The system for paying university tuition fees is changing just as the new Junior ISA is coming in. But does the change in tuition fees mean that one of the main reasons parents save for their children, to pay for higher education, is no longer worth doing?
Tuition Fees Currently
Current tuition fees are set at £3,375 a year, and the majority of university students pay this amount. A student loan can be taken out to pay for this or it can be paid up front, either by the student or their family.
How Student Loans Currently Work
Students are able to borrow money from the Student Loan Company to pay for tuition fees and living costs, with the amount they can borrow dependant on their circumstances. This starts to be paid back once they have graduated and are earning over £15,000 a year. Beyond £15,000 they pay 9% of their earnings towards repayments of the student loan with this automatically coming out through the tax system each time they get paid. Someone earning £20,000 a year, for example, will pay back £450 each year (or £37.50 each month). It is effectively like paying 9% extra in income tax and it is paid until the loan is fully paid off. If a graduate’s earnings fall below £15,000 they don’t have to pay anything until it rises above this again.
Tuition Fees from 2012
There has been much controversy over the changes that will be coming in for students starting university from 2012. Fees will no longer be the same for everyone, with universities having more choice and being able to vary it between different courses. Universities will be able to charge a maximum of £9,000 a year, which will be £27,000 for a three-year course.
Student Loans from 2012
As well as changes in the cost of tuition fees, there will be changes in how they are paid for by students. The loan system will still exist but with some slight changes. Every student will need to take the money out in the form of a student loan and will not be able to pay it upfront. This has been done to avoid the argument of it being more affordable to those from wealthy backgrounds. The student loan will still be paid back in the same way but there will be a higher income threshold before it has to be paid back. Nothing will need to be paid back until graduates earn over £21,000, £6,000 more than is currently the case. Whatever a graduate earns, they will therefore be paying back less that if earning the same amount under the current system. The downside is that they will be paying it back over a longer period because they will start paying it later and will have borrowed more. If it is not paid back after thirty years the debt will be written off. The argument is that those who are paying it back will be those earning enough to be able to afford it.
Until now the emphasis has often been on parents to help their children pay their tuition fees. This will no longer be possible when the changes come in because everyone will need to take out a student loan.
Saving for Children
Many parents have chosen to save for their children’s education. Do the changes mean that this was a waste, and will it be pointless for families in future?
The answer to this is no. It will still be a great helping hand as the cost of higher education is not just tuition fees but living costs. For example accommodation, food and bills all need to be paid for. This means savings for children could be just as much of a help as it is now. This will make the new Junior ISA attractive to many parents.
Andrew Marshall ©
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
History of the Shanghai Stock Exchange
The Shanghai Stock Exchange is now one of the biggest in the world and is growing all the time. It has an interesting history which has included it being halted during World War 2 and it being suspended for over forty years after the communist revolution.
The first stocks were traded in Shanghai in 1866, but it was events two decades later that was really the beginnings of a stock market in the city. In the late 1880’s the Chinese mining industry boomed, something that was further boosted by mining stocks being launched by provincial governments. The Shanghai Sharebrokers Associations was established in 1891 by foreign businessmen, and this became China’s first stock exchange of sorts. This mostly dealt with the stocks of local companies.
Between 1889 and 1891 there was a boom in real estate companies, and in 1910 a boom in rubber plantations. The wave of confidence in these areas was partly due to cheap credit being offered by banks, something that eventually ended in bust.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange did not open until 1929. At the beginning of the 1920’s the Shanghai Securities and Commodities Exchange (1920) and the Shanghai Chinese Merchant Exchange (1921) were both established. During this time over 140 stock exchanges started up in Shanghai, all but twelve of which had disappeared by 1922. In 1929 the Shanghai Securities and Commodities Exchange and the Shanghai Chinese Merchant Exchange combined to officially form the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Rubber was the prime stock and foreign companies, especially Japanese companies, started to take control of the stock exchange.
By the 1930’s the Shanghai Stock Exchange had become the financial centre for the region and was trading in stocks, shares, government bonds and futures.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange ceased operation during World War 2. In 1941 Japan invaded and the stock exchange closed down. When the war ended it opened again but only for a short period. When the communist revolution took place in 1949 the stock exchange was again closed and remained so for forty-one years.
There was no trading in stocks in China for over two decades until the cultural revolution of the 1970’s. Initially this was only open to the Chinese, with it opened to foreign investors from 1978. Companies began to trade securities with foreign firms and this caused a surge in the economy. The modern Shanghai Stock Exchange was eventually opened in 1990, forty-one years after it was closed during the Communist Revolution. Another stock exchange was also opened in Shenzhen, which dealt with technology and government securities.
In 1997 the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was implemented into the Chinese system.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange was the sixth biggest in the world in 2010, behind New York, Tokyo, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, the Euronext Stock Exchange and London. It is run by the China Securities Regulatory Commission as a non-profit organisation and trades in stocks, funds and bonds. It is continuing to grow and could well complete with New York and Tokyo as the world’s biggest over the next few years.
Andrew Marshall ©
The first stocks were traded in Shanghai in 1866, but it was events two decades later that was really the beginnings of a stock market in the city. In the late 1880’s the Chinese mining industry boomed, something that was further boosted by mining stocks being launched by provincial governments. The Shanghai Sharebrokers Associations was established in 1891 by foreign businessmen, and this became China’s first stock exchange of sorts. This mostly dealt with the stocks of local companies.
Between 1889 and 1891 there was a boom in real estate companies, and in 1910 a boom in rubber plantations. The wave of confidence in these areas was partly due to cheap credit being offered by banks, something that eventually ended in bust.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange did not open until 1929. At the beginning of the 1920’s the Shanghai Securities and Commodities Exchange (1920) and the Shanghai Chinese Merchant Exchange (1921) were both established. During this time over 140 stock exchanges started up in Shanghai, all but twelve of which had disappeared by 1922. In 1929 the Shanghai Securities and Commodities Exchange and the Shanghai Chinese Merchant Exchange combined to officially form the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Rubber was the prime stock and foreign companies, especially Japanese companies, started to take control of the stock exchange.
By the 1930’s the Shanghai Stock Exchange had become the financial centre for the region and was trading in stocks, shares, government bonds and futures.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange ceased operation during World War 2. In 1941 Japan invaded and the stock exchange closed down. When the war ended it opened again but only for a short period. When the communist revolution took place in 1949 the stock exchange was again closed and remained so for forty-one years.
There was no trading in stocks in China for over two decades until the cultural revolution of the 1970’s. Initially this was only open to the Chinese, with it opened to foreign investors from 1978. Companies began to trade securities with foreign firms and this caused a surge in the economy. The modern Shanghai Stock Exchange was eventually opened in 1990, forty-one years after it was closed during the Communist Revolution. Another stock exchange was also opened in Shenzhen, which dealt with technology and government securities.
In 1997 the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was implemented into the Chinese system.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange was the sixth biggest in the world in 2010, behind New York, Tokyo, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, the Euronext Stock Exchange and London. It is run by the China Securities Regulatory Commission as a non-profit organisation and trades in stocks, funds and bonds. It is continuing to grow and could well complete with New York and Tokyo as the world’s biggest over the next few years.
Andrew Marshall ©
Friday, August 26, 2011
Does it really cost £200,000 to bring up a child?
According to research carried out by the insurance provider LV=, it now costs just over £200,000 to bring up a child from their birth to their twenty-first birthday. This works out at an average of around £9,500 a year.
Although many parents would agree that bringing up children is expensive, many would refute this figure, which is over a third of the total annual income of the average family today. The survey has taken certain areas of spending and looked at what they believe is the average cost within each of these having surveyed a group of parents.
Seeing that it costs over £200,000 to bring up a child is something that would scare many parents and parent to be. There is, however, much reason to believe it is possible to bring up children for much less than this.
The report states that it costs £52,000 for education, but does not include private education. It includes things such as uniform and school trips. This does seem a high figure if only taking into consideration things that are considered necessities or important.
Child care is named as the most expensive cost in bringing up children. However, not everyone requires child care. In many families only one parent works or family members can look after children while their parents are working. It could be argued, though, that it is mostly families on low or middle incomes that require child care as they can’t afford to have only one working parent.
Listed amongst the extras are driving lessons and a first car. This is not an essential though and many children pay for this themselves, or don’t learn to drive until after the age of twenty-one anyway. Therefore many parents will find that the high costs of their children learning to drive won’t be paid by them.
The LV= survey does not state whether presents from other family members are taken into consideration. Family and friends often buy items such as clothes and toys for children, something that brings down the cost for such items for parents. Over the course of an entire childhood this can make a big difference.
Holidays are stated as costing an average of over £600 a year for a child. Some might argue, though, that holidays are a luxury and something parents have a choice over. It is nice to go on holiday if you can afford to but not essential if you can’t. There is also the option of having a cheaper holiday closer to home rather than travelling abroad.
The study says that a child’s university years of the ages 18-21 cost £14,000 each, a total of £42,000. This is something many parents will not recognize. In the future parents will be unable to pay their children’s tuition fees for them should they choose to go into higher education. Some parents will help with related costs but many parents are unable to and therefore won’t. Taking off this £42,000 would mean an overall cost of close to £150,000 over twenty-one years.
Everything can be done cheaper. The quality/price of items that need to be bought for children are not given but there is a big difference in the range of items that can be bought, making it very difficult to give exact figures. To use one example, a top of the range pram can cost over £1,000 but you can get a perfectly adequate one for around £100. They are available for less than this if bought second-hand. The same could be said for hundreds of other items someone needs from the age of zero to twenty-one.
It is very hard, almost impossible, to say how much it really costs to bring up a child. Many of the headlines around the LV= study state that “it now costs over £200,000 to bring up a child”. They do not go into enough detail to show how much of a true statement this is and you can never say a specific amount that it takes to bring up a child. All families and their choices are different and in reality this figure varies massively from one family to the next.
Andrew Marshall ©
Although many parents would agree that bringing up children is expensive, many would refute this figure, which is over a third of the total annual income of the average family today. The survey has taken certain areas of spending and looked at what they believe is the average cost within each of these having surveyed a group of parents.
Seeing that it costs over £200,000 to bring up a child is something that would scare many parents and parent to be. There is, however, much reason to believe it is possible to bring up children for much less than this.
The report states that it costs £52,000 for education, but does not include private education. It includes things such as uniform and school trips. This does seem a high figure if only taking into consideration things that are considered necessities or important.
Child care is named as the most expensive cost in bringing up children. However, not everyone requires child care. In many families only one parent works or family members can look after children while their parents are working. It could be argued, though, that it is mostly families on low or middle incomes that require child care as they can’t afford to have only one working parent.
Listed amongst the extras are driving lessons and a first car. This is not an essential though and many children pay for this themselves, or don’t learn to drive until after the age of twenty-one anyway. Therefore many parents will find that the high costs of their children learning to drive won’t be paid by them.
The LV= survey does not state whether presents from other family members are taken into consideration. Family and friends often buy items such as clothes and toys for children, something that brings down the cost for such items for parents. Over the course of an entire childhood this can make a big difference.
Holidays are stated as costing an average of over £600 a year for a child. Some might argue, though, that holidays are a luxury and something parents have a choice over. It is nice to go on holiday if you can afford to but not essential if you can’t. There is also the option of having a cheaper holiday closer to home rather than travelling abroad.
The study says that a child’s university years of the ages 18-21 cost £14,000 each, a total of £42,000. This is something many parents will not recognize. In the future parents will be unable to pay their children’s tuition fees for them should they choose to go into higher education. Some parents will help with related costs but many parents are unable to and therefore won’t. Taking off this £42,000 would mean an overall cost of close to £150,000 over twenty-one years.
Everything can be done cheaper. The quality/price of items that need to be bought for children are not given but there is a big difference in the range of items that can be bought, making it very difficult to give exact figures. To use one example, a top of the range pram can cost over £1,000 but you can get a perfectly adequate one for around £100. They are available for less than this if bought second-hand. The same could be said for hundreds of other items someone needs from the age of zero to twenty-one.
It is very hard, almost impossible, to say how much it really costs to bring up a child. Many of the headlines around the LV= study state that “it now costs over £200,000 to bring up a child”. They do not go into enough detail to show how much of a true statement this is and you can never say a specific amount that it takes to bring up a child. All families and their choices are different and in reality this figure varies massively from one family to the next.
Andrew Marshall ©
A Beginner’s Guide on Sending Emails
Email has become a major method of communication in the internet age and is now the most commonly used form of communication in business. There are also millions of personal emails sent everyday throughout the world. This is a beginner’s guide to sending personal email for those who have never used email before.
To be able to send emails first you need an email account. There are a variety of free email platforms, with three of the most popular being Gmail (from Google), Yahoo Mail and Hotmail. Below is a step-by-step guide to opening an account with each of these and sending emails.
Gmail
To set up an account visit mail.google.com. On the right-hand side of the page there will be two boxes. In the lower box click the button that says “create and account”. This will take you to another page.
Fill out the boxes with the relevant details. This includes choosing an email address that must end in @gmail.com, and a memorable password. Once you have filled out all the details read the terms and conditions and click the button at the bottom of the page that says, “I accept. Create my account”.
After this you will be asked to select a verification method and to provide a phone number to do this. When you have done this follow the instructions and enter the verification code you have been given either by text message or via a phone call.
You will now have a Google account and be able to use their email platform, Gmail.
To log into your account visit google.com. Click “Sign in”, which can be found on the top-right of the page. This will take you to a Sign In page where you need to enter your Email and Password you chose when opening your account. After you have done this click “sign in”.
To reach your account go to the top-right of the page and click the arrow next to your email address. This will bring up a dropdown menu. Click “account settings”. On the next page click “Gmail”, which will take you to your main email page.
To begin the process of sending an email, click “compose mail” on the left-hand side. You will be taken to the page for sending an email.
In the “to” box enter the email address of the person you wish to send the email to. Enter a subject in the “subject” box and then in the large box enter your message. Once you have done this click “send” at the bottom of the page. Your email will be sent to the recipient.
Yahoo Mail
Visit yahoo.com. At the top-right of the page are some options including “sign up”. Click this. Here you need to enter your details and chose a desired Yahoo ID/Email and password. After this click “create my account” at the bottom of the page.
Once you have an account you need to sign in to send an email. Again, visit the top right of Yahoo, and this time click “sign in”. Enter your Yahoo! ID (email address) and password and click “sign in”. You are taken back to the main Yahoo page with a number of options on the right-hand side. Click “mail”.
Once on the mail page visit the top left of the page. Next to “new” there is an arrow. Click this. On the dropdown menu click “email message”. Enter the email address of the recipient in the “to” box and anyone you wish to copy in the email in the “cc” box. Enter a subject and the body of the email. Finally click “send” which is above the main email box.
Hotmail
To set up an account visit hotmail.com. Click the “sign up” box. You will be taken to another page where you need to enter your details, including a desired email address and password. After doing this click the “I accept” box at the bottom of the page. You will now have a Hotmail account.
To sign in visit hotmail.com again. Enter your email address in the “windows live ID” box and password in the “password” box. Click “sign in”. On the next page click “send email”, which is found under the “hotmail highlights” section.
As with Gmail and Yahoo, enter the recipients address, a subject and the body of the email. Then click send, which is towards the top of the page.
Andrew Marshall ©
To be able to send emails first you need an email account. There are a variety of free email platforms, with three of the most popular being Gmail (from Google), Yahoo Mail and Hotmail. Below is a step-by-step guide to opening an account with each of these and sending emails.
Gmail
To set up an account visit mail.google.com. On the right-hand side of the page there will be two boxes. In the lower box click the button that says “create and account”. This will take you to another page.
Fill out the boxes with the relevant details. This includes choosing an email address that must end in @gmail.com, and a memorable password. Once you have filled out all the details read the terms and conditions and click the button at the bottom of the page that says, “I accept. Create my account”.
After this you will be asked to select a verification method and to provide a phone number to do this. When you have done this follow the instructions and enter the verification code you have been given either by text message or via a phone call.
You will now have a Google account and be able to use their email platform, Gmail.
To log into your account visit google.com. Click “Sign in”, which can be found on the top-right of the page. This will take you to a Sign In page where you need to enter your Email and Password you chose when opening your account. After you have done this click “sign in”.
To reach your account go to the top-right of the page and click the arrow next to your email address. This will bring up a dropdown menu. Click “account settings”. On the next page click “Gmail”, which will take you to your main email page.
To begin the process of sending an email, click “compose mail” on the left-hand side. You will be taken to the page for sending an email.
In the “to” box enter the email address of the person you wish to send the email to. Enter a subject in the “subject” box and then in the large box enter your message. Once you have done this click “send” at the bottom of the page. Your email will be sent to the recipient.
Yahoo Mail
Visit yahoo.com. At the top-right of the page are some options including “sign up”. Click this. Here you need to enter your details and chose a desired Yahoo ID/Email and password. After this click “create my account” at the bottom of the page.
Once you have an account you need to sign in to send an email. Again, visit the top right of Yahoo, and this time click “sign in”. Enter your Yahoo! ID (email address) and password and click “sign in”. You are taken back to the main Yahoo page with a number of options on the right-hand side. Click “mail”.
Once on the mail page visit the top left of the page. Next to “new” there is an arrow. Click this. On the dropdown menu click “email message”. Enter the email address of the recipient in the “to” box and anyone you wish to copy in the email in the “cc” box. Enter a subject and the body of the email. Finally click “send” which is above the main email box.
Hotmail
To set up an account visit hotmail.com. Click the “sign up” box. You will be taken to another page where you need to enter your details, including a desired email address and password. After doing this click the “I accept” box at the bottom of the page. You will now have a Hotmail account.
To sign in visit hotmail.com again. Enter your email address in the “windows live ID” box and password in the “password” box. Click “sign in”. On the next page click “send email”, which is found under the “hotmail highlights” section.
As with Gmail and Yahoo, enter the recipients address, a subject and the body of the email. Then click send, which is towards the top of the page.
Andrew Marshall ©
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Benefits of Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is something that has become more widely used across business in recent years. With the technology improving it enables businesses to communicate with partners and customers and have meetings without leaving the office. There are a number of benefits to video conferencing.
Video conferencing can have a big impact on productivity. It means you can have several meetings in one day and can do them all from the same place instead of travelling from location to location.
Being capable of having video conferences means decisions can be made more quickly. If something needs to be discussed it may be possible to have a meeting immediately to talk about the issues. In normal circumstances it might take a lot of planning, with all parties needing to find space in their diary, not just for the meeting but to get to and from it. This can mean weeks, rather than minutes or hours, before a meeting has taken place and decisions have been made. It is much simpler for everyone to log onto the video conferencing software and do it immediately if possible.
Investing in video conferencing software can be expensive to begin with but if used regularly will save money in the long run. As well as the financial benefits of improving productivity the major cost savings are on travel costs. Constantly travelling to and from meetings can be expensive, especially if many people are involved. This may not be much of an advantage if all of your customers and partners are local, but could save a fortune if they are across the country or even international.
With video conferencing someone can be “at a meeting” just like that. This can make a big saving on travel time to and from meetings. Without it a one-hour meeting can take a full day; there might be two hours of travelling each way with contingency time taken into consideration. If you have video conferencing you can go into the relevant room a few minutes before the meeting and be back at your desk immediately after.
The above are benefits of video conferencing over physically going to a meeting. You may think that it would be cheaper to have telephone conferences, but there are benefits to video conferencing over telephone conferencing. You can see the faces of the people you are having the conference with. This may not always be necessary, but it is surprising how much of a benefit seeing the other person/people can be. A large part of communication is expression, be it facial expressions or body expressions. You can also sense if someone wants to say something or someone has finished talking. This prevents people from constantly talking over each other.
Video conferencing can be a great benefit to many businesses, especially those with a wide customer based. It has many of the advantages of physical meetings but without the disadvantages. You are able to communicate properly with people and see them, but don’t have to spend time and money travelling to meetings.
Andrew Marshall ©
Video conferencing can have a big impact on productivity. It means you can have several meetings in one day and can do them all from the same place instead of travelling from location to location.
Being capable of having video conferences means decisions can be made more quickly. If something needs to be discussed it may be possible to have a meeting immediately to talk about the issues. In normal circumstances it might take a lot of planning, with all parties needing to find space in their diary, not just for the meeting but to get to and from it. This can mean weeks, rather than minutes or hours, before a meeting has taken place and decisions have been made. It is much simpler for everyone to log onto the video conferencing software and do it immediately if possible.
Investing in video conferencing software can be expensive to begin with but if used regularly will save money in the long run. As well as the financial benefits of improving productivity the major cost savings are on travel costs. Constantly travelling to and from meetings can be expensive, especially if many people are involved. This may not be much of an advantage if all of your customers and partners are local, but could save a fortune if they are across the country or even international.
With video conferencing someone can be “at a meeting” just like that. This can make a big saving on travel time to and from meetings. Without it a one-hour meeting can take a full day; there might be two hours of travelling each way with contingency time taken into consideration. If you have video conferencing you can go into the relevant room a few minutes before the meeting and be back at your desk immediately after.
The above are benefits of video conferencing over physically going to a meeting. You may think that it would be cheaper to have telephone conferences, but there are benefits to video conferencing over telephone conferencing. You can see the faces of the people you are having the conference with. This may not always be necessary, but it is surprising how much of a benefit seeing the other person/people can be. A large part of communication is expression, be it facial expressions or body expressions. You can also sense if someone wants to say something or someone has finished talking. This prevents people from constantly talking over each other.
Video conferencing can be a great benefit to many businesses, especially those with a wide customer based. It has many of the advantages of physical meetings but without the disadvantages. You are able to communicate properly with people and see them, but don’t have to spend time and money travelling to meetings.
Andrew Marshall ©
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Decorating a Living Room
The living room is one of the most important rooms in a home. This makes both practicality and aesthetics important. A lot of time is spent in the living room so it needs to fit in with your lifestyle. It is a room for relaxation and watching television, and you may even eat in there. The amount of time spent in a living room also makes it important that it looks right.
Furniture
How furniture fits in the living room is important. You might want a corner sofa, for example, but if it doesn’t fit in with the shape of the room it will not work. The size of the room is important in deciding exactly what you want to do with it. You don’t want a lot of furniture in a particularly small room, but if you have little furniture in a large room it will have an empty feeling.
The colour and style of your furniture needs to go well with the colour and style of the rest of the room, for example with the colour of the walls. Different parts of the furnishings also need to go well with each other. The placement of all furniture needs to be thought about.
The Walls
Firstly, you have to decide whether you want wallpaper or just want the bare walls painted. If you opt for wallpaper you have to choose the style you want. Do you want a distinctive style or just a plain one, possible with the wallpaper painted over? Whether you use wallpaper or not, the colour of the walls need to be carefully considered. The colour of the walls is possibly the most important factor in giving a room the feel you want.
Windows
There are three main types of window coverings to consider; curtains, blinds or window shutters. Once you’ve decided which one to opt for, the colour of them also needs to be chosen. It is important this goes well with the rest of the room, especially the colour of the walls. You may decide that the window frames and window seals need to be painted to fit the style of the living room, or you might even want to alter the style of the windows themselves.
Flooring
Depending on the home, there are different options with the flooring. The three main choices are between tiles, wood and carpet. With tiles you need to think about whether they work, as they don’t suit all homes. With wood you need to choose between the different types of wooden floors that are available. There are many possible styles if choosing carpet with even more possible choices of colour.
Other Factors
Every living room needs to have adequate seating, not just for those living in the home but for visitors as well.
In many homes the dining room is incorporated into the living room. Where this is the case how the whole space fits together needs to be thought about; it becomes even more important to use the space well. You might want the dining area and the living area to be distinctly separate.
Andrew Marshall ©
Furniture
How furniture fits in the living room is important. You might want a corner sofa, for example, but if it doesn’t fit in with the shape of the room it will not work. The size of the room is important in deciding exactly what you want to do with it. You don’t want a lot of furniture in a particularly small room, but if you have little furniture in a large room it will have an empty feeling.
The colour and style of your furniture needs to go well with the colour and style of the rest of the room, for example with the colour of the walls. Different parts of the furnishings also need to go well with each other. The placement of all furniture needs to be thought about.
The Walls
Firstly, you have to decide whether you want wallpaper or just want the bare walls painted. If you opt for wallpaper you have to choose the style you want. Do you want a distinctive style or just a plain one, possible with the wallpaper painted over? Whether you use wallpaper or not, the colour of the walls need to be carefully considered. The colour of the walls is possibly the most important factor in giving a room the feel you want.
Windows
There are three main types of window coverings to consider; curtains, blinds or window shutters. Once you’ve decided which one to opt for, the colour of them also needs to be chosen. It is important this goes well with the rest of the room, especially the colour of the walls. You may decide that the window frames and window seals need to be painted to fit the style of the living room, or you might even want to alter the style of the windows themselves.
Flooring
Depending on the home, there are different options with the flooring. The three main choices are between tiles, wood and carpet. With tiles you need to think about whether they work, as they don’t suit all homes. With wood you need to choose between the different types of wooden floors that are available. There are many possible styles if choosing carpet with even more possible choices of colour.
Other Factors
Every living room needs to have adequate seating, not just for those living in the home but for visitors as well.
In many homes the dining room is incorporated into the living room. Where this is the case how the whole space fits together needs to be thought about; it becomes even more important to use the space well. You might want the dining area and the living area to be distinctly separate.
Andrew Marshall ©
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Differences between the Junior ISA and the Child Trust Fund
The Junior ISA will be the new savings product for children, and will be available from November 2011. It is a replacement for the Child Trust Fund, which was scrapped early this year. There are similarities between the two schemes, but there are also some important differences.
The Junior ISA will be available to anyone who missed out on the Child Trust Fund, meaning it will be available to those born before September 2002 or after 2nd January 2011. An account will not be able to be opened on behalf of those who already have a Child Trust Fund. The Junior ISA will be a replacement for the Child Trust Fund, with parents of children who have a Child Trust Fund still being able to pay into that account.
One of the major advantages of the Child Trust Fund was that the government contributed £250 when a child was born and another £250 when the child turned seven. It was a major plus for less well-off families to affectively have £500 worth of investment invested on their behalf. It meant those who could not afford to contribute themselves would still be able to open an account on behalf of their children. These two payments have been scrapped for the re-vamped Junior ISA. This has been criticized by some, who say there is no incentive for those who can’t afford to make regular investments.
As with the Child Trust Fund, there will be a choice of investments with the Junior ISA, although the way it will work will be a little different. With the Child Trust Fund there were three options; a savings account, a stakeholder account, and a shares account. Just as with adult ISA’s there will be two choices with a Junior ISA, a Cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA. Cash ISA’s will be similar to Child Trust Fund savings accounts, with Stocks and Shares ISA’s being similar to Child Trust Fund shares accounts. It will be up to parents to decide whether to go for the safer Cash ISA, or the potentially higher gains of a Stocks and Shares ISA.
With the Child Trust Fund, family and friends were able to contribute up to £1,200 a year to a child’s account. This is being trebled with the Junior ISA; they will now be able to invest up to £3,600 each year. This means that those who really want to, and can take advantage of the scheme, will be able to invest more, further helping their child in the future. The limit for those who already have a Child Trust Fund will be increased from the previous £1,200 to £3,600, to match the Junior ISA. It is hoped that those who already have a Child Trust Fund will get the same benefits as those with a Junior ISA.
As with the Child Trust Fund, the Junior ISA will allow parents and other family member to save for their children. They will then have access to the account once they turn eighteen, with any gains being tax free.
Andrew Marshall ©
The Junior ISA will be available to anyone who missed out on the Child Trust Fund, meaning it will be available to those born before September 2002 or after 2nd January 2011. An account will not be able to be opened on behalf of those who already have a Child Trust Fund. The Junior ISA will be a replacement for the Child Trust Fund, with parents of children who have a Child Trust Fund still being able to pay into that account.
One of the major advantages of the Child Trust Fund was that the government contributed £250 when a child was born and another £250 when the child turned seven. It was a major plus for less well-off families to affectively have £500 worth of investment invested on their behalf. It meant those who could not afford to contribute themselves would still be able to open an account on behalf of their children. These two payments have been scrapped for the re-vamped Junior ISA. This has been criticized by some, who say there is no incentive for those who can’t afford to make regular investments.
As with the Child Trust Fund, there will be a choice of investments with the Junior ISA, although the way it will work will be a little different. With the Child Trust Fund there were three options; a savings account, a stakeholder account, and a shares account. Just as with adult ISA’s there will be two choices with a Junior ISA, a Cash ISA and a Stocks and Shares ISA. Cash ISA’s will be similar to Child Trust Fund savings accounts, with Stocks and Shares ISA’s being similar to Child Trust Fund shares accounts. It will be up to parents to decide whether to go for the safer Cash ISA, or the potentially higher gains of a Stocks and Shares ISA.
With the Child Trust Fund, family and friends were able to contribute up to £1,200 a year to a child’s account. This is being trebled with the Junior ISA; they will now be able to invest up to £3,600 each year. This means that those who really want to, and can take advantage of the scheme, will be able to invest more, further helping their child in the future. The limit for those who already have a Child Trust Fund will be increased from the previous £1,200 to £3,600, to match the Junior ISA. It is hoped that those who already have a Child Trust Fund will get the same benefits as those with a Junior ISA.
As with the Child Trust Fund, the Junior ISA will allow parents and other family member to save for their children. They will then have access to the account once they turn eighteen, with any gains being tax free.
Andrew Marshall ©
Friday, August 19, 2011
Recession Proof and Recession Vulnerable Businesses
The recession and financial troubles over the last few years has hit many businesses, while others have been able to continue much as usual. Although this is partly due to how each business is run, there are certain industries that are better placed to cope in economically turbulent times than others.
Below are some “recession-proof” businesses as well as businesses that particularly suffer in tough times.
RECESSION PROOF BUSINESSES
Below are some industries and businesses that are better placed than most in an economic crises.
Food Shops
People have to eat so food shops are well placed to see out a recession. Although food purchasing habits may change everybody will still be buying it. Luxury foods and more expensive retailers may suffer, but cheaper food retailers can really benefit as people do everything possible to spend as little as they can.
Very High-End Products
You may be thinking “how can expensive products be in demand during a recession?” There are, however, always wealthy people no matter how bad the economy looks. This can mean high-end products do not suffer as much as you would expect. Here we are talking private jets and mansions. People who can afford these types of things are not going to be suddenly left with nothing even if they do loose a percentage of their wealth. This means high-end products can still be in demand.
Discount Shops
People are always looking for a bargain, but this is even more the case if people are struggling financially. Offering products or services cheaper than the competition is particularly beneficial in the present climate.
Some Health Related Businesses
Health is essential whatever the circumstances. This means that some health businesses and healthcare providers will still be in business post-recession. This does, however, depend on the business and whether or not it is essential or a nice-to-have extra.
Pawnbrokers
Many people in financial trouble may have items at home of value, such as jewellery and family heirlooms. They may not want to sell these items but they might be willing to trade them in for cash in the short term. This means pawnbrokers can become particularly busy.
Pound Shops
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, Pound Shops, and similar outlets, have been very successful over the last few years. The quality may not quite be there but people know they will get a discount. In the current times many are willing to trade quality for price.
Any business that can save people money will be a hit in a recession. Whether this is by providing something cheaper than the competition or providing something that means people don’t need to spend on something else, they are likely to snap up these opportunities when they are strapped for cash.
BUSINESSES THAT SUFFER IN A RECESSION
So the above are the type of industries/businesses that can do well in a recession, but which are particularly vulnerable?
Marketing
Marketing companies can suffer as it is something businesses feel they can cut back on. It is an interesting one though, because it depends on the type of marketing. For some businesses to be successful they must invest in marketing. So although marketing budgets are still available they may need to be thought about in more detail. Web design and related industries have not particularly suffered, and in some instanced have become more successful as the internet becomes more important to businesses. Other areas, such as newspaper and television advertising, are deemed less effective than they once were and are therefore less of a priority for marketers.
Luxury Items
OK, so above I said luxury items can be unaffected but there I meant high-end luxury items. Other types of luxury items, however, can be impacted in the opposite way. For example, people are less likely to buy luxury biscuits when there is a cheaper option available. It is the small, but fairly regular, luxuries that people are more likely to do without. These are the items that are more “wants” than “needs”.
Restaurants
More people have chosen to save money and eat at home in recent years. And those who do still eat out do so on a less regular basis. Eating out can be expensive and it is something many people feel they can do without.
Tourism
Holiday’s cost a lot of money and is something people feel they can cut down on. But it is not just skipping a holiday altogether, it is people choosing to holiday in the UK rather than abroad. This means certain tourist related industries can suffer. It may be a positive that more Brits are taking their holidays at home, but fewer people are travelling to the UK from abroad.
Andrew Marshall ©
Below are some “recession-proof” businesses as well as businesses that particularly suffer in tough times.
RECESSION PROOF BUSINESSES
Below are some industries and businesses that are better placed than most in an economic crises.
Food Shops
People have to eat so food shops are well placed to see out a recession. Although food purchasing habits may change everybody will still be buying it. Luxury foods and more expensive retailers may suffer, but cheaper food retailers can really benefit as people do everything possible to spend as little as they can.
Very High-End Products
You may be thinking “how can expensive products be in demand during a recession?” There are, however, always wealthy people no matter how bad the economy looks. This can mean high-end products do not suffer as much as you would expect. Here we are talking private jets and mansions. People who can afford these types of things are not going to be suddenly left with nothing even if they do loose a percentage of their wealth. This means high-end products can still be in demand.
Discount Shops
People are always looking for a bargain, but this is even more the case if people are struggling financially. Offering products or services cheaper than the competition is particularly beneficial in the present climate.
Some Health Related Businesses
Health is essential whatever the circumstances. This means that some health businesses and healthcare providers will still be in business post-recession. This does, however, depend on the business and whether or not it is essential or a nice-to-have extra.
Pawnbrokers
Many people in financial trouble may have items at home of value, such as jewellery and family heirlooms. They may not want to sell these items but they might be willing to trade them in for cash in the short term. This means pawnbrokers can become particularly busy.
Pound Shops
Perhaps not unsurprisingly, Pound Shops, and similar outlets, have been very successful over the last few years. The quality may not quite be there but people know they will get a discount. In the current times many are willing to trade quality for price.
Any business that can save people money will be a hit in a recession. Whether this is by providing something cheaper than the competition or providing something that means people don’t need to spend on something else, they are likely to snap up these opportunities when they are strapped for cash.
BUSINESSES THAT SUFFER IN A RECESSION
So the above are the type of industries/businesses that can do well in a recession, but which are particularly vulnerable?
Marketing
Marketing companies can suffer as it is something businesses feel they can cut back on. It is an interesting one though, because it depends on the type of marketing. For some businesses to be successful they must invest in marketing. So although marketing budgets are still available they may need to be thought about in more detail. Web design and related industries have not particularly suffered, and in some instanced have become more successful as the internet becomes more important to businesses. Other areas, such as newspaper and television advertising, are deemed less effective than they once were and are therefore less of a priority for marketers.
Luxury Items
OK, so above I said luxury items can be unaffected but there I meant high-end luxury items. Other types of luxury items, however, can be impacted in the opposite way. For example, people are less likely to buy luxury biscuits when there is a cheaper option available. It is the small, but fairly regular, luxuries that people are more likely to do without. These are the items that are more “wants” than “needs”.
Restaurants
More people have chosen to save money and eat at home in recent years. And those who do still eat out do so on a less regular basis. Eating out can be expensive and it is something many people feel they can do without.
Tourism
Holiday’s cost a lot of money and is something people feel they can cut down on. But it is not just skipping a holiday altogether, it is people choosing to holiday in the UK rather than abroad. This means certain tourist related industries can suffer. It may be a positive that more Brits are taking their holidays at home, but fewer people are travelling to the UK from abroad.
Andrew Marshall ©
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Rules and Regulations for Residential Landlords
An important part in renting out a residential property is the rules and regulations that landlords must abide by. This article covers some of the most important regulations, and includes gas, electrical and fire safety.
Gas Regulations
If not dealt with in the right way gas can be very dangerous. Carbon monoxide can be particularly dangerous, and carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of gas related illness as it is odourless and can go undetected.
All rented properties must at all times have a valid Gas Safety Record, and both the landlord and the tenant must have a copy. This is the case if the home has any gas supply at all, even if capped off and not used. All gas appliances and pipework must be checked by a CORGI registered engineer. This gas check must be carried out at least once a year with the Gas Safety Record being updated with a copy of the updated version being given to the tenant. The above are legal regulations and failure to comply could result in a fine or even imprisonment. If these regulations have not been met and there is a related fatality then the landlord could face a charge of manslaughter.
Electrical Safety Regulations
Electrical safety regulations are applicable to any electrical items that are supplied by the landlord but are not relevant to those supplied by the tenants themselves, such as their own televisions and computers.
Examples of applicable items are ovens, microwaves, televisions and irons. Electrical appliances themselves are included as are any leads and plugs. Leads cannot be worn and the correct plugs must be fitted. All plugs, sockets and adapters must have insulated pins and plugs and be pre-wired. Appliances should be in good (and safe) working order.
There are fewer specific rules with electrical items as with gas but the landlord has a responsibility to make sure all electrical appliances are fit for purpose and safe to use. As with gas, they could face the force of the law if they fail to meet these responsibilities. One way in which landlords can ensure electrical safety is by regularly carrying out PAT Testing.
Fire Regulations
The most important part of the fire regulations is that working smoke alarms must be fitted. How many should be fitted and where they should be placed is dependent on the property and its size. If fire protection equipment is supplied, such as fire distinguishers and fire blankets, they must be fit for use.
Furniture Regulations
Rented properties can come furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished. The below applies to any furnishings that are supplied by the landlord. As with electrical safety regulations it does not apply to furnishings belonging to the tenant. Certain types of furniture must meet fire safety standards. These include beds, mattresses, sofas and garden furniture. Bed-clothes, curtains and carpet are not included.
Buildings
Any building, including the home itself, garages, sheds and greenhouses, must comply with UK safety standards.
The above is a basic look at the safety rules and regulations that landlords must make sure are met before letting out a property. Potential landlords should look at the regulations in more detail before letting their property out.
Andrew Marshall ©
Gas Regulations
If not dealt with in the right way gas can be very dangerous. Carbon monoxide can be particularly dangerous, and carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of gas related illness as it is odourless and can go undetected.
All rented properties must at all times have a valid Gas Safety Record, and both the landlord and the tenant must have a copy. This is the case if the home has any gas supply at all, even if capped off and not used. All gas appliances and pipework must be checked by a CORGI registered engineer. This gas check must be carried out at least once a year with the Gas Safety Record being updated with a copy of the updated version being given to the tenant. The above are legal regulations and failure to comply could result in a fine or even imprisonment. If these regulations have not been met and there is a related fatality then the landlord could face a charge of manslaughter.
Electrical Safety Regulations
Electrical safety regulations are applicable to any electrical items that are supplied by the landlord but are not relevant to those supplied by the tenants themselves, such as their own televisions and computers.
Examples of applicable items are ovens, microwaves, televisions and irons. Electrical appliances themselves are included as are any leads and plugs. Leads cannot be worn and the correct plugs must be fitted. All plugs, sockets and adapters must have insulated pins and plugs and be pre-wired. Appliances should be in good (and safe) working order.
There are fewer specific rules with electrical items as with gas but the landlord has a responsibility to make sure all electrical appliances are fit for purpose and safe to use. As with gas, they could face the force of the law if they fail to meet these responsibilities. One way in which landlords can ensure electrical safety is by regularly carrying out PAT Testing.
Fire Regulations
The most important part of the fire regulations is that working smoke alarms must be fitted. How many should be fitted and where they should be placed is dependent on the property and its size. If fire protection equipment is supplied, such as fire distinguishers and fire blankets, they must be fit for use.
Furniture Regulations
Rented properties can come furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished. The below applies to any furnishings that are supplied by the landlord. As with electrical safety regulations it does not apply to furnishings belonging to the tenant. Certain types of furniture must meet fire safety standards. These include beds, mattresses, sofas and garden furniture. Bed-clothes, curtains and carpet are not included.
Buildings
Any building, including the home itself, garages, sheds and greenhouses, must comply with UK safety standards.
The above is a basic look at the safety rules and regulations that landlords must make sure are met before letting out a property. Potential landlords should look at the regulations in more detail before letting their property out.
Andrew Marshall ©
History of Divorce in England
Prior to the 1850’s marriage was viewed as an indissoluble lifelong union and separating from your husband or wife was almost impossible. Only in extreme situations could couples be granted to live apart but even then they were still officially married.
In 1857 the Matrimonial Causes Act allowed ordinary people to divorce; it had previously had to be granted by an Act of Parliament. Even where this was possible it was very expensive and the vast majority were unable to afford it. And women could not apply for divorce; it had to be the man.
The Matrimonial Causes Act did make it possible for women to pursue divorce but it was still more difficult for them than it was for men. The only acceptable grounds for divorce for either party was adultery and it had to be proved. Unlike men, women had to prove other reasons why they were seeking a divorce in addition to this; adultery alone was not enough.
Things were made easier for women in 1923 when it was decided they could petition for divorce solely on the grounds of adultery. This still had to be proved though, and was the only acceptable grounds for divorce. The list of possible reasons was expanded in 1937 when it became possible to divorce due to drunkenness, insanity or desertion for a least a three year period. Divorce could not be petitioned in the first three years of a marriage and one spouse had to accuse (and prove) one of these faults in their husband or wife. The so-called guilty party could not be the one to initiate the divorce.
The Divorce Reform Act of 1969 transformed the way divorce worked in England, and much of the act still works in a similar way to this day. The previous reasons for divorce were scrapped and the list reformed. It was now possible to divorce after being separated for two years if both parties agreed, or after being separated for five years if only one party was seeking the dissolution of the marriage. The other possible reason was if the marriage had irretrievably broken down, something that covered many areas including adultery and desertion. In theory any reason that contributed to the breakdown of a marriage could be the basis for it having “irretrievably broken down”. From this time it was no longer necessary for an undefended divorce case to be heard in the High Court in London; local County Courts could be used. Defended divorces, however, were still held in the High Court.
In the mid 1970’s a Special Procedure was introduced. This made things much simpler in uncontested divorce cases. This has since become the norm and it is these days very rare for contested divorces to take place; only around one if fifty thousand divorces are now contested.
Over the last one hundred years there has been a big change in divorce in England, from the reasons they can take place to the way they are dealt with.
Andrew Marshall ©
In 1857 the Matrimonial Causes Act allowed ordinary people to divorce; it had previously had to be granted by an Act of Parliament. Even where this was possible it was very expensive and the vast majority were unable to afford it. And women could not apply for divorce; it had to be the man.
The Matrimonial Causes Act did make it possible for women to pursue divorce but it was still more difficult for them than it was for men. The only acceptable grounds for divorce for either party was adultery and it had to be proved. Unlike men, women had to prove other reasons why they were seeking a divorce in addition to this; adultery alone was not enough.
Things were made easier for women in 1923 when it was decided they could petition for divorce solely on the grounds of adultery. This still had to be proved though, and was the only acceptable grounds for divorce. The list of possible reasons was expanded in 1937 when it became possible to divorce due to drunkenness, insanity or desertion for a least a three year period. Divorce could not be petitioned in the first three years of a marriage and one spouse had to accuse (and prove) one of these faults in their husband or wife. The so-called guilty party could not be the one to initiate the divorce.
The Divorce Reform Act of 1969 transformed the way divorce worked in England, and much of the act still works in a similar way to this day. The previous reasons for divorce were scrapped and the list reformed. It was now possible to divorce after being separated for two years if both parties agreed, or after being separated for five years if only one party was seeking the dissolution of the marriage. The other possible reason was if the marriage had irretrievably broken down, something that covered many areas including adultery and desertion. In theory any reason that contributed to the breakdown of a marriage could be the basis for it having “irretrievably broken down”. From this time it was no longer necessary for an undefended divorce case to be heard in the High Court in London; local County Courts could be used. Defended divorces, however, were still held in the High Court.
In the mid 1970’s a Special Procedure was introduced. This made things much simpler in uncontested divorce cases. This has since become the norm and it is these days very rare for contested divorces to take place; only around one if fifty thousand divorces are now contested.
Over the last one hundred years there has been a big change in divorce in England, from the reasons they can take place to the way they are dealt with.
Andrew Marshall ©
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
VoIP: Price not the only important consideration
VoIP is generally cheaper than other types of voice communications, such as the telephone, and this has led to increasing numbers switching to VoIP. The running costs are cheaper for providers meaning they are able to offer a more cost effective service to their customers. There are even free options, such as those where downloadable software is used so people can talk to each other through their computers. The price is obviously a major advantage for those considering choosing VoIP but it isn’t the only important thing. With the lower cost options, quality can suffer. When choosing a VoIP solution price should be considered but it shouldn’t be the only important thing.
Call Quality
This is an obvious, but important, consideration. The problem with VoIP is low quality services can result in an echo and other issues. It doesn’t matter how cheap the service is if you can’t understand what the person on the other end is saying. How good the quality needs to be depends on what you will be using VoIP for. If choosing Interoute are a top quality Business VoIP Provider. it may need to be of the highest quality. You want to seem professional and need a VoIP system that meets those needs. You need to be able to have business conversations with partners and customers. If you are simply using it for calling family and friends then call quality may not be quite so important. In this case the quality of your VoIP is not going to affect your business. You will probably still want a decent service, but it is not quite so crucial.
Reliability
A VoIP solution is no good if it keeps cutting out and you are unable to have a proper conversation with anyone. Therefore reliability can be very important, especially for a business where you need it to be available whenever you wish to make a call. You may be able to handle some reliability issues if using VoIP for personal calls, but for business it is not really acceptable.
Technical Support
Where quality is important, technical support is important. This should mean maintaining the high quality your VoIP system is capable of at all times. Any problems will be able to be dealt with when they occur. It is also important that your VoIP systems are set up correctly. When using a specific business VoIP provider then you may need support for this, whereas for a cheap personal VoIP system you may be able to set it up yourself.
Features
You can go for very basic VoIP where you can simply call from one phone to another without being able to do anything else. These are better priced but that doesn’t mean they are better value for money. You might want an integrated system with several phones and phone lines with services such as call forwarding and an answer phone service. This is more likely if using it for business purposes.
Cost
And then there is cost. Cost shouldn’t be considered alone though. Just simply looking at prices and choosing the cheapest option does not mean you will chose the best option. Price should be used along with other factors to decide on a service. What you need will largely depend on your needs and circumstances. What will you be using VoIP for? Will it be for business purposes or personal use? Value for money is more important than simply price. You need to find the service you need for the best possible price.
Andrew Marshall ©
Call Quality
This is an obvious, but important, consideration. The problem with VoIP is low quality services can result in an echo and other issues. It doesn’t matter how cheap the service is if you can’t understand what the person on the other end is saying. How good the quality needs to be depends on what you will be using VoIP for. If choosing Interoute are a top quality Business VoIP Provider. it may need to be of the highest quality. You want to seem professional and need a VoIP system that meets those needs. You need to be able to have business conversations with partners and customers. If you are simply using it for calling family and friends then call quality may not be quite so important. In this case the quality of your VoIP is not going to affect your business. You will probably still want a decent service, but it is not quite so crucial.
Reliability
A VoIP solution is no good if it keeps cutting out and you are unable to have a proper conversation with anyone. Therefore reliability can be very important, especially for a business where you need it to be available whenever you wish to make a call. You may be able to handle some reliability issues if using VoIP for personal calls, but for business it is not really acceptable.
Technical Support
Where quality is important, technical support is important. This should mean maintaining the high quality your VoIP system is capable of at all times. Any problems will be able to be dealt with when they occur. It is also important that your VoIP systems are set up correctly. When using a specific business VoIP provider then you may need support for this, whereas for a cheap personal VoIP system you may be able to set it up yourself.
Features
You can go for very basic VoIP where you can simply call from one phone to another without being able to do anything else. These are better priced but that doesn’t mean they are better value for money. You might want an integrated system with several phones and phone lines with services such as call forwarding and an answer phone service. This is more likely if using it for business purposes.
Cost
And then there is cost. Cost shouldn’t be considered alone though. Just simply looking at prices and choosing the cheapest option does not mean you will chose the best option. Price should be used along with other factors to decide on a service. What you need will largely depend on your needs and circumstances. What will you be using VoIP for? Will it be for business purposes or personal use? Value for money is more important than simply price. You need to find the service you need for the best possible price.
Andrew Marshall ©
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Overnight Courts dealing with Rioters
After the recent riots in London, some UK courts have been operating overnight to process criminal charges. With over 1,000 people arrested in London alone, there has been an unexpected strain on the legal system. Opening some courts overnight and at the weekend has lead to faster convictions.
The riots began in Tottenham in North London and quickly spread to other parts of the capital over the following days. The violence then spread to other parts of England including Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham. Crimes committed involved throwing missiles at police, smashing shop windows, looting and arson.
The courts quickly began to process the cases of the arrested individuals, much more quickly than for most criminal charges. It was decided to quickly deal with these cases, partly to make an example of the rioters while it was still in the news. One reason for this was to discourage others from doing the same by making it obvious that people will be punished for such actions.
Due to the vast numbers arrested it suddenly became necessary for several hundred people to be tried. Overnight courts have meant that some cases can be dealt with promptly so they don’t drag on for months. Rioters have been seen to face justice while people are still thinking about the events that took place. Hundreds of people have gone through the court system already, very few of whom would have done had the court been operating at their usually schedule. Many are likely to face custodial sentences.
There have been convictions for a variety of offenses, including robbery, arson, violent disorder and public disorder. Those found guilty have included people from all backgrounds, with many facing sentencing at a later date. Some of those who have pleaded guilty have already been sentenced while others have been referred to the Crown Court. For these people, a more in-depth trial will take place in due course.
It has been questioned whether or not fast tracking these cases through the courts is the best way to deal with them. Some have stated that convictions are being rushed into just to get them done, without enough time to really establish the facts of the crimes of the individual concerned with each case. Some see the courts operating overnight as a way of making a point (perhaps a valid one) rather than the best way of treating a criminal case. They see it as a political decision rather than a judicial one. With overnight courts everyone, including judges, solicitors and defendants, are tired and this can contribute to the wrong decisions being made.
There is no doubt that much criminality has taken place and that those responsible must face the consequence. Although thousands of people across the country have been guilty of serious crimes, the majority of the population across the country has been quick to condemn those responsible. It is hoped that the actions taken against the guilty parties will discourage others from getting involved in similar actions in the future.
Andrew Marshall ©
The riots began in Tottenham in North London and quickly spread to other parts of the capital over the following days. The violence then spread to other parts of England including Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham. Crimes committed involved throwing missiles at police, smashing shop windows, looting and arson.
The courts quickly began to process the cases of the arrested individuals, much more quickly than for most criminal charges. It was decided to quickly deal with these cases, partly to make an example of the rioters while it was still in the news. One reason for this was to discourage others from doing the same by making it obvious that people will be punished for such actions.
Due to the vast numbers arrested it suddenly became necessary for several hundred people to be tried. Overnight courts have meant that some cases can be dealt with promptly so they don’t drag on for months. Rioters have been seen to face justice while people are still thinking about the events that took place. Hundreds of people have gone through the court system already, very few of whom would have done had the court been operating at their usually schedule. Many are likely to face custodial sentences.
There have been convictions for a variety of offenses, including robbery, arson, violent disorder and public disorder. Those found guilty have included people from all backgrounds, with many facing sentencing at a later date. Some of those who have pleaded guilty have already been sentenced while others have been referred to the Crown Court. For these people, a more in-depth trial will take place in due course.
It has been questioned whether or not fast tracking these cases through the courts is the best way to deal with them. Some have stated that convictions are being rushed into just to get them done, without enough time to really establish the facts of the crimes of the individual concerned with each case. Some see the courts operating overnight as a way of making a point (perhaps a valid one) rather than the best way of treating a criminal case. They see it as a political decision rather than a judicial one. With overnight courts everyone, including judges, solicitors and defendants, are tired and this can contribute to the wrong decisions being made.
There is no doubt that much criminality has taken place and that those responsible must face the consequence. Although thousands of people across the country have been guilty of serious crimes, the majority of the population across the country has been quick to condemn those responsible. It is hoped that the actions taken against the guilty parties will discourage others from getting involved in similar actions in the future.
Andrew Marshall ©
Friday, August 12, 2011
Charity in the Current Economy
The economic situation over the last few years has had a major impact on British society. But what impact has it had on charities and charitable donations? Have people been giving less to charity? With people having become employed, and others with reduced or unchanged incomes, many people have less disposable income so they don’t have as much they are able to give away. This article investigates the impact of the economy on different aspect of charity.
The government have made cuts to many areas of spending, something that is set to continue. One area in which money is being saved is by charity funding being reduced. Some have lost around half of their funding while others have lost it all. Many rely on this funding as well as individual charitable donations. More than 2,000 charities are being forced to close services and it is particularly having an impact on smaller charities.
Compared to pre-recession figures, the total amount of charitable donations by individuals has dropped by around £700 million a year. Fewer people are giving money to charity and those who are giving are tending to give less.
Cash charitable donations makes up a higher percentage of giving that any other type of donation, 50% of the total. This is an area that is impacted by people’s personal circumstances. With the financial situation of many people very different to a few years ago this means a lot of people are unable to give as often as they would have previously. This is the area of charity that suffers most in an economic downturn.
People giving to charity in connection with natural disasters has been impacted less. Donations for those affected by disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have been as high as would normally be expected. These are more emotional decisions, for example based on seeing the devastation on television and being compelled to help out. In these circumstances people often give without thinking about their finances so much.
One area where the news has been good has been with charity shops. For one thing, more people are looking to work in charity shops. More people are unemployed so are free to volunteer their time or work for low wages. They would rather be doing some work or earning a little than be at home earning nothing. The most significant thing about charity shops in an economic downturn, though, is the number of people buying from them. With people having less disposable income it means they are less able to afford to shop at more expensive outlets. This is driving them to charity shops. It can be a great way of giving to charity for people struggling financially. Rather than spending more money by giving to charity, people are spending less money while still giving to charity.
Although the news is good with regard to charity shops, overall charities have been negatively impacted by the recession and its aftermath. Funding for charities is being reduced and people are donating less.
Andrew Marshall (c)
The government have made cuts to many areas of spending, something that is set to continue. One area in which money is being saved is by charity funding being reduced. Some have lost around half of their funding while others have lost it all. Many rely on this funding as well as individual charitable donations. More than 2,000 charities are being forced to close services and it is particularly having an impact on smaller charities.
Compared to pre-recession figures, the total amount of charitable donations by individuals has dropped by around £700 million a year. Fewer people are giving money to charity and those who are giving are tending to give less.
Cash charitable donations makes up a higher percentage of giving that any other type of donation, 50% of the total. This is an area that is impacted by people’s personal circumstances. With the financial situation of many people very different to a few years ago this means a lot of people are unable to give as often as they would have previously. This is the area of charity that suffers most in an economic downturn.
People giving to charity in connection with natural disasters has been impacted less. Donations for those affected by disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan have been as high as would normally be expected. These are more emotional decisions, for example based on seeing the devastation on television and being compelled to help out. In these circumstances people often give without thinking about their finances so much.
One area where the news has been good has been with charity shops. For one thing, more people are looking to work in charity shops. More people are unemployed so are free to volunteer their time or work for low wages. They would rather be doing some work or earning a little than be at home earning nothing. The most significant thing about charity shops in an economic downturn, though, is the number of people buying from them. With people having less disposable income it means they are less able to afford to shop at more expensive outlets. This is driving them to charity shops. It can be a great way of giving to charity for people struggling financially. Rather than spending more money by giving to charity, people are spending less money while still giving to charity.
Although the news is good with regard to charity shops, overall charities have been negatively impacted by the recession and its aftermath. Funding for charities is being reduced and people are donating less.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Is Divorce Always Wrong?
Some believe that divorce is wrong under any circumstances, with some claiming that God is against it and it is a sin. In an ideal world every marriage would be a happy one and divorce would never be necessary. However, we don’t live in a perfect world and there are times where, for whatever reason, a marriage just isn’t working. There are times when a separation is the best, or even the only, option.
Adultery
It is very difficult for a marriage to survive adultery, especially for it to remain a loving and trusting marriage. If one spouse is unfaithful and his or her partner finds out, then it is often difficult for the victim to forgive. This means the marriage is unlikely to remain a happy one. In these circumstances a divorce may be the best option.
Long-term Affair
If one spouse is having an affair it is likely to seriously damage a relationship. It can be even more damaging than a short-term fling as it is more calculated and over a longer period. It is again likely to mean a lack of trust from the victim with divorce often the inevitable outcome.
Abuse
Where abuse is taking place within a relationship divorce can sometimes be the only option. No-one deserves to be physically or mentally abused and victims in these situations should be encouraged to look for a way out. This is even more the case where children are involved. If children see abuse in the household they may think of it as an example and believe this type of behaviour is acceptable. They may even be in danger of being abused themselves.
Addiction
One spouse being addicted to drugs or alcohol can cause problem within a relationship. It can lead to all manner of problem, including potential abuse. Those who suffer from addiction can receive help and it doesn’t have to spell the end of a marriage, but there are times when there may be no other solution.
It is an Unhappy Marriage
Happiness is the most important thing and there are times when people just aren’t, or are no longer, happy together. Maybe they can’t see eye to eye on the important issue and they are always arguing. This is not a healthy relationship and not an easy way to live. It is also not a healthy environment to bring children up in. Many couples “stay together for the kids”, but an unhappy, confrontational household, is not a good thing for children. If things really can’t be worked out then a separation may be the best option, both for the couple and for any children they may have.
Lack of Love
Sometimes couples simply fall out of love. They become tired of a relationship that no longer has the spark it once did. This is where things become difficult. There may not be one outstanding reason why the marriage cannot last, but neither spouse is as happy as they might be.
Divorce should not be encouraged but that does not mean it is wrong. Every situation is different and so is every couple, but there are circumstances where it is the best thing for all concerned.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Adultery
It is very difficult for a marriage to survive adultery, especially for it to remain a loving and trusting marriage. If one spouse is unfaithful and his or her partner finds out, then it is often difficult for the victim to forgive. This means the marriage is unlikely to remain a happy one. In these circumstances a divorce may be the best option.
Long-term Affair
If one spouse is having an affair it is likely to seriously damage a relationship. It can be even more damaging than a short-term fling as it is more calculated and over a longer period. It is again likely to mean a lack of trust from the victim with divorce often the inevitable outcome.
Abuse
Where abuse is taking place within a relationship divorce can sometimes be the only option. No-one deserves to be physically or mentally abused and victims in these situations should be encouraged to look for a way out. This is even more the case where children are involved. If children see abuse in the household they may think of it as an example and believe this type of behaviour is acceptable. They may even be in danger of being abused themselves.
Addiction
One spouse being addicted to drugs or alcohol can cause problem within a relationship. It can lead to all manner of problem, including potential abuse. Those who suffer from addiction can receive help and it doesn’t have to spell the end of a marriage, but there are times when there may be no other solution.
It is an Unhappy Marriage
Happiness is the most important thing and there are times when people just aren’t, or are no longer, happy together. Maybe they can’t see eye to eye on the important issue and they are always arguing. This is not a healthy relationship and not an easy way to live. It is also not a healthy environment to bring children up in. Many couples “stay together for the kids”, but an unhappy, confrontational household, is not a good thing for children. If things really can’t be worked out then a separation may be the best option, both for the couple and for any children they may have.
Lack of Love
Sometimes couples simply fall out of love. They become tired of a relationship that no longer has the spark it once did. This is where things become difficult. There may not be one outstanding reason why the marriage cannot last, but neither spouse is as happy as they might be.
Divorce should not be encouraged but that does not mean it is wrong. Every situation is different and so is every couple, but there are circumstances where it is the best thing for all concerned.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuition Fees and Student Loans in England: The Changes and What it Means
The amount that students of the future will have to pay in tuition fees in England is changing. The way they are paid for is also changing with an extension and revision of the student loan system.
Current Tuition Fees
Currently tuition fees are £3,290 a year for all university students, whichever university they attend and whichever course they take. This is going up to £3,375 for students starting in 2011. To pay for this grants are available, depending on a families earnings. For families who earn under £25,000 a year a grant of £2,906 is available, meaning only having to pay £384 a year in tuition fees after this. The available grant is reduced with increasing family earnings. Those with an annual income of £50,020 aren’t entitled to a grant. After the student grant is taken into consideration it is often parents who pay the tuition fees on behalf of their children.
How Does the Student Loan Work Now?
All students are entitled to a student loan to pay for their living costs through university. The amount that can be borrowed depends on each student’s personal situation. For those living in their family home (e.g. with their parents) a maximum of £3,838 a year is available with £4,950 available for those living away from home. The loan is increased for those studying in London. 72% of the above maximum amounts are available to all students, with the remaining 28% depending on family incomes.
The student loan does not have to be paid back until former students are earning above £15,000 a year. Once earning this amount repayments are automatically taken out of their salary at 9% of their earning above this amount. So those earning £16,000 will therefore pay 9% of £1,000 (£90) and those earning £30,000 will pay 9% of £15,000 (£1,350). This is then paid until the loan is fully paid off. More than this can be paid if former students wish to pay the loan off quicker.
Tuition Fees from 2012
Fees are going to be significant rising. Students beginning university from 2012 could pay up to £9,000 a year, with individual universities able to decide how much they will charge. Many have chosen to charge £9,000 for most, or all, of their courses.
How will this Work?
Students, and their parents, will not be able to pay upfront, something they currently are able to do. Students must take out a student loan to pay for their tuition fees, and can take more for living costs above this if required. There has been much controversy and debate over this. Even if the loan is only required for the tuition fess this could add up to £27,000 over three years.
It is not quite as bad as much of the media has made out though. As repayment is based on later earning, former students will not have to pay it back unless they earn a certain amount. If it is not paid back after 30 years the loan will be cancelled.
Although the amount of the loan students will require will be higher than it currently is, the good news is that the threshold is being increased to £21,000. So for someone earning £30,000 they will pay 9% of £9,000 (£810) rather than 9% of £15,000. This means that anyone paying off a student loan will be paying less a month than they would under the current system. Former students will be saving £540 a year. The downside is that they will be paying for longer.
Will University be Worth the Costs?
Whether university will be worth it in the long run ultimately depends on future earnings, something that is difficult to predict. Someone earning £30,000 and paying off their loan will be better off than someone earning £25,000 without a degree and without the loan. So it depends on the likely salary increase with a degree as opposed to not having one. If a prospective student is looking for employment in a sector where a degree is required or likely to lead to a higher salary, then it is likely to be worth the costs.
Should Parents Save for their Child’s University?
As mentioned above, tuition fees will not be able to be paid up front. Some parents have complained that they will suddenly need to find £9,000 a year, but this is untrue due to the loan system (with favourable conditions compared with other loans).
This doesn’t mean that savings on behalf of children isn’t a good idea. It is not just tuition fees that students need to pay, but living cost. And considering they may not be working, or be working part-time at best, this can be a burden. This could make the new Junior ISA scheme attractive to parents. The Junior ISA will allow for tax free savings, where parents will be able to pay up to £3,600 a year into a Junior ISA account on behalf of their children. This plus the accumulated interest will then be available to children once the turn eighteen, the age when many begin university.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Current Tuition Fees
Currently tuition fees are £3,290 a year for all university students, whichever university they attend and whichever course they take. This is going up to £3,375 for students starting in 2011. To pay for this grants are available, depending on a families earnings. For families who earn under £25,000 a year a grant of £2,906 is available, meaning only having to pay £384 a year in tuition fees after this. The available grant is reduced with increasing family earnings. Those with an annual income of £50,020 aren’t entitled to a grant. After the student grant is taken into consideration it is often parents who pay the tuition fees on behalf of their children.
How Does the Student Loan Work Now?
All students are entitled to a student loan to pay for their living costs through university. The amount that can be borrowed depends on each student’s personal situation. For those living in their family home (e.g. with their parents) a maximum of £3,838 a year is available with £4,950 available for those living away from home. The loan is increased for those studying in London. 72% of the above maximum amounts are available to all students, with the remaining 28% depending on family incomes.
The student loan does not have to be paid back until former students are earning above £15,000 a year. Once earning this amount repayments are automatically taken out of their salary at 9% of their earning above this amount. So those earning £16,000 will therefore pay 9% of £1,000 (£90) and those earning £30,000 will pay 9% of £15,000 (£1,350). This is then paid until the loan is fully paid off. More than this can be paid if former students wish to pay the loan off quicker.
Tuition Fees from 2012
Fees are going to be significant rising. Students beginning university from 2012 could pay up to £9,000 a year, with individual universities able to decide how much they will charge. Many have chosen to charge £9,000 for most, or all, of their courses.
How will this Work?
Students, and their parents, will not be able to pay upfront, something they currently are able to do. Students must take out a student loan to pay for their tuition fees, and can take more for living costs above this if required. There has been much controversy and debate over this. Even if the loan is only required for the tuition fess this could add up to £27,000 over three years.
It is not quite as bad as much of the media has made out though. As repayment is based on later earning, former students will not have to pay it back unless they earn a certain amount. If it is not paid back after 30 years the loan will be cancelled.
Although the amount of the loan students will require will be higher than it currently is, the good news is that the threshold is being increased to £21,000. So for someone earning £30,000 they will pay 9% of £9,000 (£810) rather than 9% of £15,000. This means that anyone paying off a student loan will be paying less a month than they would under the current system. Former students will be saving £540 a year. The downside is that they will be paying for longer.
Will University be Worth the Costs?
Whether university will be worth it in the long run ultimately depends on future earnings, something that is difficult to predict. Someone earning £30,000 and paying off their loan will be better off than someone earning £25,000 without a degree and without the loan. So it depends on the likely salary increase with a degree as opposed to not having one. If a prospective student is looking for employment in a sector where a degree is required or likely to lead to a higher salary, then it is likely to be worth the costs.
Should Parents Save for their Child’s University?
As mentioned above, tuition fees will not be able to be paid up front. Some parents have complained that they will suddenly need to find £9,000 a year, but this is untrue due to the loan system (with favourable conditions compared with other loans).
This doesn’t mean that savings on behalf of children isn’t a good idea. It is not just tuition fees that students need to pay, but living cost. And considering they may not be working, or be working part-time at best, this can be a burden. This could make the new Junior ISA scheme attractive to parents. The Junior ISA will allow for tax free savings, where parents will be able to pay up to £3,600 a year into a Junior ISA account on behalf of their children. This plus the accumulated interest will then be available to children once the turn eighteen, the age when many begin university.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Who Should Use a VPN?
In the modern world online security is becoming more and more important. The internet is used for all sorts of reasons, potentially putting users at risk. This is where a VPN (virtual private network) comes in. A VPN can protect against security risks and prevent a computer or computer network from being compromised. Examples of where a VPN can be useful are where several people are sharing resources or where data security could be an issue for whatever reason. It allows for secure communications between different locations.
Below are some examples of where a VPN can be useful.
For a Business
A VPN enhances business security and can make a business much more flexible. It means employees are able to work from many locations. They can work from different offices, from home, or anywhere else using a laptop. They can do this while still working on a secure network. They are able to gain access to the company’s network without others being able to intercept it and can access the network wirelessly. For some businesses is can be very beneficial to have people working in several locations. Being able to do this securely can make employees much more productive.
Government Organisations
Government organisations store all kinds of data on many different things. This means they store billions of pieces of information, much of which needs to be kept securely. It is also often sent between different networks. It is vital that steps are taken to make sure security is not compromised.
Medical Records
These days all of our medical records are stored digitally. It is important, therefore, that people’s privacy is maintained. Medical records can be sent between doctor’s surgeries if patients are changing doctor and can be sent between a surgery and a hospital prior to a hospital visit. With information being exchanged in this way it makes security particularly important.
Wireless Hotspots
Many people use wireless hotspots to gain internet access using laptops, smart phones, and other internet enabled devices. These can be found in cafes and airports amongst other places. Something a lot of people don’t realise, though, it that they are not as secure as using the internet at home, for example, as they are relatively easy to intercept. Having a VPN installed onto the device you are using can prevent your private information from being hacked into.
Personal Information
People are using the internet more and more in everyday life and have all sorts of information on their computer. Many also shop online, meaning they input credit card details. It is therefore very important that people’s home computers are kept secure. A virtual private network will provide a crucial extra layer of security.
Whether you are a business, another type of organisation or an individual user, if you deal with sensitive information or information that must be kept secure, a VPN can help. Using a VPN makes any computer or computer system more secure by encrypting data so it cannot be interpreted and understood by those who should not have access.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Below are some examples of where a VPN can be useful.
For a Business
A VPN enhances business security and can make a business much more flexible. It means employees are able to work from many locations. They can work from different offices, from home, or anywhere else using a laptop. They can do this while still working on a secure network. They are able to gain access to the company’s network without others being able to intercept it and can access the network wirelessly. For some businesses is can be very beneficial to have people working in several locations. Being able to do this securely can make employees much more productive.
Government Organisations
Government organisations store all kinds of data on many different things. This means they store billions of pieces of information, much of which needs to be kept securely. It is also often sent between different networks. It is vital that steps are taken to make sure security is not compromised.
Medical Records
These days all of our medical records are stored digitally. It is important, therefore, that people’s privacy is maintained. Medical records can be sent between doctor’s surgeries if patients are changing doctor and can be sent between a surgery and a hospital prior to a hospital visit. With information being exchanged in this way it makes security particularly important.
Wireless Hotspots
Many people use wireless hotspots to gain internet access using laptops, smart phones, and other internet enabled devices. These can be found in cafes and airports amongst other places. Something a lot of people don’t realise, though, it that they are not as secure as using the internet at home, for example, as they are relatively easy to intercept. Having a VPN installed onto the device you are using can prevent your private information from being hacked into.
Personal Information
People are using the internet more and more in everyday life and have all sorts of information on their computer. Many also shop online, meaning they input credit card details. It is therefore very important that people’s home computers are kept secure. A virtual private network will provide a crucial extra layer of security.
Whether you are a business, another type of organisation or an individual user, if you deal with sensitive information or information that must be kept secure, a VPN can help. Using a VPN makes any computer or computer system more secure by encrypting data so it cannot be interpreted and understood by those who should not have access.
Andrew Marshall (c)
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