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	<title>Intelligent Investor</title>
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	<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk</link>
	<description>Personal Finance News</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 07:33:22 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Welcome</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/welcome/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/welcome/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 07:33:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=315</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to intelligent-investor.co.uk a Personal Finance <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/welcome/">Welcome</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to intelligent-investor.co.uk a Personal Finance News Blog.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Fwelcome%2F&amp;title=Welcome" id="wpa2a_2"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 Welcome"  title="Welcome" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Creating an Efficient IT Department</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/creating-an-efficient-it-department/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/creating-an-efficient-it-department/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 19:23:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IT]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=307</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In every business that deals a lot with computers, the main complaint the employees have is about the IT department. Whether it’s their ability to fix problems in a timely manner or their overall disposition, people in the IT department aren’t popular. If you’re one of the people who has complaints about the IT department, you <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/creating-an-efficient-it-department/">Creating an Efficient IT Department</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In every business that deals a lot with computers, the main complaint the employees have is about the IT department. Whether it’s their ability to fix problems in a timely manner or their overall disposition, people in the IT department aren’t popular. If you’re one of the people who has complaints about the IT department, you need to put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you had to maintain computers and deal with irritable people for 8-hours-a-day minimum? You wouldn’t be very happy. You also wouldn’t like the overtime you had to put in to maintain the computer systems after everyone went home. The long hours would wear on you, drag you down, and make you an unpleasant person to deal with. It has nothing to do with your abilities as an employee or your dedication to the job as a whole. You’re overworked and since the computer systems you’re assigned to never want to remain stable or cooperate, your situation will only get worse as time goes on.</p>
<p>It’s hard for an IT department to stay on top of the situation. They may not have enough people or their employees lack the expertise to get the job done properly. Many companies often place less emphasis on their IT department than any other in the organization. As a result, their deficiencies are obvious to anyone with a pair of eyes. In the eyes of the company, as long as an IT department can keep computers running, they’re doing their job properly. It doesn’t matter if they’re sluggish and crashing all the time as long as they still boot up every time they’re turned on. An IT department isn’t going to get any favors from management, so they have to do the best with the resources they have. The IT manager has to know the strengths and weaknesses of everyone in their department. An efficient IT department has to run like a well-oiled machine and any loose parts will make the machine fall apart.</p>
<p>Many companies look for help running their IT departments using <a href="http://content.dell.com/uk/en/enterprise/by-service-type">Dell</a> IT services to help their company with IT problems and help their company grow. Making sure your company has all the up to date software and hardware is also essential such as <a href="http://content.dell.com/uk/en/enterprise/windows-7">Dell Win 7</a> to ensure programs are running their best.</p>
<p>Make sure everyone is being utilized properly. Never assign anyone to a task they don’t have the expertise to handle. If everyone has their own role within a department, they won’t have to guess what they need to do next. They will know what they have to focus on every day they come to work. You won’t have the same issues associated with someone who has very little knowledge of a particular area wreaking havoc and irritating the masses. Each team member has to have a working knowledge of the tasks assigned to every other team member. When someone is unable to perform their tasks due to illness or some other problem, the other team members should be able to stand in and fill the gaps. Most IT departments are crippled whenever one of their members goes out of town or is sick. An efficient IT department will not have these weaknesses because everyone will work together to ensure the computer systems are functioning at the highest possible level at all times.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em><strong>This guest post is written by Sam Peters, who writes about various business related topics. </strong></em></p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Fcreating-an-efficient-it-department%2F&amp;title=Creating%20an%20Efficient%20IT%20Department" id="wpa2a_4"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 Creating an Efficient IT Department"  title="Creating an Efficient IT Department" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>There are many more options now open to those looking for a loan</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/there-are-many-more-options-now-open-to-those-looking-for-a-loan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/there-are-many-more-options-now-open-to-those-looking-for-a-loan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 17:25:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans from supermarkets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[where to get loans from]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=310</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>At some point in their life most people take out some form of loan and there are many companies offering loans on the market right now, and in recent years this is something that supermarkets and other retailers have started to offer. Loans were something typically associated with banks, but now there are more players in <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/there-are-many-more-options-now-open-to-those-looking-for-a-loan/">There are many more options now open to those looking for a loan</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At some point in their life most people take out some form of loan and there are many companies offering loans on the market right now, and in recent years this is something that supermarkets and other retailers have started to offer. Loans were something typically associated with banks, but now there are more players in the market and the chances are you can get a better deal.</p>
<p>Sainsbury&#8217;s supermarket offer loans through their loans through their finance company. The company offer loans at a rate of six percent if the customer is borrowing more than £7500, but less than £15,000. In order to take advantage from this low rate, customers also have to pay back the loan within three years.</p>
<p>However, if you are willing to take a slightly higher rate of just 6.1 percent then you are going to get an extension on the loan repayments which means you have to pay it back within five years.</p>
<p>The reason for this difference in interest rates is because those who apply for a short-term loan are seen as lower risk as they are more likely to pay it back. In order to apply for this loan you have to be an adult and not have a poor credit history from things such as County Court judgements, bankruptcy or arrears.</p>
<p>Another company offering loans as Marks &amp; Spencer and they offer loans on a longer term basis and Sainsbury&#8217;s. However, these loans are only available to people who are over 30 years old or you must own a home.</p>
<p>Also with these loans you are going to have to have an excellent credit rating. Marks &amp; Spencer offer this loan system through a partnership with HSBC bank. If you apply for either of these loans, make sure that you get the rate advertised as it is not applicable to all customers.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Fthere-are-many-more-options-now-open-to-those-looking-for-a-loan%2F&amp;title=There%20are%20many%20more%20options%20now%20open%20to%20those%20looking%20for%20a%20loan" id="wpa2a_6"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 There are many more options now open to those looking for a loan"  title="There are many more options now open to those looking for a loan" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Loans are much more cost effective method of borrowing</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/loans-are-much-more-cost-effective-method-of-borrowing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/loans-are-much-more-cost-effective-method-of-borrowing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 May 2012 17:28:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheapest ways of borrowing money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loan interest rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=312</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>The cost of borrowing on credit cards and mortgages is always in the news but for those who are interested in personal loans the news is actually better as the interest rates on these are very low. For those who are planning to borrow money in order to buy a new car, or make another large <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/loans-are-much-more-cost-effective-method-of-borrowing/">Loans are much more cost effective method of borrowing</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The cost of borrowing on credit cards and mortgages is always in the news but for those who are interested in personal loans the news is actually better as the interest rates on these are very low. For those who are planning to borrow money in order to buy a new car, or make another large purchase, this is very good news.</p>
<p>Personal loans can also be a good way for people to consolidate debts they hold on a credit card as it will allow them to pay off the debt at a lower rate. Some companies are even offering loan rates as low as six percent and the introduction of these low rates has encouraged competition from other lenders.</p>
<p>In most cases however the cost of borrowing money is increasing. Rather incredibly, the company Virgin Money recently informed some credit card customers that their interest rates are going to be increased to around 50 percent. This is a very high amount but most credit card companies are still charging around 17 percent to their customers.</p>
<p>It was also recently in the news that many banks that offer mortgages are going to be increasing their rates even though the Bank of England has made no change to the base rate in several years.</p>
<p>Overdraft rates are also increasing and the cost of borrowing on an unauthorised overdraft has increased at the same amount as credit card borrowing costs. Personal loans however continue to fall in their cost and rates are at their lowest since 2007.</p>
<p>Nationwide is a building society with a great deal of financial products and some of their personal loans are currently offering market beating rates. Groups that are owned by their members, such as nationwide, can often offer a better deal than major banks.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Floans-are-much-more-cost-effective-method-of-borrowing%2F&amp;title=Loans%20are%20much%20more%20cost%20effective%20method%20of%20borrowing" id="wpa2a_8"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 Loans are much more cost effective method of borrowing"  title="Loans are much more cost effective method of borrowing" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Should small businesses target the growing elderly population?</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/should-small-businesses-target-the-growing-elderly-population/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/should-small-businesses-target-the-growing-elderly-population/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 14:28:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elderly]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=302</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Many believe that sectors focusing on products and services aimed at the elderly are now an attractive prospect for investment. Indeed, there is an increasing number of businesses who are looking to the over 65s in search of a market. There are two primary reasons for this.</p>
<p>The first reason is that the elderly population is growing <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/should-small-businesses-target-the-growing-elderly-population/">Should small businesses target the growing elderly population?</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/11.gif"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-303" title="1" src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/11.gif" alt="11 Should small businesses target the growing elderly population?" width="193" height="36" /></a>Many believe that sectors focusing on products and services aimed at the elderly are now an attractive prospect for investment. Indeed, there is an increasing number of businesses who are looking to the over 65s in search of a market. There are two primary reasons for this.</strong></p>
<p>The first reason is that the elderly population is growing in size. Of course, the size of each section of society is increasing as birth rates continue to rise. However, the elderly are also growing as a proportion of society. This is primarily due to increases in the standard of health care and the development of effective medication and the treatment of diseases and illnesses.</p>
<p>In the UK, people are living for longer now than for ever before. Coupling this fact with a higher birth rate, we see why people over 65 now make up a larger portion of our society than ever before. For businesses who target a specific demographic for the sales of their products or services, this means a wider marketplace and therefore a more valuable industry.</p>
<p>The second reason for an increased focus on the elderly in business is their response to the recession. Consumer activity in every sector has been affected heavily by the financial crash, but far less so amongst the elderly.</p>
<p>While people all over the country still face the threat of increasing taxes, job cuts and interrupted pension plans, the retired population stands to lose less than the rest of us. The government’s cuts are harsh and far-reaching but they are not hitting all corners of society in equal measures.</p>
<p>While young professionals may not be spending as excitedly as they were a few years ago, the spending among the over 65s has not been greatly affected by the recession. Businesses are therefore keen to look to this portion of society in order to maintain profits.</p>
<p>The over 65s seem now to be a stronger buying demographic than they have been for some time. From <a href="http://www.uknetguide.co.uk/Lifestyle_and_Leisure/Article/Common_Problems_Older_People_Suffer_From-106381.html">stairlift producers</a> to exclusive package holidays, we should expect a shift in businesses’ focus in the UK. Britain’s elderly are the strongest consumer group and they look set to pull the UK out of recession.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Fshould-small-businesses-target-the-growing-elderly-population%2F&amp;title=Should%20small%20businesses%20target%20the%20growing%20elderly%20population%3F" id="wpa2a_10"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 Should small businesses target the growing elderly population?"  title="Should small businesses target the growing elderly population?" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>A quick guide to Home Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/a-quick-guide-to-home-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/a-quick-guide-to-home-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 May 2012 13:51:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=299</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Home insurance can be difficult. Your home is a major importance in your life and well being. Its where you and your loved ones live, and holds all your valuables. To this end, it can be hard to find the right policy, in a market swamped with various deals, offers and attractive prospects. However, with a <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/a-quick-guide-to-home-insurance/">A quick guide to Home Insurance</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1.gif"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-300" title="1" src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1.gif" alt="1 A quick guide to Home Insurance" width="193" height="36" /></a>Home insurance can be difficult. Your home is a major importance in your life and well being. Its where you and your loved ones live, and holds all your valuables. To this end, it can be hard to find the right policy, in a market swamped with various deals, offers and attractive prospects. However, with a few pointers it can become a much easier market to navigate as you get some understanding of what you&#8217;re actually looking for.</p>
<p><strong>Possessions</strong></p>
<p>This is one of the easier decisions to make, do you simply want to insure your house, in terms of damage and repairs, or the house and the possessions you store inside of. The likes of your TV, Laptop and game console can all add up to considerable value. If these are important to you, it helps to find a policy that covers basic <a href="http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/classified/information/20320/how-to-protect-your-home-with-insurance-cover/">house insurance</a> as standard.  This removes any hassle of additional policies on top of a basic building insurance, and provides greater peace of mind in case of a break in.</p>
<p><strong>Extras</strong></p>
<p>This is where the situation can become difficult. There are various extras available. Many of them may simply run you out of money you didn&#8217;t necessarily need to spend, but others can prove quite valuable. Additional damage cover, for instance, covers you from additional accidents whilst additional cover to insure your possessions away from the home will no doubt provide an extra safety blanket.</p>
<p>These are purely optional, but offer the chance to be flexible in your insurance and decide where you want to spend money and what you want to keep safe. A reliable policy provider will be flexible in these options, giving you the controlling say in what&#8217;s needed.</p>
<p><strong>The Price</strong></p>
<p>Finally, the price is what really sells the deal. After everything else has been taken into consideration, is it affordable? If there isn&#8217;t anything on the market for you, then perhaps you&#8217;re asking for too much. Fortunately you&#8217;ll most likely find that you&#8217;ve arrived at a positive solution, a <a href="http://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/classified/information/20320/how-to-protect-your-home-with-insurance-cover/">home owners insurance</a> policy that caters to all your needs.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Fa-quick-guide-to-home-insurance%2F&amp;title=A%20quick%20guide%20to%20Home%20Insurance" id="wpa2a_12"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 A quick guide to Home Insurance"  title="A quick guide to Home Insurance" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Finding the best loans when borrowing is the only option</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/finding-the-best-loans-when-borrowing-is-the-only-option/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/finding-the-best-loans-when-borrowing-is-the-only-option/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 19:20:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loans]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=296</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Despite always hearing in the press and in the media that we are a nation in debt, more and more of us are turning to loans to get us through cash crises. There are so many of these available from so many different sources that finding the best one to suit your circumstances and which carry <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/finding-the-best-loans-when-borrowing-is-the-only-option/">Finding the best loans when borrowing is the only option</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Despite always hearing in the press and in the media that we are a nation in debt, more and more of us are turning to loans to get us through cash crises. There are so many of these available from so many different sources that finding the best one to suit your circumstances and which carry affordable repayment terms can seem like quite a daunting task, unless you know where to look.</p>
<p>The first port of call for <a href="http://www.123cashloans.co.uk/" target="_blank">cash loans</a> has always been banks, but due to the economic climate and people&#8217;s credit ratings falling, these are becoming increasingly harder to be approved for. Only those with pristine credit ratings seem to be qualifying for bank loans at the minute, not a lot of help to those who find themselves strapped for cash through no fault of their own.</p>
<p>As these loans traditionally carry the lowest APR&#8217;s, those unable to get one are forced to look elsewhere, and these invariably will carry a much higher interest rate and higher repayments. If you are struggling to manage until pay day, <a href="http://www.shorttermloans247.co.uk/" target="_blank">short term loans</a> could be the answer.</p>
<p>There are numerous websites offering these kinds of loans, and while the APR may seem ridiculously high, you must remember that these are intended to be only for a week or two to tide you over and you see exactly what you must repay and when. People can get into trouble with these loans if they start deferring loans and paying only the interest, so make sure you pay it off in full on the date you have said to make the most of this handy short term solution.</p>
<p>If you need a loan over a longer period of time, to buy a large item or make a major purchase for example, it will be worth your while to spend some time looking around for the best deals. Even if you have a really bad credit rating you will be able to get a loan from somewhere, but prepare yourself to possibly have to offer collateral, such as securing it against your home or having to find a guarantor prepared to make your payments if you are unable to.</p>
<p>There are also the doorstep loan companies that come to your house every week to collect your payments. Again, the APR on these are pretty high, but the convenience of having your payments collected and seeing your balance coming down in your payment book appeal to millions, and this sector of the finance industry has seen the second biggest increase in customers behind pay day loans.</p>
<p>These are just a few of the many loan options available to the consumer today. Varying APR&#8217;s should be compared against the criteria needed, and one thing you should never do is apply for several loans from different places at the same time. You may well feel as if you are covering your back, but every time you place a loan application the credit check registers on your credit file, which can have a detrimental effect on future loan applications.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Ffinding-the-best-loans-when-borrowing-is-the-only-option%2F&amp;title=Finding%20the%20best%20loans%20when%20borrowing%20is%20the%20only%20option" id="wpa2a_14"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 Finding the best loans when borrowing is the only option"  title="Finding the best loans when borrowing is the only option" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Capital One classic card has 0% APR until July 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/the-capital-one-classic-card-has-0-apr-until-july-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/the-capital-one-classic-card-has-0-apr-until-july-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 10:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[0% APR credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Capital One]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Capital One credit cards]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=294</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>One great credit card to look into is the Capital One Classic card if you can meet their guidelines for acceptance. The card comes with 0% on purchased until July of this year which is not that long of a period, but useful if you just want to spread out the costs of a fairly large <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/the-capital-one-classic-card-has-0-apr-until-july-2012/">The Capital One classic card has 0% APR until July 2012</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One great credit card to look into is the Capital One Classic card if you can meet their guidelines for acceptance. The card comes with 0% on purchased until July of this year which is not that long of a period, but useful if you just want to spread out the costs of a fairly large purchase.</p>
<p>The good news is that even those who have had some credit problems in the past may be applicable for this interest free card which makes it stand out among other card offers that are out there on the market.</p>
<p>In order to be applicable for the card at the very basic level, one must be at least 18 and registered to vote. You also are going to have to have some type of credit in order to become eligible for the card. One thing nice is that a few missed payments in the past are not going to be held against you as long as the number is within reason as the lending criteria is a bit more relaxed than other cards.</p>
<p>However, if you have declared bankruptcy within the past year or have never held any type of credit card then you will be turned down for the card.</p>
<p>Of course, with the looser lending criteria come some downsides, such as the fact that your credit limit is likely going to be low ranging between £200 and £1,200.</p>
<p>You can at least use the card to help rebuild your credit history although your aim should be to pay off any balance you carry on the card by the end of July so that you do not get slapped when the APR returns at a very high 34.9%. While this is a very high APR, it is because you are deemed a higher risk by the bank, but if you pay your balance off in full you will not have to worry about it.</p>
<p><a class="a2a_dd a2a_target addtoany_share_save" href="http://www.addtoany.com/share_save#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelligent-investor.co.uk%2Fthe-capital-one-classic-card-has-0-apr-until-july-2012%2F&amp;title=The%20Capital%20One%20classic%20card%20has%200%25%20APR%20until%20July%202012" id="wpa2a_16"><img src="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/add-to-any/share_save_171_16.png" width="171" height="16" alt="share save 171 16 The Capital One classic card has 0% APR until July 2012"  title="The Capital One classic card has 0% APR until July 2012" /></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Shopping around  for the best credit card deals</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/shopping-around-for-the-best-credit-card-deals/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/shopping-around-for-the-best-credit-card-deals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 10:21:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[best credit cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit cards with the best APR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new credit cards]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>At first glance, most credit card deals and transfer rates can look amazing, but generally speaking, these are only offered to those who have excellent credit histories which is not the position that most people in the UK find themselves in.</p>
<p>Thus, for the normal person without an exceptional credit history finding a credit card may seem <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/shopping-around-for-the-best-credit-card-deals/">Shopping around  for the best credit card deals</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At first glance, most credit card deals and transfer rates can look amazing, but generally speaking, these are only offered to those who have excellent credit histories which is not the position that most people in the UK find themselves in.</p>
<p>Thus, for the normal person without an exceptional credit history finding a credit card may seem like a tough task. With this in mind, you may want to read over the following list of what to look for in a new card and the catches to also be aware of so that you end up with a good deal.</p>
<p>First off, it is important to know that there are plenty of cards out there that offer 0% financing, but unless you have a great credit history you will not get that offer, instead you will likely get a rate that is much higher and if you are not aware of this fact you will get blindsided when the bill comes. Instead, you may be better off looking for a card that offers no interest for a short period of time such as 15 months or so because this offer usually remains open to all types of credit histories.</p>
<p>Actually, a balance transfer card is a great way to cut down an existing credit card debt, if you can qualify. Credit card providers will regularly check a credit file before offering them an application and only those that have a great history will end up getting the top offers. Those who have missed a few payments in the past can easily just forget about getting approved for one of these offers because even if you manage to get an application, the credit card bank is going to turn you down based on this alone.</p>
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		<title>How to find the best insurance policies online</title>
		<link>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/how-to-find-the-best-insurance-policies-online/</link>
		<comments>http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/how-to-find-the-best-insurance-policies-online/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:43:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Certis Insurance Brokers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/?p=289</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Whatever you want insuring &#8211; whether it&#8217;s a new luxury car or you want to adjust your contents cover after you&#8217;ve purchased some new electrical appliances for the home &#8211; you&#8217;ll want a high level of protection that will ensure you won&#8217;t be left out of pocket if the worst should happen.</p>
<p>Of course, nobody likes to <span style="color:#777"> . . . &#8594; Read More: <a href="http://www.intelligent-investor.co.uk/how-to-find-the-best-insurance-policies-online/">How to find the best insurance policies online</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Whatever you want insuring &#8211; whether it&#8217;s a new luxury car or you want to adjust your contents cover after you&#8217;ve purchased some new electrical appliances for the home &#8211; you&#8217;ll want a high level of protection that will ensure you won&#8217;t be left out of pocket if the worst should happen.</p>
<p>Of course, nobody likes to pay over the odds unnecessarily for anything, so you&#8217;ll also want to know that you&#8217;ve got a good deal on your cover. So, how do you find insurance that&#8217;s not just comprehensive but also competitive? To be sure the policy you end up buying delivers on both fronts, you&#8217;ll need to do some homework.</p>
<p>Automatically taking out insurance from the first company whose name you find in a newspaper is likely to mean you&#8217;ll be trapped in a policy that is not only unsuitable in terms of the protection it provides, but is also not the lowest price. To get a good idea of what insurance policies are best suited for you, it&#8217;s worth turning to the internet for assistance.</p>
<p>Rather than having to trawl systematically through the phonebook ringing various companies for quotes, searching for cover online is a much quicker process. Within a matter of minutes, you could find out how much an insurer will charge and browsing in multiple tabs makes looking at the differences between organisations much easier than comparing jotted down notes while speaking on the phone.</p>
<p>One popular way to search for good insurance deals on the internet is by using price comparison sites. This certainly has its benefits, as you can look at offerings from a selection of organisations and compare them against each other. However, you should remember that not all insurance providers will appear on all comparison sites. So, while these sites can provide a rough idea of which companies have the best prices and the main differences in the level of protection they offer, they should not always be taken as gospel.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that price comparison sites will sometimes give greater coverage of insurance companies that pay them the highest commission for referrals, as opposed to ones that have the lowest deals. You should always ask a company directly &#8211; whether by phone or online &#8211; to see if the price that is displayed on a comparison site really is their best rate.</p>
<p>However, you ought to bear in mind that if you have high-value possessions that you want insuring &#8211; whether it is a prestige car or a listed home &#8211; you&#8217;re likely to find that these sites cannot cater to your needs. The elevated monetary value of such items, combined with the higher risk they are perceived to possess, means that many mainstream insurers are unable &#8211; or unwilling &#8211; to cover them. While price comparison portals certainly have their uses in selected areas, if you want to obtain comprehensive cover for major purchases such as a house or car, you are best off seeking out specialist insurers.</p>
<p>These don&#8217;t appear on most comparison sites, so ascertaining which company and policy you should choose can be time-consuming. However, you can eliminate much of the hassle this can cause by visiting the website of a broker that specialises in arranging bespoke cover. Organisations like <a href="http://www.certisinsurance.com/">Certis Insurance brokers</a> work with niche providers to establish the most effective cover for you that can develop as your needs change.</p>
<p>What is your experience of looking for high-value insurance online? Leave a comment and let us know!<br />
<em><strong>Article Courtesy of Certis Insurance Brokers</strong></em></p>
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