your debt.

If you have high interest debt such as credit cards and payday loans, look into ways to pay it off with a lower interest loan. Depending on your credit score and the amount of debt you have, you may only be able to refinance a small part of it, but every little bit will help.

5. Get an extra job or start a small business.

Even if you work full-time, it might make sense to look for a job that allows you to pick up an extra shift or two late at night or on the weekends. If that doesn't fit with your schedule, think about work you can do from home such as babysitting or offering up your skills as part of a handyman service.

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