The Junior ISA (JISA) has been introduced to replace the Child Trust Fund (CTF), which was scrapped by the current government. It is possible to open an account under the name of any child who wasn’t entitled to the child trust fund, whether they were born before the child trust fund was introduced or after it was scrapped.
Those with a CTF are not able to have a junior ISA account opened for them but investments can still be paid into their CTF. In theory this means their child trust fund will continue to act as it was intended to but without the investment that used to be paid by the government once a child turned seven.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the child trust fund now that the junior ISA scheme has begun. Many fear that interest rates will not be as good with a child trust fund as with junior ISA’s. Some believe that providers will choose to focus on the junior ISA where they can generate new customers, rather than the CTF where they cannot.
There is one way that the child trust fund will be changing to keep pace with the junior ISA and that is in its limit. The maximum yearly investment that could be made with the CFT was £1,200, but with a JISA this has been increased to £3,600. Parents whose children have a child trust fund will now also be able to invest up to £3,600 a year. With both products this will increase with inflation.
Many have the opinion that families should be able to transfer a child trust fund into a junior ISA. This would mean that whatever interest rates do, the situation would be the same for children with each plan. Some have claimed that with keeping the CTF and JISA separate, it means that those with a child trust fund are being punished as the interest rates might not be so favourable. It is not the fault of children or their parents if they do not get the same rates; it would simply be because of the timing of their birth.
Child trust fund accounts being transferred into junior ISA’s would be fairly simple. It would not cost a lot and could make things easier for everyone. It could be argued that it would be better for investment companies as it is easier to keep everything together than to keep child trust fund accounts open even though it is no longer being offered as a new product. If interest rates do differ combining the two products would also be better for children with a child trust fund.
In a way it doesn’t seem to make sense to keep child trust funds and junior ISA’s separate. It would be simple to combine them and prevent the possibility of differing interest rates. This would stop some children being left with an old investment product that is no longer the focus of investment companies who had originally offered them.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Methods and Dangers of Identity Theft
Identity theft is an increasing concern for many, and something that has become even more prevalent over the last few years due to the internet. There are many ways that someone who has stolen your identity can use it against you. This article contains some examples of how people can be caused problems by others stealing their identity.
The most common cases of identity theft are where credit cards or credit card details are stolen. This has become more commonplace due to the internet. With so many people now making purchases online it gives an extra opportunity to criminals wishing to obtain the details of innocent people’s credit cards. This has the obvious problem of someone being able to use somebody else’s credit card to buy things and withdraw cash, while the credit card owner can get left with the bill. The problem with your details being stolen rather than the physical credit card being stolen is that you are likely to notice soon after your card has gone. If the details are stolen, for example during an online transaction, then you may not realise for a while, while someone else is spending your money.
Some have taken out mortgages and other loans using a stolen identity. Someone who would not otherwise be able to get a loan may use the details of someone in a stronger financial position. This can cause the person who is being imitated being charged for repayments and interest on a loan they haven’t taken out. One the other hand, the lender can lose out having already paid out the amount of the loan, although this can often be reclaimed.
It is not just individuals who can be victims of stolen credit cards and credit card details, but businesses as well. If a business accepts a stolen credit card from someone buying goods or services from them then it may mean lost income, as the money might be reclaimed by the credit card company.
Identity theft is not just about money though, people can use others’ identity in other ways. One example is to use someone else’s passport. This can enable wanted criminals to travel to another country, or illegal immigrant to enter a country by what appears to be legal means.
People have had their driving licence used by somebody else. This has led to people driving illegally. It can also mean someone being fined for speeding when, in fact, they haven’t committed the offence.
Another instance of identity crime has been where people have managed to tell the postal services that someone has moved, re-directing mail to their own address. This means receiving their mail, which can have disastrous consequences. This can mean receiving mail that enables them to use their identity for wrongful means.
The above is not by any means an exhaustive list of potential identity theft crimes. There are many other ways that people’s identities can be used for wrongful means. The danger of identity theft means that everyone has to be careful to make sure they limit the chances of their identity being stolen.
Andrew Marshall (c)
The most common cases of identity theft are where credit cards or credit card details are stolen. This has become more commonplace due to the internet. With so many people now making purchases online it gives an extra opportunity to criminals wishing to obtain the details of innocent people’s credit cards. This has the obvious problem of someone being able to use somebody else’s credit card to buy things and withdraw cash, while the credit card owner can get left with the bill. The problem with your details being stolen rather than the physical credit card being stolen is that you are likely to notice soon after your card has gone. If the details are stolen, for example during an online transaction, then you may not realise for a while, while someone else is spending your money.
Some have taken out mortgages and other loans using a stolen identity. Someone who would not otherwise be able to get a loan may use the details of someone in a stronger financial position. This can cause the person who is being imitated being charged for repayments and interest on a loan they haven’t taken out. One the other hand, the lender can lose out having already paid out the amount of the loan, although this can often be reclaimed.
It is not just individuals who can be victims of stolen credit cards and credit card details, but businesses as well. If a business accepts a stolen credit card from someone buying goods or services from them then it may mean lost income, as the money might be reclaimed by the credit card company.
Identity theft is not just about money though, people can use others’ identity in other ways. One example is to use someone else’s passport. This can enable wanted criminals to travel to another country, or illegal immigrant to enter a country by what appears to be legal means.
People have had their driving licence used by somebody else. This has led to people driving illegally. It can also mean someone being fined for speeding when, in fact, they haven’t committed the offence.
Another instance of identity crime has been where people have managed to tell the postal services that someone has moved, re-directing mail to their own address. This means receiving their mail, which can have disastrous consequences. This can mean receiving mail that enables them to use their identity for wrongful means.
The above is not by any means an exhaustive list of potential identity theft crimes. There are many other ways that people’s identities can be used for wrongful means. The danger of identity theft means that everyone has to be careful to make sure they limit the chances of their identity being stolen.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
A Brief Introduction to Melksham
Melksham is the fifth largest town in the county of Wiltshire in South-West England. It is on the banks of the River Avon and has good access to Bath, Swindon and Salisbury, as well as the M4 motorway. Junction 17 of the M4 is only 10 miles away. Bath is 13 miles from the town with Bristol 36 miles away. The population of Melksham stands at around 23,000.
Melksham was originally developed at a ford across the River Avon, and the name derives from the word ‘meolc’, which meant milk and ham in old English. In the Doomsday Book the town was described as having “8 mills, 130 acres of water meadows and 8 leagues of pasture in length and breadth”. At the time of the Norman Conquest Melksham was a Royal Estate after the Prioress and Nuns of Amesbury surrendered their Melksham estates to the King.
In the nineteenth century a Spa was developed in Melksham. The Melksham Spa Company was formed in 1815 by a group of wealthy men who had made their money from the textile industry, which was by this time in decline. They were looking for another project and believed a Spa was a good money making opportunity. The Spa idea was thought about after a failed attempt to find coal uncovered two springs. Six large three story lodge buildings were built that included a pump room and private baths, both hot and cold. Unfortunately for its founders, the Spa did not prove as successful as they believed it would, partly due to the Roman Baths in the nearby city of Bath. The buildings, however, still exist today. The area to the south of the town is now known as The Spa. There was a plan for a similar area on the north side that was never developed.
The biggest employer in Melksham these days is Avon Rubber, a tyre producer that employs over 300 people. Knorr-Bremse, a designer and manufacturer of railway braking systems, also employs a significant number of people. Several manufacturing industries have existed in the area due to the easy access to the M4.
In recent times there has been a development of the town centre. The town includes facilities such as banks, cafe’s, food shops, chemists, a post office, a library, a police station and a fire station. There is also a railway station which is on the Wessex main line connected to Chippenham and Trowbridge. Only two trains in each direction, though, stop in Melksham each day. There are nine primary schools in Melksham but only one secondary school. Sports facilities in the town include a gym, swimming pool and sports centre. There are also many pubs, several of which have live music.
One of the highlights of the year in Melksham is the annual Party in the Park, which takes place in July. It consists of a fair with rides, a fireworks display, and a stage with live music and dance. As part of the festival there is also a carnival parade that travels through the town.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Melksham was originally developed at a ford across the River Avon, and the name derives from the word ‘meolc’, which meant milk and ham in old English. In the Doomsday Book the town was described as having “8 mills, 130 acres of water meadows and 8 leagues of pasture in length and breadth”. At the time of the Norman Conquest Melksham was a Royal Estate after the Prioress and Nuns of Amesbury surrendered their Melksham estates to the King.
In the nineteenth century a Spa was developed in Melksham. The Melksham Spa Company was formed in 1815 by a group of wealthy men who had made their money from the textile industry, which was by this time in decline. They were looking for another project and believed a Spa was a good money making opportunity. The Spa idea was thought about after a failed attempt to find coal uncovered two springs. Six large three story lodge buildings were built that included a pump room and private baths, both hot and cold. Unfortunately for its founders, the Spa did not prove as successful as they believed it would, partly due to the Roman Baths in the nearby city of Bath. The buildings, however, still exist today. The area to the south of the town is now known as The Spa. There was a plan for a similar area on the north side that was never developed.
The biggest employer in Melksham these days is Avon Rubber, a tyre producer that employs over 300 people. Knorr-Bremse, a designer and manufacturer of railway braking systems, also employs a significant number of people. Several manufacturing industries have existed in the area due to the easy access to the M4.
In recent times there has been a development of the town centre. The town includes facilities such as banks, cafe’s, food shops, chemists, a post office, a library, a police station and a fire station. There is also a railway station which is on the Wessex main line connected to Chippenham and Trowbridge. Only two trains in each direction, though, stop in Melksham each day. There are nine primary schools in Melksham but only one secondary school. Sports facilities in the town include a gym, swimming pool and sports centre. There are also many pubs, several of which have live music.
One of the highlights of the year in Melksham is the annual Party in the Park, which takes place in July. It consists of a fair with rides, a fireworks display, and a stage with live music and dance. As part of the festival there is also a carnival parade that travels through the town.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Efficiency of Window Shutters
When you are choosing the type of window covering you want for your home there are many things to take into consideration. This includes what suits the interior of your home, the price, practical issues, and personal preference – what you think looks best. Another thing you might want to consider is efficiency. In many ways window shutters are more efficient that other window coverings such as curtains and blinds.
Window shutters can insulate the home much more effectively that other window coverings, therefore helping to keep down heating costs during the winter. This is due to the thick, quality wood material that is normally used to manufacture shutters. They compare very favourable to curtains. The cloth materials used for curtains insulate to an extent but nowhere near as much as the wood used for shutters. You can compare it to accommodation – you are warmer sleeping in a wooden hut than a tent – and you are warmer in a home where windows are covered by wooden shutters than a home where they are covered by cloth curtains. Blinds can be made from a variety of materials and one of these is wood. Even wooden blinds, though, do not insulate as well as shutters because the wood does not tend to be of as high quality and thickness. Being a better insulate not only saves on heating costs but is also good for the environment.
As well as keeping you warm in the winter months, shutters can also keep you cool in the summer, thus saving on air conditioning, and therefore electricity. This is also good for your wallet and the environment. Window shutters can help to block out sunlight while still letting air in. This can be achieved by having the shutters closed but the louvres open at the right angle. Although blinds, and in particular wooden blinds, can have this advantage too, curtains do not.
Shutters can be relatively expensive compared to curtains and blinds, but they are longer lasting, meaning they are not likely to need replacing for a long time. They can last a lifetime. This is due to the quality of their manufacture. They also often come with a lifetime guarantee so if something does go wrong it will not cost any more.
There is one way that shutters can have a financial advantage – they can add value to a home. This is the case with both interior and exterior shutters. Therefore, when you come to sell your home you can recuperate some of the money spent on them. They are generally considered elegant and a real part of the home so they impact the asking price.
Most of the above is focused on wooden shutters, but there are efficiency advantages of exterior shutters as well. They also increase insulation and add value, but have another advantage interior shutters do not. This is protection from the weather elements. They can protect your home and its windows, particularly from wind. For this reason they are popular in areas where there is a danger of tornado’s and hurricanes. They can prevent windows from being smashed and debris from flying into them.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Window shutters can insulate the home much more effectively that other window coverings, therefore helping to keep down heating costs during the winter. This is due to the thick, quality wood material that is normally used to manufacture shutters. They compare very favourable to curtains. The cloth materials used for curtains insulate to an extent but nowhere near as much as the wood used for shutters. You can compare it to accommodation – you are warmer sleeping in a wooden hut than a tent – and you are warmer in a home where windows are covered by wooden shutters than a home where they are covered by cloth curtains. Blinds can be made from a variety of materials and one of these is wood. Even wooden blinds, though, do not insulate as well as shutters because the wood does not tend to be of as high quality and thickness. Being a better insulate not only saves on heating costs but is also good for the environment.
As well as keeping you warm in the winter months, shutters can also keep you cool in the summer, thus saving on air conditioning, and therefore electricity. This is also good for your wallet and the environment. Window shutters can help to block out sunlight while still letting air in. This can be achieved by having the shutters closed but the louvres open at the right angle. Although blinds, and in particular wooden blinds, can have this advantage too, curtains do not.
Shutters can be relatively expensive compared to curtains and blinds, but they are longer lasting, meaning they are not likely to need replacing for a long time. They can last a lifetime. This is due to the quality of their manufacture. They also often come with a lifetime guarantee so if something does go wrong it will not cost any more.
There is one way that shutters can have a financial advantage – they can add value to a home. This is the case with both interior and exterior shutters. Therefore, when you come to sell your home you can recuperate some of the money spent on them. They are generally considered elegant and a real part of the home so they impact the asking price.
Most of the above is focused on wooden shutters, but there are efficiency advantages of exterior shutters as well. They also increase insulation and add value, but have another advantage interior shutters do not. This is protection from the weather elements. They can protect your home and its windows, particularly from wind. For this reason they are popular in areas where there is a danger of tornado’s and hurricanes. They can prevent windows from being smashed and debris from flying into them.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
ISA’s and Pensions Compared
Are you thinking of beginning to save for your retirement? Have you wondered whether paying into a stocks and shares ISA would be more effective than paying into a pension? This article looks at the advantages of both.
With an ISA investors can make up to £10,680 worth of investment each year. The main advantage is that there is no tax to pay on any interest earned. This is advantageous over a pension, where income tax needs to be paid. As a pension counts as income, anything earned over the income tax threshold each year is taxable. For most, this means losing 20% off most of their pension. With an ISA you would get the whole amount the fund is worth.
ISA’s allow you to take money out when you wish; you don’t have to wait until you retire. Of course, the aim may be to fund your retirement but an ISA does allow you some added security. Should you suddenly find that you need the money you have been investing then you can have access to it.
A disadvantage of an ISA for some is the limit. The maximum that can be invested into an ISA each year is £10,680. There is a limit to a pension but it is much higher. Although most don’t reach the ISA limit anyway, for those looking to save a large amount it could be the deciding factor.
You may have to pay tax on the pension you receive but there are tax benefits when paying into a pension. If your employer is contributing then the pension contributions are paid before income tax is taken off, so you are not paying income tax on what is effectively part of your earnings. For personal contributions you have to pay income tax on your earnings before you make the payments (as you have received it as monetary income) but the pension provider will claim back tax at 20%. This means that to pay £100 into your pension, you only have to contribute £80. Over the course of many years this can build up significantly. For example, if paying £200 a month for forty years you will be contributing £96,000 towards your pension fund. Once tax is paid back this would be £120,000, a £24,000 difference, the equivalent to the average UK gross salary.
Another tax advantage of pensions is the possibility of taking a lump sum when you first retire. If you choose to, you can immediately take 25% of the total pension fund as a tax-free lump sum. This means no income tax is paid on this amount. There will still, however, be income tax to be paid from future sums received.
There are both advantages and disadvantages of stocks and shares ISA’s and pensions when it comes to saving for retirement. Some financial bodies have carried out research looking at the differences, and the truth is the end result in terms of yearly payments after retirement will be very similar on average. Therefore a decision should be made on other preferences, for example some would prefer an ISA because of the security of being able to take some back if you choose, or a pension because of the higher limit.
Andrew Marshall (c)
With an ISA investors can make up to £10,680 worth of investment each year. The main advantage is that there is no tax to pay on any interest earned. This is advantageous over a pension, where income tax needs to be paid. As a pension counts as income, anything earned over the income tax threshold each year is taxable. For most, this means losing 20% off most of their pension. With an ISA you would get the whole amount the fund is worth.
ISA’s allow you to take money out when you wish; you don’t have to wait until you retire. Of course, the aim may be to fund your retirement but an ISA does allow you some added security. Should you suddenly find that you need the money you have been investing then you can have access to it.
A disadvantage of an ISA for some is the limit. The maximum that can be invested into an ISA each year is £10,680. There is a limit to a pension but it is much higher. Although most don’t reach the ISA limit anyway, for those looking to save a large amount it could be the deciding factor.
You may have to pay tax on the pension you receive but there are tax benefits when paying into a pension. If your employer is contributing then the pension contributions are paid before income tax is taken off, so you are not paying income tax on what is effectively part of your earnings. For personal contributions you have to pay income tax on your earnings before you make the payments (as you have received it as monetary income) but the pension provider will claim back tax at 20%. This means that to pay £100 into your pension, you only have to contribute £80. Over the course of many years this can build up significantly. For example, if paying £200 a month for forty years you will be contributing £96,000 towards your pension fund. Once tax is paid back this would be £120,000, a £24,000 difference, the equivalent to the average UK gross salary.
Another tax advantage of pensions is the possibility of taking a lump sum when you first retire. If you choose to, you can immediately take 25% of the total pension fund as a tax-free lump sum. This means no income tax is paid on this amount. There will still, however, be income tax to be paid from future sums received.
There are both advantages and disadvantages of stocks and shares ISA’s and pensions when it comes to saving for retirement. Some financial bodies have carried out research looking at the differences, and the truth is the end result in terms of yearly payments after retirement will be very similar on average. Therefore a decision should be made on other preferences, for example some would prefer an ISA because of the security of being able to take some back if you choose, or a pension because of the higher limit.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Examples of Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury solicitors are those who represent clients who have been injured, or whose injuries have been worsened, by others being negligent. These include injuries that could have been prevented and where doctors or other medical practitioners have not done their job as they should have. In these cases medical negligence solicitors may be needed. This article looks at some examples of where there may be possible personal injury cases.
Some of the most common personal injury cases come from car accidents. There can be a claim where someone has been seriously injured after a car accident that is deemed the fault of another driver. This can be to pay for medical help or a loss of their quality of life in serious situations, such as where the victim has been paralysed. Normally this will not be paid for by the at-fault driver, but by his or her insurance company. Were the driver uninsured or driving illegally then they may have to pay any compensation themselves. Compensation can be either on-going (if regular, indefinite, medical assistance is required) or a one-off lump sum.
Medical negligence is where a professional medical practitioner is held legally responsible due to a mistake or lack of foresight. Below are a couple of examples:
Someone might go to the doctor due to some chest pain. If the doctor does not investigate, perhaps saying it must just be temporary chest pain or indigestion, and it turns out to be a serious heart condition, then he or she could be held legally responsible. It could be deemed that the doctor could have dealt with the problem effectively had it been investigated.
Another example is if someone is having an operation and a mistake is made. Doctors will not be held responsible for genuine mistakes, but if it is due to not following procedure properly, they could be.
The outcome of clinical negligence cases can vary massively. It depends on the circumstances of the mistake and the problems it has caused.
Accidents or illness suffered at work can also lead to personal injury cases. If someone has an accident due to a lack of protection is could lead to legal proceedings. Below are three examples:
Someone who works in a music venue is not given earplugs or other protection and suffers a loss of hearing.
Someone whose job involves heavy lifting suffers back problems having not been trained to lift correctly.
A builder who has not been given a safety helmet suffers a serious head injury after something falls from above.
Assault is another area that can lead to a legal case. If someone has been attacked in the street for no reason they could sue the attacker. This is also the case if attacked by a burglar in your home, or any number of other cases where there has been an assault.
Manufacturers can end up in court if they are to blame for injuries. For example, if someone gets a neck injury using a bouncy castle, a faulty car or bike causes an injury, or someone is electrocuted due to a manufacturing fault while listening to their personal stereo.
As well as physical injuries, people can seek damages if they have suffered psychologically due to the fault of someone else. This is the case if someone has been psychologically impacted by a road accident, perhaps leaving them unable to drive due to the trauma.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Some of the most common personal injury cases come from car accidents. There can be a claim where someone has been seriously injured after a car accident that is deemed the fault of another driver. This can be to pay for medical help or a loss of their quality of life in serious situations, such as where the victim has been paralysed. Normally this will not be paid for by the at-fault driver, but by his or her insurance company. Were the driver uninsured or driving illegally then they may have to pay any compensation themselves. Compensation can be either on-going (if regular, indefinite, medical assistance is required) or a one-off lump sum.
Medical negligence is where a professional medical practitioner is held legally responsible due to a mistake or lack of foresight. Below are a couple of examples:
Someone might go to the doctor due to some chest pain. If the doctor does not investigate, perhaps saying it must just be temporary chest pain or indigestion, and it turns out to be a serious heart condition, then he or she could be held legally responsible. It could be deemed that the doctor could have dealt with the problem effectively had it been investigated.
Another example is if someone is having an operation and a mistake is made. Doctors will not be held responsible for genuine mistakes, but if it is due to not following procedure properly, they could be.
The outcome of clinical negligence cases can vary massively. It depends on the circumstances of the mistake and the problems it has caused.
Accidents or illness suffered at work can also lead to personal injury cases. If someone has an accident due to a lack of protection is could lead to legal proceedings. Below are three examples:
Someone who works in a music venue is not given earplugs or other protection and suffers a loss of hearing.
Someone whose job involves heavy lifting suffers back problems having not been trained to lift correctly.
A builder who has not been given a safety helmet suffers a serious head injury after something falls from above.
Assault is another area that can lead to a legal case. If someone has been attacked in the street for no reason they could sue the attacker. This is also the case if attacked by a burglar in your home, or any number of other cases where there has been an assault.
Manufacturers can end up in court if they are to blame for injuries. For example, if someone gets a neck injury using a bouncy castle, a faulty car or bike causes an injury, or someone is electrocuted due to a manufacturing fault while listening to their personal stereo.
As well as physical injuries, people can seek damages if they have suffered psychologically due to the fault of someone else. This is the case if someone has been psychologically impacted by a road accident, perhaps leaving them unable to drive due to the trauma.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Differences between Dedicated Hosting and Shared Hosting
Dedicated hosting and shared hosting are the complete opposite of each other, with dedicated hosting the most advanced form of web hosting and shared hosting the most basic. Dedicated hosting is suitable for larger websites and websites that receive a large amount of traffic.
A web server is a piece of equipment which web pages are uploaded to. For a website to appear on the internet, and be seen by others, it needs to be hosted – it needs web hosting. When a web hosting company is hired they upload the web pages of a site onto the web server, and this will make it viewable to anyone with an internet connection.
The difference between dedicated hosting and shared hosting is whether an entire server is used for a website or only part of a server. With dedicated hosting a website uses an entire web server whereas with shared hosting the server is shared with other websites.
There are several advantages to dedicated hosting. It is more reliable and more secure as it is not impacted by other websites sharing the server. This means there is less chance of the server overloading. When choosing dedicated hosting website owners have more choice over the hosting and the way it is set up and run, including which hardware is used. Dedicated hosting is the optimum level of hosting. It means it doesn’t take long to load sites and the chance of there being problems is limited.
The main benefit of shared hosting is simple – it is cheaper than dedicated hosting. It is a less advanced form of hosting so it costs less. It is simple to set up, something the hosting company will usually take care of. In most cases it includes decent customer support, though it may not be as high quality as it is will dedicated hosting.
Whether you should choose dedicated hosting or shared hosting really depends on your website and its requirements. There are situations where dedicated hosting is absolutely necessary, for example websites that take payments and websites where it is crucial they don’t go down. There are even sites that have more than one dedicated server. This is normally very large sites or for backup, so if one server fails the site does not go offline. For very small sites dedicated hosting is rarely necessary, and it is not worth paying extra for something you don’t really need.
Essentially the difference is that you get a dedicated server with dedicated hosting, whereas with shared hosting you share the server with a number of other websites. So it is a choice of sharing a server with others or having your own. With shared hosting you can be influenced negatively by other websites on the same server, but this is not the case if there are no other sites on the server. Dedicated hosting is preferable for larger sites so they don’t slow down. An entire server can cope better with a large amount of content or media such as video and audio. It is also more secure if dealing with bank details.
Andrew Marshall (c)
A web server is a piece of equipment which web pages are uploaded to. For a website to appear on the internet, and be seen by others, it needs to be hosted – it needs web hosting. When a web hosting company is hired they upload the web pages of a site onto the web server, and this will make it viewable to anyone with an internet connection.
The difference between dedicated hosting and shared hosting is whether an entire server is used for a website or only part of a server. With dedicated hosting a website uses an entire web server whereas with shared hosting the server is shared with other websites.
There are several advantages to dedicated hosting. It is more reliable and more secure as it is not impacted by other websites sharing the server. This means there is less chance of the server overloading. When choosing dedicated hosting website owners have more choice over the hosting and the way it is set up and run, including which hardware is used. Dedicated hosting is the optimum level of hosting. It means it doesn’t take long to load sites and the chance of there being problems is limited.
The main benefit of shared hosting is simple – it is cheaper than dedicated hosting. It is a less advanced form of hosting so it costs less. It is simple to set up, something the hosting company will usually take care of. In most cases it includes decent customer support, though it may not be as high quality as it is will dedicated hosting.
Whether you should choose dedicated hosting or shared hosting really depends on your website and its requirements. There are situations where dedicated hosting is absolutely necessary, for example websites that take payments and websites where it is crucial they don’t go down. There are even sites that have more than one dedicated server. This is normally very large sites or for backup, so if one server fails the site does not go offline. For very small sites dedicated hosting is rarely necessary, and it is not worth paying extra for something you don’t really need.
Essentially the difference is that you get a dedicated server with dedicated hosting, whereas with shared hosting you share the server with a number of other websites. So it is a choice of sharing a server with others or having your own. With shared hosting you can be influenced negatively by other websites on the same server, but this is not the case if there are no other sites on the server. Dedicated hosting is preferable for larger sites so they don’t slow down. An entire server can cope better with a large amount of content or media such as video and audio. It is also more secure if dealing with bank details.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Friday, October 14, 2011
Are You Getting Divorced? Financial Assistance for Single Parents
Do you have children and are divorced or getting a divorce? This article looks at the financial assistance single parents can be entitled to with some specific example. Depending on circumstances entitlements can include child benefit, child tax credits, working tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
After a divorce the parent children live with is often entitled to child maintenance payments from the other parent. This is intended to help support the children financially. As this can vary greatly depending on circumstances and income, this is not taken into consideration in the examples at the bottom of this article.
CHILD BENEFIT
Anyone with children is entitled to child benefit, although those earning above £42,475 a year will soon no longer be entitled to it. Child benefit is currently £20.30 for the first child and £13.40 for any additional children. This is paid to children’s primary carer.
CHILD TAX CREDITS
Families whose total income falls below £41,329 are entitled to some form of child tax credits, with the specific amount depending on the exact income.
WORKING TAX CREDIT
Working tax credits are for those who work more than sixteen hours a week but are on relatively low incomes. The maximum entitlement is £210 a week but it depends on earnings with lower earners receiving more.
HOUSING BENEFIT
Housing benefit is money given to low earners to help them pay their rent. For some, this is their entire rent.
COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
Similar to housing benefit, council tax benefit is to help low earners pay their council tax. Again, it can be as much as their entire council tax bill.
EXAMPLE 1
Claire is a single Mother with a two year old daughter. She does not currently work. Below are her yearly entitlements:
Child Benefit: £20.30 a week = £1,055.60 a year.
Child Tax Credits: As Claire doesn’t have an income she receives £1,492 a year in child tax credits.
Housing Benefit: Enough to pay her entire rent.
Council Tax Benefit: Enough to pay her entire council tax bill.
EXAMPLE 2
After his divorce from his wife, Tim took sole care of his two children, a boy aged eleven and girl aged seven. He works full-time earning £21,000 a year. He doesn’t have to pay for child care as his Mother picks his children up from school and looks after them until Tim finishes work. Below is the help Tim can get:
Child Benefit: £20.30 a week for his son and £13.40 a week for his daughter = £33.70 a week and £1,752.40 a year.
Child Tax Credits: £2,090.40 a year.
Working Tax Credit: He doesn’t receive any working tax credit as his earning are too high to qualify.
Housing Benefit: £167.31 a week = £8,700.12 a year.
Council Tax Benefit: £23.01 a week = £1,196.52 a year.
EXAMPLE 3
Since her divorce, Sarah has been looking after her three year old and eight year old sons. She works part-time, working 16 hours a week. Her yearly wage is £8,000. While she is working her youngest son is at a day care centre, which costs Sarah £80 a week. Below are her entitlements:
Child Benefit: £20.30 and £13.40 for her two children = £33.70 a week and £1,752.40 a year.
Child Tax Credits: £2,772 a year.
Working Tax Credit: £1,550.58 a year as she works 16 hours or more a week. She would not be entitled to this if she worked less.
Housing Benefit: £167.31 a week = £8,700.12 a year.
Council Tax Benefit: £23.01 a week = £1,196.52 a year.
There is plenty of help available to single parents post-divorce. Everyone’s circumstances are different though, so everyone is entitled to different benefits and different amounts.
Andrew Marshall (c)
After a divorce the parent children live with is often entitled to child maintenance payments from the other parent. This is intended to help support the children financially. As this can vary greatly depending on circumstances and income, this is not taken into consideration in the examples at the bottom of this article.
CHILD BENEFIT
Anyone with children is entitled to child benefit, although those earning above £42,475 a year will soon no longer be entitled to it. Child benefit is currently £20.30 for the first child and £13.40 for any additional children. This is paid to children’s primary carer.
CHILD TAX CREDITS
Families whose total income falls below £41,329 are entitled to some form of child tax credits, with the specific amount depending on the exact income.
WORKING TAX CREDIT
Working tax credits are for those who work more than sixteen hours a week but are on relatively low incomes. The maximum entitlement is £210 a week but it depends on earnings with lower earners receiving more.
HOUSING BENEFIT
Housing benefit is money given to low earners to help them pay their rent. For some, this is their entire rent.
COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT
Similar to housing benefit, council tax benefit is to help low earners pay their council tax. Again, it can be as much as their entire council tax bill.
EXAMPLE 1
Claire is a single Mother with a two year old daughter. She does not currently work. Below are her yearly entitlements:
Child Benefit: £20.30 a week = £1,055.60 a year.
Child Tax Credits: As Claire doesn’t have an income she receives £1,492 a year in child tax credits.
Housing Benefit: Enough to pay her entire rent.
Council Tax Benefit: Enough to pay her entire council tax bill.
EXAMPLE 2
After his divorce from his wife, Tim took sole care of his two children, a boy aged eleven and girl aged seven. He works full-time earning £21,000 a year. He doesn’t have to pay for child care as his Mother picks his children up from school and looks after them until Tim finishes work. Below is the help Tim can get:
Child Benefit: £20.30 a week for his son and £13.40 a week for his daughter = £33.70 a week and £1,752.40 a year.
Child Tax Credits: £2,090.40 a year.
Working Tax Credit: He doesn’t receive any working tax credit as his earning are too high to qualify.
Housing Benefit: £167.31 a week = £8,700.12 a year.
Council Tax Benefit: £23.01 a week = £1,196.52 a year.
EXAMPLE 3
Since her divorce, Sarah has been looking after her three year old and eight year old sons. She works part-time, working 16 hours a week. Her yearly wage is £8,000. While she is working her youngest son is at a day care centre, which costs Sarah £80 a week. Below are her entitlements:
Child Benefit: £20.30 and £13.40 for her two children = £33.70 a week and £1,752.40 a year.
Child Tax Credits: £2,772 a year.
Working Tax Credit: £1,550.58 a year as she works 16 hours or more a week. She would not be entitled to this if she worked less.
Housing Benefit: £167.31 a week = £8,700.12 a year.
Council Tax Benefit: £23.01 a week = £1,196.52 a year.
There is plenty of help available to single parents post-divorce. Everyone’s circumstances are different though, so everyone is entitled to different benefits and different amounts.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Is the Junior ISA the best way of Saving for Children?
The Junior ISA savings scheme will be in operation from 1 November 2011 and will allow parents to make up to £3,600 of tax free savings a year on behalf of their children. That is equivalent to £300 a month or £64,800 over an eighteen year period, with the limit rising with inflation from 2013. Parents will have a choice of paying into a cash JISA or a stocks and shares JISA.
The Junior ISA, then, is the new children’s savings scheme set up to replace the scrapped child trust fund. But, is it the best way for parents to save on behalf of their children?
As with adult ISA’s the two types of Junior ISA available are cash ISA’s and stocks and shares ISA’s. A cash ISA is a safer investment. As it is a savings account the money is not going to disappear. However, the potential gain may not be particularly high. A stocks and shares ISA is riskier but potentially more rewarding. You are investing in the stocks and shares of companies, which can fall as well as rise, but can rise much more significantly than cash ISA’s. The likelihood is that over the long-term a stocks and shares ISA will produce a better return but it is not guaranteed.
For those able to invest a relatively large amount the Junior ISA is significantly better than its predecessor, the child trust fund, which had a limit of £1,200. The Junior ISA’s limit is three times this, and therefore allows for a high amount of tax savings over the long-term. There is still a limit though, so those wishing to invest significantly more than £3,600 a year may look elsewhere. Those only able to save a very small amount may not reach the taxable level, so they may also look at other options if they can get better interest rates.
Everyone likes to save on tax if they can, and with a Junior ISA investment no tax is paid on any gained interest. This is the main benefit of the scheme over other investment products. For anyone likely to invest over around £25 a month over the course of their child’s childhood, this will be an incentive to turn to the scheme. If saving lower than this it may not reach the tax threshold (depending on the amount of interest).
As mentioned already, there is some risk with stocks and shares ISA’s, meaning some may shy away from them. There is still the option of a cash ISA though, where there is no risk. Another option is investing in investment trusts, where the risk is spread across different investment products, meaning one unsuccessful investment would not wipe out the entire fund.
On balance, the Junior ISA is a good option for most parents who are able to make investments on behalf of their children, in particular for those able to invest on a monthly basis. Children whose parents invest up to the £3,600 limit will be able to make some significant tax savings.
Andrew Marshall (c)
The Junior ISA, then, is the new children’s savings scheme set up to replace the scrapped child trust fund. But, is it the best way for parents to save on behalf of their children?
As with adult ISA’s the two types of Junior ISA available are cash ISA’s and stocks and shares ISA’s. A cash ISA is a safer investment. As it is a savings account the money is not going to disappear. However, the potential gain may not be particularly high. A stocks and shares ISA is riskier but potentially more rewarding. You are investing in the stocks and shares of companies, which can fall as well as rise, but can rise much more significantly than cash ISA’s. The likelihood is that over the long-term a stocks and shares ISA will produce a better return but it is not guaranteed.
For those able to invest a relatively large amount the Junior ISA is significantly better than its predecessor, the child trust fund, which had a limit of £1,200. The Junior ISA’s limit is three times this, and therefore allows for a high amount of tax savings over the long-term. There is still a limit though, so those wishing to invest significantly more than £3,600 a year may look elsewhere. Those only able to save a very small amount may not reach the taxable level, so they may also look at other options if they can get better interest rates.
Everyone likes to save on tax if they can, and with a Junior ISA investment no tax is paid on any gained interest. This is the main benefit of the scheme over other investment products. For anyone likely to invest over around £25 a month over the course of their child’s childhood, this will be an incentive to turn to the scheme. If saving lower than this it may not reach the tax threshold (depending on the amount of interest).
As mentioned already, there is some risk with stocks and shares ISA’s, meaning some may shy away from them. There is still the option of a cash ISA though, where there is no risk. Another option is investing in investment trusts, where the risk is spread across different investment products, meaning one unsuccessful investment would not wipe out the entire fund.
On balance, the Junior ISA is a good option for most parents who are able to make investments on behalf of their children, in particular for those able to invest on a monthly basis. Children whose parents invest up to the £3,600 limit will be able to make some significant tax savings.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Monday, October 10, 2011
What is Most Effective, Prison or Community Service?
What are the most effective punishments for those guilty of committing crimes? This is a subject of constant debate and there are a number of ways of looking at it. The two most common questions are whether time in prison or time doing community service is the best option. Below are some of the arguments for each of these being the most positive punishments for society as a whole.
There are times when prison is the only option, for example for those who have committed serious crimes. Dangerous criminals have to be sent to jail as it is not safe for them to be in the wider community; public safety needs to be the priority.
Is prison more of a punishment than community service? This is difficult to judge, and people have differing opinions on this. To many though, having your freedom taken away is a big price to pay for committing a crime, and therefore prison is more of a punishment. And the bigger the punishment is perceived as being, the more of a deterrent it is. To most members of society going to jail would be a terrifying thought, much more so than doing community service. It could, therefore, be seen as a bigger deterrent.
Some believe that the public perception of justice being done is important, and makes us feel safer on our streets. Many believe that prison is the biggest possible punishment and when someone is sentenced to time it makes them feel as though justice is being done. This is particularly the case if someone else’s crime has affected them.
Although prison certainly has its place, there are many who believe community service can often be a better way of dealing with crime. One of the more obvious reasons is money; prison is much more expensive that sentencing someone to community service. Even a short sentence for a minor crime can cost an average of over £50,000.
People doing community service is actually acting as a service. Useful tasks, such as litter being cleared up, are being completed so something positive is being done in the community. It is producing free labour. Although some might argue that in some circumstances community service is taking jobs away from law abiding citizens, many of the jobs carried out are things that would otherwise be left undone.
The attitude of those taking part in community service can be a positive. Rather than spending time in jail waiting for their sentence to pass, they can feel they are doing something positive; giving something back to society. This can give them more of a positive attitude to life. It can be particularly useful to those who are long-term unemployed as it can teach them the value of work. It can encourage them to want to work, eventually meaning they go back into employment.
Community service is also a public demonstration of making up for a crime. People see people taking part in community service, which shows them justice is being done. It also gives an example of what might happen should you commit a criminal offence and shows that crime does not pay. Picking up litter, for example, does not look like an attractive proposition to most, and seeing someone being forced to do this may put them off crime.
There are positives to both prison and community service. The appropriate punishment is often determined by the specific circumstances of the crime committed and the person being sentenced. There are differing opinions, though, about which is generally more effective.
Andrew Marshall (c)
There are times when prison is the only option, for example for those who have committed serious crimes. Dangerous criminals have to be sent to jail as it is not safe for them to be in the wider community; public safety needs to be the priority.
Is prison more of a punishment than community service? This is difficult to judge, and people have differing opinions on this. To many though, having your freedom taken away is a big price to pay for committing a crime, and therefore prison is more of a punishment. And the bigger the punishment is perceived as being, the more of a deterrent it is. To most members of society going to jail would be a terrifying thought, much more so than doing community service. It could, therefore, be seen as a bigger deterrent.
Some believe that the public perception of justice being done is important, and makes us feel safer on our streets. Many believe that prison is the biggest possible punishment and when someone is sentenced to time it makes them feel as though justice is being done. This is particularly the case if someone else’s crime has affected them.
Although prison certainly has its place, there are many who believe community service can often be a better way of dealing with crime. One of the more obvious reasons is money; prison is much more expensive that sentencing someone to community service. Even a short sentence for a minor crime can cost an average of over £50,000.
People doing community service is actually acting as a service. Useful tasks, such as litter being cleared up, are being completed so something positive is being done in the community. It is producing free labour. Although some might argue that in some circumstances community service is taking jobs away from law abiding citizens, many of the jobs carried out are things that would otherwise be left undone.
The attitude of those taking part in community service can be a positive. Rather than spending time in jail waiting for their sentence to pass, they can feel they are doing something positive; giving something back to society. This can give them more of a positive attitude to life. It can be particularly useful to those who are long-term unemployed as it can teach them the value of work. It can encourage them to want to work, eventually meaning they go back into employment.
Community service is also a public demonstration of making up for a crime. People see people taking part in community service, which shows them justice is being done. It also gives an example of what might happen should you commit a criminal offence and shows that crime does not pay. Picking up litter, for example, does not look like an attractive proposition to most, and seeing someone being forced to do this may put them off crime.
There are positives to both prison and community service. The appropriate punishment is often determined by the specific circumstances of the crime committed and the person being sentenced. There are differing opinions, though, about which is generally more effective.
Andrew Marshall (c)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Video Conferencing to Save on Travel Costs
Over the last few years many businesses have struggled due to the financial problems business as a whole has encountered. This has made saving money more important than even with many budgets being cut. This has included travel budgets.
As well as the economy leading to less business travel, in some areas transport costs have also risen. The increasing price of oil has been a major factor in making a high amount of travel unaffordable, and this is a trend that is not likely to change.
There are other advantages apart from cost that businesses have for cutting employee travel. It also saves on time, and being more productive makes a business more money in the long run. It is more environmentally friendly too, something that has become more important to many in recent years.
Although there are positives of not travelling, there are also negatives. Travel may be necessary for meetings, so there could be less company get-togethers to discuss business and forward planning. This can mean a lack of planning that eventually leads to a less profitable business. Depending on the geographic location of customers, travelling less can mean not meeting customers as regularly, potentially damaging customer relationships. It can also prevent a business from going out and generating additional work.
So, while there are positives of cutting down on travel, there are also negatives that can impact profitability. There is, however, one way of not travelling but preventing many of these potential problems. The solution could be Video Conferencing.
More businesses are utilising video conferencing as a way of travelling less while still being able to communicate with fellow employees and customers. It can replace holding business meetings in person. For example, if employees need to meet with a customer, they can each use a video conferencing suite for audio/visual communication with each other. They will each be filmed, with their voices recorded, and this can be transmitted across to the video conferencing suite on the other end. There, they will be seen on monitors or large video screens, and heard through microphones. This all takes place instantaneously, meaning no delays. If video conferencing can be utilised there will be many situations where in-person meetings will no longer be required.
Video conferencing is not a cheap option. However, it can save money once travel savings are taken into consideration. Not only that, but due to the travel time saved, it can also lead to better employee productivity. Travelling can take up a lot of time, especially when travelling abroad. If travelling by air there is the time travelling to and from the airport at both ends, the time spent at the airport checking in, boarding and collecting luggage, and the flight time itself. There is also the likelihood of having to stay overnight, possibly the night before and after the meeting. This can be a lot of hassle for one meeting. It can take three days for a three hours meeting. This would only take three hours if using video conferencing instead.
There are always going to be times when face-to-face meetings with clients and staff are necessary. However, with video conferencing technology, this can be reduced while still allowing meetings to take place and seeing facial expressions and body language. This can save businesses money and increase productivity.
Andrew Marshall ©
As well as the economy leading to less business travel, in some areas transport costs have also risen. The increasing price of oil has been a major factor in making a high amount of travel unaffordable, and this is a trend that is not likely to change.
There are other advantages apart from cost that businesses have for cutting employee travel. It also saves on time, and being more productive makes a business more money in the long run. It is more environmentally friendly too, something that has become more important to many in recent years.
Although there are positives of not travelling, there are also negatives. Travel may be necessary for meetings, so there could be less company get-togethers to discuss business and forward planning. This can mean a lack of planning that eventually leads to a less profitable business. Depending on the geographic location of customers, travelling less can mean not meeting customers as regularly, potentially damaging customer relationships. It can also prevent a business from going out and generating additional work.
So, while there are positives of cutting down on travel, there are also negatives that can impact profitability. There is, however, one way of not travelling but preventing many of these potential problems. The solution could be Video Conferencing.
More businesses are utilising video conferencing as a way of travelling less while still being able to communicate with fellow employees and customers. It can replace holding business meetings in person. For example, if employees need to meet with a customer, they can each use a video conferencing suite for audio/visual communication with each other. They will each be filmed, with their voices recorded, and this can be transmitted across to the video conferencing suite on the other end. There, they will be seen on monitors or large video screens, and heard through microphones. This all takes place instantaneously, meaning no delays. If video conferencing can be utilised there will be many situations where in-person meetings will no longer be required.
Video conferencing is not a cheap option. However, it can save money once travel savings are taken into consideration. Not only that, but due to the travel time saved, it can also lead to better employee productivity. Travelling can take up a lot of time, especially when travelling abroad. If travelling by air there is the time travelling to and from the airport at both ends, the time spent at the airport checking in, boarding and collecting luggage, and the flight time itself. There is also the likelihood of having to stay overnight, possibly the night before and after the meeting. This can be a lot of hassle for one meeting. It can take three days for a three hours meeting. This would only take three hours if using video conferencing instead.
There are always going to be times when face-to-face meetings with clients and staff are necessary. However, with video conferencing technology, this can be reduced while still allowing meetings to take place and seeing facial expressions and body language. This can save businesses money and increase productivity.
Andrew Marshall ©
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