How to Pick the Perfect Hotel

When traveling on vacation, where you stay can have a major effect on your overall experience. This doesn’t mean that you always have to overspend on a hotel. It means you need to make a few wise choices when making a selection.

Here are a few tips in selecting the perfect hotel for a trip:

1.    Location, Location, Location: As with purchasing real estate, the location of your hotel should be high on your list of priorities. Consider its access to transportation, its distance from the sites you want to visit, etc.

2.    Amenities: Even if you plan on spending a minimum amount of time in the hotel, the amenities will affect on your overall experience. 

Things to consider:

• Does it have a pool?
• Does it provide WiFi, and is there a charge?
• Is there a charge to make local phone calls?
• Does it provide airport or local transportation?

Sometimes the cheapest hotel can end up being the most expensive.

3.    Ambiance: When selecting a hotel, decide if you want an upscale hotel, or one with local flavor, or if you are willing to settle for something basic.

4.    Loyalty Programs and Frequent Flier Miles: Some hotels offer points for their own programs, or airline points. Consider this when making a decision

Dating: Top 5 Tips for Both Men and Women

After interviewing gurus that counsel both men and women on dating, we noticed something that was quite curious. Some of their dating advice was actually gender-neutral and could be applied to both sexes. As we see it, good advice is good advice.
Here are the top five dating tips for both men and women:

1. Be Open Minded: The number one rule we have heard from both sides of the fence is to go into every date with an open mind. Your ideal partner, based on your personal checklist, may be completely different from the person that you could be truly compatible with. Everyone has this warped sense of who their perfect partner should be, but when interviewing countless older couples who have been married for more than 50 years – their life partners were completely different from the person they initially imagined.
2. Don’t Research Before a First Date: In these days of Google and Facebook, it’s easy to be tempted to do a little research before you even go out on a first date. Don’t do it! You’ll get a false impression of the person, and can make strong judgments without even knowing him/her yet.
3. Don’t Bring Baggage: Avoid talking about old relationships, negative experiences, etc. Have those conversations only after several dates. There is little to gain by dwelling on the past.
4. Be Honest About Yourself: You can avoid specific topics early on, but don’t lie about things. Starting a relationship based on lies is never a good idea.
5. Leave on a High Note: Keep a first date short, and it’s always better to leave on a high note. Meeting for coffee or a meal is great, but don’t make long drawn out plans for another date – excuse yourself and say goodbye. Better to leave the person wanting more

What really is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a contract made with a life insurance company where premiums are paid on the life of the insured (person) according to the terms of the policy. In return, on the death of the insured, the company makes a lump-sum payment to the beneficiaries.

Term life insurance provides protection for a set period of time as stated within the contract. 

Permanent insurance, such as universal or whole life, provides complete lifetime coverage. Many times income tax on life insurance payments is tax-free, but you should make inquiries from your insurance provider. Whole life can also be used as an estate-planning tool to help preserve the wealth you plan to transfer to your beneficiaries.

Life insurance can be a pretty complex and tricky subject, so it’s best to research your options and talk to an insurance professional. Compare prices and policies with different companies to get the best deal; you’ll see huge differences in offerings between companies 

McDonald's 'scary' new mascot

Remember Ronald McDonald, Grimace and the Hamburglar? They're among the characters that have appeared in McDonald's marketing campaigns over the years. Now there's a new character in town. But it's received a less than lukewarm welcome on social media.

On Monday, the fast food outlet introduced its latest mascot in the US by tweeting: "Say hello to our newest friend, Happy!" The red, smiling box with big teeth is designed to "bring fun and excitement" to kids meals and help them to make healthier food choices. But Happy triggered a less than happy response on Twitter and has already been dubbed "McScary".

Dozens tweeted about how "spooky" and "terrifying" Happy was. "Might want to go back to the drawing board," wrote one Twitter user. "I think I'm going to have nightmares," tweeted another. Others remarked on how similar Happy looked to the Microsoft Office character Clippy and the American actor Gary Busey.

Perhaps most telling about Happy's introduction on Twitter was McDonald's response to the negative reaction. The company is no stranger to fire fighting campaigns that go wrong. Remember#McDStories?

"Happy should probably take another 'selfie' since the first one didn't convey Happy's true personality and purpose," McDonald's director of social media, Rick Wion, told BBC Trending. "We felt it was important to focus on the positive, just as Happy would."

McDonald's official Twitter account responded by tweeting a series of images with captions that made direct references to the criticism. This seemed to sway some. "Aww, they don't look so bad here," tweetedArthur Baynes in Virginia. Audrey Hungerman in New York was impressed with the approach: "Who knew they had a sense of humour," she tweeted. Others were not convinced. "They're multiplying! Quick run!"wrote Sean C, a social media strategist in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Happy is due to be officially launched in the US on 23 May, but the mascot first appeared in France in 2009. "We are confident that once US audiences see Happy's fun-filled videos that they'll get a laugh and be entertained just as audiences across Europe, Asia and Latin America have been," says Rick Wion of McDonald's.

So, is Happy a rip off of Microsoft Office's Clippy? "Happy is Happy," he says, "and no-one else".

Finding the best credit card for YOUR needs

ots of people think negatively about credit cards but they can be an incredible useful financial tool, if used correctly.

Many cards provide travel insurance, identity protection, reward points, cash-back, and more. If you carry a balance, your number one goal should be to get the lowest interest-rate possible. If you make monthly payments, then selecting a card becomes more difficult.

A few tips for selecting a credit card: 

1. Check your credit report at least once a year.
2. Look at past statements and figure out how often you carry a balance, how much interest you’ve paid, and how often you’re late with payments. 
3. Don’t settle on the first credit card that is offered in the mail – do research. 
4. Use the Internet to research your best options; you’ll even see ads with great offers. 
5. Think of getting different cards for different types of purchases. Some cards give two or three times more points for some purchases. Many people will have an airline card just for travel purchases.  

Ways to Prepare for Retirement

Being financially secure in retirement just doesn’t happen magically. It takes lots of planning, time and savings.
Some scary facts about retirement: 

• More than 50% of persons do not have enough finances for retirement.
• 25% do not participate in their company’s retirement plan. 
• The average person spends 20 years in retirement.

Here are some tips to help you plan correctly:

1. Talk to a financial professional. Every few years, it’s a good idea to schedule a meeting with a financial planner to get a ‘check-up’. It’s just like a doctor’s visit, and you should really talk about your present situation and future goals.
2. Save, save, and keep on saving. Make it a habit to save as much as you can.
3. Learn your retirement needs. Retirement can be expensive. Learn from today how much you need to save for your retirement. Talk to a financial planner, or find an online retirement calculator.
4. Take part in your employer’s retirement plans. If your company offers one, it is usually the best tool you can use. Talk to a financial professional for all your options.
5. Learn about pension plans. If you have an employer or government pension plan, learn all the details.
6. Keep your retirement savings off-limits. Don’t make a withdrawal until you retire, you might incur penalties and it will be a setback for realizing your goals.
7. Get your employer to start a plan. If your present job doesn’t offer a retirement plan, ask for one to be started. Many times it isn’t a cost to your employer to start one, and it can help you tremendously.
8. Learn about your government’s retirement plans. Every country has different plans some with special tax incentives, so learn what your country offers and plan accordingly.
9. Do your own research. Use the Internet, read the newspapers and magazines, talk to your friends, to find out as much as you can about retirement.  

This One Thing Will Ruin Barack Obama

A few big moves stand out in Barack Obama’s Presidency.

• The $800 billion stimulus plan passed in 2009
• The $5 trillion in debt accumulation—the most of any President in history
• The passage of Obamacare… the assassination of Osama Bin Laden… and huge tax increases

But Porter Stansberry – one of the most widely-read financial journalists in America – says these events are nothing compared to the next big surprise that could devastate Obama’s legacy.

Porter is the founder of Stansberry & Associates, a financial research firm in Maryland. Today, he is making available a free video presentation that gives you his analysis of this situation.

The End of Obama: A Stansberry & Associates Special Presentation
Over the years, Porter has published research that predicted the downfall of certain companies, and even entire industries. 

For example, he accurately described in detail – and well in advance – the collapse of such institutions as GM, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, just to name a few. 

More recently, Porter predicted the bankruptcy of Detroit, detailing the collapse of the city with a series of essays dating back to 2009.

Now Porter says there’s a shocking surprise working its way through the Obama administration. In the free video we’re making available below, he reveals how this one event could single-handedly ruin Barack Obama’s Presidency… and perhaps even his entire career.

Even if Porter is only half right, this situation will have a dramatic impact not only on Barack Obama, but also everyone else in this country. 

Note: For a limited time, Stansberry & Associates is making The End of Obama video presentation available at no charge. We strongly encourage you to check out this important analysis. We believe it will be worth your time, and a real eye-opener.