With the world economy picking up it seems that the house market is once again on the move, however with the amount of mortgages now being approved rising an important question to ask is whether buying a home, rather than renting, really is beneficial. In this blog article we take a look at the pros and cons of each and explain why buying may not always be preferable to renting.

Security – Buying Wins

In terms of security many presume buying a home to be the outright winner, however if ever learnt anything from the past few years it’s that having mortgage doesn’t always provide the security that many had hoped for. In fact, until a mortgage is completely paid off it can still be seen as a liability, rather than a comfort blanket of security. Renting on the other hand is relatively neutral. Consumers are protected by tenant laws, however the long term future of having a home as an investment is obviously missing.

Expense – Renting Wins

As far as renting or buying goes both can be comparable in terms of the rent versus the mortgage on the same size property. However this is only the case for as long as the housing markets remains stable, as has been seen once interest rates raise, so too do mortgage repayments. What’s more homeowners have far more responsibilities when it comes to the upkeep of their home, as well as paying for the relevant insurances to protect their investment. All things considered this then means that renting is far cheaper than buying.

Personalising your home – Buying wins, mostly

When renting the majority of landlords will have stringent rules in place that most likely prohibit tenants from decorating at all. Quite obviously for this reason buying wins in this category.

Freedom – Renting wins

Having a mortgage is a reposnibisilty. It mean that moving is no longer a matter of handing in your notice and most certainly for the first few years you’ll have to stay in the same place merely to begin repayments on your actual home, rather than just paying the interest. For this reason renting wins hands down in terms of the freedom it affords tenants.

Cohabitating when something goes wrong – Renting wins

Whether you’re living with a friend or a partner it’s never nice when things go wrong and you either break up or fall out. If you have a mortgage however and this happens then you’re going to be looking at far more complex a situation than if you were renting.

So in conclusion, there really is no clear winner between renting and buying a home. Whilst on the one hand renting provides freedom as compared to an intimidating liability, on the other hand becoming a home owner does provide security in the future. It is then very much a matter of personal circumstances and what may be best for one may certainly not be best for another. One thing is for certain however if we’re to avoid the mistakes of the past, consumers and financial institutions may need to think more carefully before jumping into an agreement that practically lasts a lifetime.

With the festivities approaching once more now is the time to plan ahead for the New Year celebrations. In this blog article we’ve taken look at some of the best cities in the world that you may want to visit for New Year, and some of them may be closer than you think.

New York, America

With a party list such as this it seems only right that we kick off with the Big Apple. Spending New Year’s Eve can see you part of the biggest party in the world right in Times Square. Here you’ll experience the famous ball atop One Times Square (a tradition that actually dates all the way back to 1906). As part of this huge party you’ll be one of a million revellers all welcoming in the New Year in in style.

Las Vegas, America

No party city list would be complete without the world’s party capital: Las Vegas. This region is known for providing a breath taking experience even on an average Monday, so your can only imagine the sights, parties and entrainment on the biggest night of the year.

If you opt to visit Vegas on New Year’s Eve this year you can look forward to celebrating from the rooftops watching staggering firework displays; eating dinner in the Top of the World restaurant and bar hopping from star studded party to star studded party throughout the night.

London, England

London is one of the liveliest cities in the world right around the clock and throughout the year so it’s then little wonder that they put on a rather impressive show for New Year’s Eve. Particular sights to be seen on the night include a three hour long firework display, a midnight countdown to the chimes of the world famous Big Ben, the Thames Dinner Cruise, the view from the London eye and the sing along that can be heard along the Westminster embankment.

Reykjavik, Iceland

As far as New Year’s Eve destinations go we’re hedging our bets that you may not have thought of Iceland as a contender. However, Reykjavik is an area of city wide celebrations and some of the most beautiful fireworks in the world (all be it taking place in a far colder region). For the very best views (and plenty of warmth) be sure to dine in style at the Perlman.

If you manage to make it all the way through to 5am then you can join the locals who queue for their hang over curing hot dogs, or head on straight to the hot springs for a reinvigorating soak.

Valparaíso, Chile

Valparaíso, Chile puts on the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Latin America. This event is home to one of the biggest firework displays in the world (which spans a pretty amazing 20 miles!). This is then followed by a dance party of thousands that ends only when the sun rises. This party is a little on the exclusive side however and tickets will set you back a cool $1,000 each.

As we quickly approach that time of year again, with many of us looking forward with anticipation and with others dreading the customary festivities, mountains of cooking and washing up it seems a poignant moment to consider what Christmas really means.
We’re not really talking about the debate of the older generation against consumerism, for we long since know that for many, Christmas seems to revolve around the gift list making, shopping, wrapping and giving, but beyond this what is the real meaning behind Christmas?

For Christians

Of course for Christians Christmas is a time for celebration and for reflection. It celebrates the birth of Jesus and allows Christmas to ponder the achievements and sacrifices of Jesus that were yet to come.

However it is a misnomer to say that other religions don’t appreciate the Christmas holidays and whilst they don’t celebrate it, they may have other connections to it. Take for example Islam; Muslims consider Jesus to have been a Holy Prophet and thus hold him in high regard. However they have but one God and one focus, unlike Christians who worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

For children

Whilst I’d like this to be a considered blog, we must be honest and say for the part the majority of children will see Christmas as all about presents! Well, perhaps not ALL about presents, we may have room for a bit of chocolate too! For the adults and relatives of these children however Christmas is very much a time about cherishing their children.

For Family, for friends, for loved ones

Christmas is very much a time about family, friends and loved ones. Regardless of faith it is a time of getting together, eating, drinking, being merry and celebrating one another’s company.

They’ll be the customary Christmas cracker jokes, the huge dinners, the gathering around the TV and for many the customary Christmas day argument.

For sorrow

Unfortunately in all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas many of us fail to see that for many, Christmas is also a time for sorrow. For those who have lost loved ones; for those who may be homeless; for those who may be poor or for those who may otherwise have year round problems emphasised at this special time of year.

It seems that as consumerism doesn’t look set to unleash its grip on what were previously religious celebrations, that there is still plenty about Christmas that means it is far from just a commercial exercise.

Christmas is a time to see and appreciate family and friends that we otherwise rarely see; it’s a time to eat, drink and be merry; it’s a time that remains a celebration of Jesus and his birth.

In short the meaning of Christmas is whatever it means to you, your family, and your friends and however you define it we wish you a merry time with your loved ones!

Right now it seems that not a lot else is being talked about in the world of politics asides from whether Jed Bush is running for the presidency. This hotly debated subject was give further steam when previous president George Bush was quoted as saying about his younger brother’s chances…

                              “Look, I’ll still like him [Bill Clinton], if Jeb — when Jeb beats Hillary,”

Although he seemed to back track only minutes later to a slightly less set opinion as to whether he’d run or not…

“If Jeb runs, I think, yeah — Look, I don’t know if he’s going to run, I really don’t. I hope he does because he’d be a great president,”

So the question is whether George Bush has let the cat well and truly about of the bag; after all, many would think that the two brother’s close relationship would see them knowing one another, and one another’s intentions about decisions such as this, pretty well. So what’s the official word? Well Republican strategists and fundraiser’s official line is that of a quietly confident one in Jed, indeed running for presidency. It is said that they are whispering about awaiting official confirmation before hedging their bets on alternative candidates.

We then have to look closer to Mr Bush’s official inner circle, as over the past few months they’ve been going to seemingly great lengths to put paid to any rumours that have continued to swirl around Jed’s presidency hopes. However it is these rumours that just won’t pass, and with previous White House cabinet members lending even further weight to the rumours, it’s little wonder why. One such further example is that of Jim Nicholson, who served George Bush; Nicholson is quoted as saying:

“I think the chances are better than 50-50 that he runs, and that is based on some conversations I’ve had with members of the Bush family.”

In any event beyond all of the speculation, an interesting question to pose remains that of whether Mr Bush would be a good choice if he were to run. In answer to this it must be said that he most certainly has the credentials for a strong contender; starting with his long standing membership within the Republican party, although his lines and ideas for policies that surround immigration law and educational standards have been known for stirring strong criticisms from many conservatives.

Despite this however it is also no secret that Jed Bush has previously voiced his concerns over the effect a possible presidency run would have on his family, specifically stating that whilst the issue hasn’t been mentioned at family parties, it has felt like “the 800-pound gorilla in the room”.

So then, with all this speculation and counter speculation let’s end with the official statement from Jed himself (or at least his spokesperson):

“There is no organized effort to actively recruit support for a presidential campaign. He is seriously considering the race and will make a decision sometime after November.”

In recent years the car industry has changed dramatically. Where once electric cars were made out as somewhat of a fad, or something that would never achieve everyday use, today they are looking set to become one of the most influential and innovative consumer items of the 21st century. Now however more people are discovering hydrogen fuel cars, as this initial market for electric cars has led to an expansion in research development and alternatives to the traditional petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles.

The Electric Car… The basics

Most people understand the basics behind the standard electric car by now, but in case you’ve missed it, here’s a quick rundown.
An electric car carries a battery-powered selector motor. It does not feature, as standard cars do, combustion engines; instead it is simply charged, much like a mobile phone is. As such it is incredibly environmentally friendly, as it doesn’t produce any of the harmful pollution that typical petrol or diesel powered cars do.

The Hydrogen car… The basics

In comparison to an electric car, hydrogen powered cars can be considered, to some extent, as a form of electric car, indeed, its motor is powered by electricity. However what makes this different is where the electricity is sourced from. Rather than running a battery a hydrogen fuel car features a hydrogen fuel cell. This relatively small device uses hydrogen (which is the most prevalent element in the entire universe!), processes it and generates power that the engine can run off.

Hydrogen vs Electric cars: The Showdown

You’d now be forgiven for thinking that there’s very little if anything between electric and hydrogen powered cars. For a start however you may think that one or another may require more electricity, or more harmful a form of electricity generation than the other. Standard electric cars will receive power that comes from plants (which actually burn fossil fuels to produce the energy); whereas hydrogen cars receive power that has been created through electrolysis (where electricity is passed through water). In both instances then there are elements of harmfulness to the environment.

Hydrogen vs Electric cars: A Question of Performance

So if both can be as equally as good or bad for the environment, it then comes down to performance and this topic may well be somewhat of a nonstarter. This is because each vehicle manufacturer has differing skills at producing cars and whilst one may create a powerful car which is combined with aesthetics that wins awards, it’s not then necessary to say that the power is down to the electric or hydrogen format.

Electric and Hydrogen powered cars: The best of the best

The most effective way to get to grips with the electric and hydrogen car markets is to take a look at some of the leading models with each engine form.

The top three electric powered cars
1. Nissan Leaf
Price: $30,400 including Government plug-in grant
2. Smart ForTwo Electric
Price: $19,700 including Government plug-in grant
3. Renault Twizy
Price: from $9,995

The top three  hydrogen power cars
1. Toyota
Price: To be confirmed
2. Honda FCX
Price: Second hand prices (no longer available as new)
3. Hyundai ix35
Price: From $18,500

Since the first cases of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa from December 2013 and onwards it seems that worldwide panic has been slowly gaining pace. Yet this is a virus that has actually been around for decades; in fact it was discovered all the way back in 1976. Admittedly this outbreak has been the most severe during its history, but is the US government right to be concerned about Ebola? And if so, why and what could happen if numerous cases reached the US?

The Panic Effect

Part of the unreasonable response by the media can be put down to both the symptoms of the disease the fatality rates. The symptoms, which include internal bleeding, bleeding from orifices, severe stomach pain and seizures make for a collection that can be considered the most gruesome of all viruses. This is then coupled with an 88% fatality rate, which is amongst the highest of all viruses (although his specific outbreak has seen a lower fatality rate of 71%).
However, for the West the threat is relatively limited, although the media would lead us to believe that the line between being Ebola free and suffering an Ebola epidemic is a fine one, we must consider what it takes for this virus to travel from host to host.
First, it is only spreadable through direct bodily fluid contact. This means that it is not air borne, such as the common cold or flu. Instead an infected person’s saliva or blood must come into direct contact with another person, through an open cut, for example. Secondly it has a relatively short incubation period, which means that it comes to light quickly; this consequentially avoids a host spreading it around for a long period without realising.

So, why is the US government worried about Ebola?

In short, whilst many are concerned about the spread of Ebola in the US the probability of a serious outbreak is limited. This belief and panic may be quite understandable however, after all the US President, Barack Obama himself has spoken of the importance of tackling the virus and how we must, as a world, pull together to overcome it.
The reasons behind this however are quite logical. Controlling Ebola at source is far less expensive than controlling it in the US. What’s more, ensuring that West Africa begins to tackle the virus is vital both for the country itself and countries throughout the world who send aid and see free movement in and out of the country.

What would happen if numerous people reached the US with Ebola?

We’ve already encountered a few cases of Ebola in the US; the most worrying of which were most likely the two health workers who became infected after treating the first victim in the US, Thomas Eric Duncan (who subsequently died). However since this procedures for treating the disease have been significantly stepped up with better precautions being taken.
It must also be considered that the US has the leading healthcare systems in the world, although should numerous uninsured persons become infected, the cost to the US government would already be running into the millions.
In summary however there are far more harmful diseases that threaten the health of the US, such as obesity and the effect it has and will have on the US economy; and the increasing numbers of sufferers with HIV. Ebola, thankfully, remains a relatively distant threat.

You may well have heard about the rather unthankful act of the Buffalo-Area Mall over the most cherished holiday season in the US. This mall threatened stores with fines of up to $1,200 in total (or around $200 for every hour of thanksgiving night, from 6pm onwards, of shopping that they miss). This has, unfortunately for the mall, attracted national and worldwide attention, with many being pretty outraged at the mean act during what should be a time of thankfulness, love and forgiveness. So what drives the mall in wanting to get ahead of the Black Friday consumer purchase madness? And this also begs the question as to whether stores should be forced to open for thanksgiving at all.

Mall Fines…. Pretty common practice

You may or may not realise that fining stores for being closed during normal mall opening hours is pretty common practice. It stands to reason that a mall with closed shops may not make for the most attractive shopping destination, particularly as we consumers have more choice than ever. What’s more, many malls base their rent on each shops’ profit, and so if the shops are closed more often they’ll consequently receive less rent. As well as this the Buffalo-Area Mall that has recently been put under the media spot light is not, as you may think, the only mall to have put a Thanksgiving fine in place, with many malls opting for this tactic also.

Retails versus the importance of Thanksgiving

The world of retail is a competitive one. Season after season shops go head to head with cut price sales and fresh marketing tactics. This applies equally to malls, with each competing to feature the best shops around. Indeed the world of retail is somewhat of a cut throat industry, but how does this sit with the holiday season?
Well we all know that retail is an antisocial job; with many required to work late and over the weekends, as well as during the holiday season, such as Christmas and New Year. However the question is that given the importance of thanksgiving whether this holiday season should be any different?

Competing with the big boys

Another reason behind malls getting a head start on the Black Friday rush is that they really need another way of competing with online retailers. In recent years the rate of mall closures has increased and for those who remain they must also keep up with retailers such as Walmart, Target and Kmart, all of whom open on Thanksgiving night.

When all is said and done the retail industry will always meet demand. So in taking a look at the shopping figures for thanksgiving night we can clearly see that opening makes good, solid business sense. With many of us making use of this it then seems that this pattern of forced openings may look set to grow in the future, whether it is morally right or a choice that will be popular with retail workers is another matter altogether!

Don’t you just hate Black Friday? For those of us for who Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year, with quality time spent with loved ones, the madness of Black Friday is a real downer. OK, you might be able to pick up a few bargains, save a few dollars, but is it all worth it in the end? The mad frantic chaos, the hours wasted standing in line shivering in the cold, the disappointment when you discover those door buster bargains are all sold out, all for what? If you are looking for some good reasons to give Black Friday a miss this year, check these out.

If it looks too good to be true…

That TV for under $100 dollars is a great deal no doubt, it certainly looks so in the advertisements. But what the ads don’t tell you is how many of them are available at that price. The chances are that after you have stood in line for hours they will be sold out. But never mind, there are plenty of other bargains around. As far as the store is concerned they have got you inside, and they know that you will spend your money on things you don’t really need and that you wouldn’t normally buy; you are trapped like a fly in a spider’s web.

There is no such thing as a free lunch…

Are those bargains all what they seem? Are all those dollars off real? There are many ways of cooking the books to make bargains look what they are really not. If you track prices you are likely to discover that many of the bargains have been available at lower prices at some other time, if not in the store then online. Do you really believe in the great giveaway? At the end of the day there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Money is burning a hole in your pocket…

In other words you will spend too much money on stuff you don’t need or want. It’s inevitable; we are hard wired to do it. Let’s be honest, we find those bargains, or so-called bargains, irresistible. Rather that work out how much we are spending, we dwell on how much we are saving. We spend $100 on items that the store claims should have cost $200 and, rather than thinking we have spent $100, we convince ourselves that we are $100 better off.

Black Friday goes digital…

Not surprisingly big online retailers want their share of the Black Friday action too, and they don’t intend to wait around until after Thanksgiving, Sellers such as Amazon have already kicked off their Black Friday deals with discounts on a huge range of items, including many top brands, of up to 80%. You would be hard pushed to match some of their deals in the stores even on Black Friday. It is so much more relaxing than fighting through the crowds and you might save yourself even more money.

It can get dangerous out there…

Those Black Friday crowds aren’t always friendly, and neither is all the store staff, especially as many are forced to skip Thanksgiving and work extended hours. There have been several incidents over the years when Black Friday crowds have got out of hand. One woman in a desperate fight to buy a games console used a pepper spray injuring twenty shoppers. On another occasion a man who collapsed in the crush was ignored as shoppers stepped over him. There was even an incident where a Walmart employee was trampled to death by the crowd that flooded in through the doors.

Don’t take the risk; stay at home on Black Friday; you know it makes sense.

KARAT OR  CARAT  is a way to express the purity of gold. It is not a measure of weight but percentages. The 24-karat gold is pure gold is too soft for use in jewelry directly, for example. Therefore, gold is always alloyed with other metals to give it hardness or to change in some way the color

If you say that a ring is 18K gold, means you have 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of another metal, which can be silver, copper, palladium, etc … The 18 karat gold contains 75% as gold .

If you say that a ring is 14k gold, means it has 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of another metal. So, is about 58.3 % gold. It is the most used in jewelry because it is less expensive than 18k and less soft when wearing metal alloy giving you more strength.

If you say that a ring is 10 karat gold, it means that you have 10 gold and 14 parts of another metal or metals. In round numbers, is about 41.7% gold. It’s not junk.