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6 common types of loans to know about

6 common types of loans to know about
One may need money for various reasons, whether it is for funding further education costs, buying a new house, or starting up a new business. A steady income may cover most of one’s regular expenses, but major purchases or emergencies may require one to borrow funds. The banks and federal organizations offer many options for people to borrow money with varying interest rates and repayment schedules. Read on to understand the common types of loans. Personal loans Personal finance is a versatile option that can help fulfill various needs. It can be availed to cover expenses like emergency bills, vacation, medical treatment, relocation to a different city, home renovation, wedding, or buying expensive electronics like tablets, computers, washers, and refrigerators. Usually, the repayment period can range from a few months up to a couple of years and the interest rate can either be fixed or variable, depending on the preference of the borrower. One can apply for personal loans via a bank or an online lender. One can choose between a secured and unsecured personal loan . In case of a secured loan, the borrower needs to provide a collateral that can back it up. This collateral can be any valuable, such as a vehicle, savings account, life insurance policy, or gold, which acts as a type of security for the lender who can claim it if the borrower fails to repay the loan amount.

7 freight billing frauds to be aware of

7 freight billing frauds to be aware of
Trucking businesses need a billing system to help keep track of shipment loads, amounts, and other variables. Freight bill factoring is a practice that makes up a significant part of the trucking business. It allows businesses to sell their invoices to another person for cash. However, this, and some other practices, make companies vulnerable to freight billing fraud. Scammers take advantage of lenient company verification processes and their billing activities and commit the following frauds. Layering for funds Fraudsters employ this method of cheating when they want to make it difficult for their activities to be detected. In this practice, they try to interconnect some fraudulent and authentic transactions that can help create confusion for the company they are dealing with. The layering technique is employed to divert the companies’ attention from the actual fraud and confuse them with smaller, less prominent activities. These multiple fraudulent activities are intertwined together, making it complicated for the company to trace where the activities are originating from. They might have to deal with more than a handful of false transactions. Thus, companies should have robust systems that can help them monitor and analyze every transaction. It might help them unravel the knots and find the starting point of these complications.

9 common mistakes to avoid with trademark registration

9 common mistakes to avoid with trademark registration
Building a business takes a lot of time, money, and effort. Thus, it is no surprise that companies want to protect their intellectual and financial investments by applying for trademark registration. A trademark is defined as an intellectual property (symbol, logo, words, or phrases) legally registered to identify products or services from a particular entity. This article enlists nine common mistakes one must avoid making when registering a trademark: Not filing for trademark protection The reach of the ™ symbol (also known as the common law trademark) is limited to the geographic boundaries of one’s company. To protect this trademark, one must register their company with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). To do so, file a trademark application with the organization. Upon receiving a trademark grant from them, businesses can use the ® symbol. Forgetting to research similar trademarks According to USPTO guidelines, it is advisable to scroll through their trademark filing database. This gives companies a better idea of trademarks that have been registered, applied, are in use, or those that have been canceled or abandoned. It is important to note that company taglines also qualify for trademark registration and must be checked thoroughly before applying. Not having a distinctive trademark Filing for a trademark is a tedious as well as expensive process.

8 reasons for renting a coworking office space

8 reasons for renting a coworking office space
Coworking has become quite popular as an alternative to working from home offices and coffee shops. There are a lot of reasons for its popularity. To begin with, coworking spaces are known to offer a positive work environment. Apart from this, those who work in these spaces can easily share resources, facilities, tools, and services. For organizations looking to increase productivity, coworking spaces offer several opportunities for collaboration and teamwork. What is coworking? Coworking arrangements are similar to people setting up their laptops to work in coffee shops or libraries. But, the setting is more like a traditional office. So, a coworking space has different layouts, membership options, and setups. Usually, such spaces have bring-your-own-device (BYOD) workstations along with shared amenities such as kitchenettes, internet access, and printing services. Several organizations today are using these spaces to lower office space costs. Who uses coworking spaces? These spaces can be used by organizations as well as independent workers. From freelancers to entrepreneurs, be it large teams or startups, anyone can use coworking office spaces. Such spaces can be used by someone who typically works from home or needs their own workplace to rent. At times , even non-profit groups make use of coworking spaces, especially when they receive subsidized membership rates.

8 packaging mistakes brands must avoid

8 packaging mistakes brands must avoid
Receiving a well-packed package after online shopping is an exciting experience. It makes the customers happy and appreciative of the effort and thought a brand put behind its packaging. Packaging is one of the key factors that helps sell a product. If customers receive damaged packages repeatedly, they may even stop shopping from the brand altogether. A similar outcome might ensue if the customer likes the product but finds the packaging a hassle. 8 lesser-known packaging mistakes to avoid Avoid the wrong size of packaging It is far more common for brands to get the size and shape of the packaging wrong than one would like to believe. Not only does this incur wasteful expenses, but it also leads to other issues. If the packet size is bigger than it needs to be, it leaves a lot of room for the product to move around and cause potential damage. For example, if glass containers are packed in extra-large packages without adequate padding, they are likely to keep shunted around and breaking. On the other hand, when the packaging is smaller or tighter for a product’s size, it can also cause defects. Businesses might use a too-small box, multiple layers of bubble wrap, and extra packaging peanuts to keep the product tightly locked in place.

8 ways to make loan repayment easier

8 ways to make loan repayment easier
Taking out a loan to finance a major purchase or investment requiring a large amount of funds is a common practice. One can get a loan for reasons like education, home purchase, renovations, debt consolidation, electronics, medical or emergency costs, or other unexpected expenses. There are many options available that can make the loan repayment process smoother and more manageable. Here are some types of loans and ways to make repaying loans easier: Types of loans There are two types of personal loans one can get: secured and unsecured. For a secured personal loan, the borrower must offer collateral or an asset of value, like a vehicle, home, gold, or shares, as an assurance to repay the amount. If one defaults, the lender can claim the asset. An unsecured loan, on the other hand, does not require any collateral deposit. Here, the borrower can pay the money as per the agreement, and if they default, the lender cannot claim any of their assets. However, defaulting on an unsecured loan can lower the credit score significantly, and the lender can also file a case against the borrower to recover the losses. An unsecured loan is the most common type of personal loan to finance weddings and vacations.

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6 mistakes to avoid while booking a hotel

Various online platforms have made booking accommodations a breeze. Whether you are traveling within the country or abroad, you need to make sure that you have chosen the right place to say and made the bookings correctly, so there’s no issue when checking in. However, certain common mistakes people tend to make when booking hotels can put a hitch in their trip. Here’s a list of six such booking mistakes that you should avoid: Not clarifying the different elements of the rate Many a time when making a booking, people just see the room rate. They forget to check out other additional components of the room rate. For example, many forget to find out about taxes. If you are booking online, there are resort fees that you may not see immediately and forget to check about. The resort fee is an amount charged for certain amenities at the property and is mostly not part of the basic room rate. You may realize the extra amount to be paid only when you arrive at the hotel, and at that time, it is too late to cancel your booking without paying a hefty fee. Therefore, it is best to gather all information before you make the booking. This way you will not end up being in a sorry state spending more than budgeted for the trip. Choosing non-refundable rates to book the room This could be another big blunder. Non-refundable rates usually are lower rates than the normal rates, that’s why these are so attractive. Sometimes, the non-refundable tag are prominently displayed but at times it can be mentioned in tiny fonts somewhere below that is easy to miss. Unfortunately, situations can change anytime and what was once a confirmed trip, you may need to cancel the booking eventually. There could be an emergency at the home, or office, or you may need to change the dates, etc.

7 things to avoid doing when staying in a hotel

Staying in a luxurious hotel can be exciting. You can enjoy several amenities, personalized services, and complimentary benefits. But you should be cautious. Experts and travel enthusiasts have devised several dos and don’ts to follow when in a hotel to avoid confusion and make the trip more memorable. Special focus should be on the don’ts as these can risk your safety in a new place. Here are seven things to avoid doing in hotels: Opening the door instantly Many instantly reach out for the doorknob on hearing the doorbell or a knock. This is a big mistake. While it is okay to assume that the person on the other side would be a housekeeping staff or an F&B person, it is best never to take a chance. This is especially applicable if you are in another country, traveling for the first time to a place, or staying at the location as a first-time guest. Verify the visitor’s identity before opening the door. You can do so by looking through the peephole or glancing outside through an adjacent window. Letting strangers inside can be costly if they turn out to be someone with the wrong intent. Packing the hotel’s bathrobes in your suitcase This is nothing short of stealing; you could be in big trouble if caught. Besides the legal hassles, pilfering the hotel’s properties speaks poorly about your manners. Taking a small bottle of shampoo, conditioner, or body lotion may be okay because these usually end up in the trash. But not bathrobes for sure. Similarly, do not just pick other linen pieces, small electronic items, or any artwork from the room. Hotels conduct a thorough inspection after you leave and could impose legal charges if the offense is serious. Using throw pillows In luxury hotels, you may see throw pillows lying on sofas, chairs, and other sitting areas.

7 easy ways to accessorize any outfit

Accessories tend to not only enhance your attire but also make you appear vibrant. Be it a casual chic look or an utter formal attire, adding some flash and bling just infuses life into your overall appearance. However, your accessories can perform their assigned role correctly only if perfectly styled. Here are some easy techniques and tips you can apply to up your fashion game and bring the best out of your outfit: Do not pile up on accessories at a time Most people commit the mistake of donning all the available accessories at once with an outfit. It must be noted that as far as accessories are concerned, less is always more. The purpose of using accessories is to highlight your outfit. However, if you adorn your outfit with several accessories like a watch, scarf, jewelry, sunglasses, hat, etc., all at once, none of them will stand out, making your outfit look cluttered and even awful. Highlight neutral clothes with bold accessories While neutral-colored clothes can look dull and understated, they are also the most perfect ones to be used as a field for experiments. If your wardrobe is filled with neutral colors like olive, navy, beige, white, or black, now is the time to boost them by pairing them up with some bold-colored accessories. Here are a few methods to do that: Pair a navy or black dress with a thin hot pink or red belt. Highlight your dull olive or khaki clothes using a flashy yellow or orange scarf. Add some hue to your colorless white blouse by pairing it with big drop earrings or a multicolored statement necklace. Don’t be too matchy While it could be tempting to pair up the blue polka dots of your dress with some matching blue shoes, a blue necklace, and blue earrings, it would make the outfit too predictable, boring, and even childish.

8 must-have accessories for men

Accessories tend to constitute a crucial part of outfits. They are those magical wands that have the power to infuse life into the dullest of clothes. However, they can be equally intimidating if one is unaware of the basic rules of accessorizing and invests in the wrong pieces. So, here is a list of men’s accessories that never go out of style and, therefore, are a must-have in one’s wardrobe. Sunglasses When it comes to accessories, nothing comes close to a pair of sunglasses. They are practical, flattering, and the perfect solution for hiding the shadows under your eyes. Not to forget, they play a vital role in protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Besides that, they are here to stay for a long time unless broken due to a mishap. Make sure you keep the style classic and subtle with tortoiseshell or black frames and dark green, black, or brown lenses. Wallets While paying for your necessities is now as simple as swiping a card or transferring through a smartphone, the charm of billfold wallets doesn’t seem to subside. And why not? They are practical, strong, yet flexible enough to accommodate their contents effortlessly, and, most importantly, they are durable too. They come in various prints, colors, and designs to suit every personality. One can also get them customized with initials or personal charms. Stainless steel watches These are the practical, no-nonsense cousins of the gold watches with a long lifespan. Besides that, they are extremely versatile. A classy watch can instantly amp up any outfit – be it a formal suit or a casual T-shirt and jeans. One can never go wrong with this men’s accessory. Durable belts Belts are not merely for holding your trousers in place; they also add to your overall look.

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5 styling ideas for women over 60

5 styling ideas for women over 60

Age is a number when setting a true style statement. Regardless of anyone’s perception, just because you are reaching the 60s doesn’t imply to stop working on your appearance and renounce your desires to look fabulous. Fashion is not just merely about trends; it is about how you express yourself through clothes as the myths of age must not limit your expression. So, here are a few best styling ideas for women over 60: Embrace your age One of the most typical fashion mistakes people make is choosing outfits that are supposed to make them appear younger than their actual age. The problem with such a choice is that you are paradoxically accentuating your age when you try to look younger by wearing an outfit that will be more appropriate for youngsters. For example, if you don high heels, short skirts, or flashy fashions that might be more appropriate for a person half your age, you are indirectly making yourself appear “older.” Instead, you can opt for clothes that are specially tailored for women your age. Sporting “age-appropriate” dresses will conceal your age and make others appreciate your other features like glowing skin or your build. And consequently, you will appear much younger than your actual age.
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5 tips to prevent and manage ulcerative colitis

5 tips to prevent and manage ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term inflammatory disease that triggers inflammation and ulcers in the digestive system. It impacts the colon and rectum’s innermost lining. The symptoms are typically produced over a period rather than unexpectedly. According to the latest studies, about 1 million people have ulcerative colitis, and if left untreated, it can be crippling and cause life-threatening conditions. So, here are 5 tips to prevent and manage ulcerative colitis: Get on with the treatment plan immediately Even though there is no concrete cure for ulcerative colitis, proper treatment can help ease the symptoms and signs of the condition and eventually provide long-term remission. If a patient feels that their bowel habits are consistently changing or if they experience any of the following symptoms and signs, they should immediately consult a doctor: Blood in stool Ongoing diarrhea that is not getting cured by any other types of treatments An unknown fever going on for more than a day or two Abdominal pain Diarrhea that wakes up the patient from sleep The treatments prescribed by the doctor will typically include a combination of oral therapy or surgery. As far as oral treatments are concerned, the doctor may prescribe any of the following types of therapies, depending on the patient’s existing condition:
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