For thousands of years, physicians have been aware of the health/medicinal benefits of garlic. But, today, the popularity of garlic supplements is related primarily to decades of research concerning the health benefits of garlic in lowering cholesterol, thus improving the health of the heart and possibly reducing the risk of heart disease. While no one disputes that there are numerous genuine health benefits of garlic, the most recent research conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) casts doubt on garlic’s cholesterol lowering effect and its benefits to heart health.
Over a period of six months, 169 people with moderately high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol were given three different formulations of garlic supplements. The trials were double blinded, randomized and conducted using placebo controls. Older research supporting claims of the benefits of garlic to heart health were not always conducted in this manner. Some research was conducted using laboratory animals. Some research was not blinded or placebo controlled, meaning that researchers or participants knew they were receiving actual garlic supplements. The problem with non-blinded studies is that the results are sometimes skewed towards what the researchers want or expect the results to be, plus, the placebo effect is well documented. When a person believes that they are receiving a product that will help their condition, any substance will return positive results 10-20% of the time.
NCCAM research concerning the cholesterol lowering benefits of garlic supplements was also controlled so that no other changes in diet or exercise regimens were made, because the primary question is whether or not garlic supplements alone actually have a beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol. If the NCCAM results are accurate, then garlic supplements have no effect on LDL cholesterol levels. Thus, the benefits of garlic to heart health may have been overstated by previous researchers or simply blown out of proportion by the media and supplement companies.
The undisputed health/medicinal benefits of garlic are mostly related to a component known as allicin, which is released when fresh garlic is crushed. Louis Pasteur, the father of modern antibiotics, noted garlic’s antibacterial activity in 1858. It was used to prevent gangrene during World Wars I and II. Other health benefits of garlic include the treatment of various infections, such as upper respiratory infections, fungal infections and infection with intestinal worms and parasites. The garlic must be fresh and crushed in order to be effective. The allicin is lost if garlic is cooked.
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Top 10 Events to Celebrate on a Party Bus
A San Francisco party bus can be an excellent transportation choice for a wide variety of activities. Instead of renting a traditional limo, you can kick the party up a notch with more space and entertainment. Most buses include amenities like a sound system, plasma televisions and plenty of comfortable seating. These ten events are the perfect opportunities for chartering a party bus.
Club Hopping
Bay area party bus drivers know all the hot spots in the city, and they will help you make the rounds. Most bus services will offer club hopping packages that will include entry to two or three clubs along with plenty of onboard entertainment in between.
Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
Give the bride or groom a night to remember with a party aboard a San Francisco party bus. You can add your own refreshments and entertainment.
Weddings
Get your wedding party to the church on time in extreme style. A party bus can provide extra time for the wedding party to spend together and add another memorable element to the special day.
Concerts
A party bus makes it easy to see all your favorite entertainers. The bus will pick you up at your front door and drive you right to the front of the arena or concert hall. After the concert, your driver will be ready and waiting to keep the party going on the way home.
Sporting Events
The tailgating is on the bus, and what a party it is! You avoid the hassle and expense of crowded parking lots, and those plasma televisions onboard come in quite handy for catching the pre-game shows.
Birthdays
Have a big birthday coming up? A San Francisco party bus can get you to your destination in high style. If you prefer, party onboard while your driver gives you a unique tour of the city.
Prom
There is simply no better way to impress the senior class than by showing up to your prom in a Bay area party bus. This party on wheels can be the perfect way to start and end your special night and parents can rest assured that kids will make it home safe and sound.
Graduation
That graduate worked really hard to get where he or she is today. Why not reward them with a special trip to the graduation ceremony? Afterwards, a San Francisco party bus can be the perfect way to make the graduation party rounds.
Family Reunions
Get the clan together by hopping aboard a party bus to take you to the reunion site. You can book a Bay area party bus big enough to hold the entire crowd so that everyone gets to the reunion together.
Gold Watch – The Perfect Gift For Your Valentine
Are you thinking of what to gift for your Valentine on this Valentine’s Day? How about giving him or her the best and the most memorable gift? A gold watch would be the perfect gift to anyone from their loved one, wouldn’t it? And if your hubby loves jewelry or likes to have a collection of watches, they will surely be more than just happy to add this to their collection if they matches their taste.
Such a watch encompasses everything anyone would love to have. Precious rocks and rubies can be embedded in the watch to show the time as presentable as it can be and make it more than just a watch. A gold watch can be more than an ordinary watch when you wear it; it can be an accessory.
Gold watches usually make a clear statement of style and class for those wearing them. It does not matter where you wear it, whether in your office or with your friends, this watch can surely make you look special and set you apart from the crowd. And all that gives this watch the special aura, is the gold which is specifically used for this purpose. If you do not have one of them yet, go out and get one. However, have a look at the price tag first before you actually hand over your credit card to pay the bill, because price is important when buying expensive watches.
Gold is one of the most precious elements which of course also makes such a watch precious and expensive. However, apart from the gold, there is more to those expensive watches, such as the expert watch craftsmanship.
Ladies also love gold watches, and no doubt, they would make brilliant gifts for any special occasions. Be it your girlfriend or your mother or sister, anyone would love to have a beautiful watch regardless of their age. You can find cheap watches or very expensive ones, but the bottom line is that they make for a gift to remember!
Gold watches look great when worn with expensive dresses or designer suits and these watches last very long if maintained well and with care since gold is very durable. So, remember to take good care of that watch from the minute you put it on!
How to Buy Vintage Jewelry at Thrift Shops
Some of the best places to find great vintage costume jewelry are thrift shops. You’ve seen the big stores – Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers…and then there are the charity shops run by churches and non-profits. All of them receive donated jewelry, and I have found some amazing pieces in thrift shops. It seems to me that the larger chain shops have better prices than the smaller charity shops, but it really depends on who is pricing the jewelry when they put it out for sale. Some shop employees are very savvy about values, but some aren’t and they often price jewelry very low. Maybe they figure that if it isn’t real gold it isn’t worth much. Good for us!
Thrift shop shopping has lost the stigma of being just junk shops or places where the down-and-out shop.
A great tip is to become friendly with the staff of the shops that you visit. One clerk lets me rummage through the jewelry bins before she prices them and puts them out on the floor. Another lets me know when they get a large amount of jewelry donated.
Find out when the shop has their specials. One store in my town has a 30% Senior discount on Wednesdays. Guess which day is my shopping day!
Sometimes the shop management will put a large amount of jewelry in a plastic bag and sell the bag for a fixed price. If you find these, examine the bag as closely as you can – you won’t be allowed to open it, and there’s lots of junk in there, mostly stuff that didn’t sell, and often lots of plastic Mardi Gras beads. I bought these bags a few times, and it was fun sorting through everything, but I wound up donating most of it to a nursing home for crafts projects. I have found a few really nice pieces this way, but I don’t think it was really worth the time and trouble.
Most thrift shops have a glass case where they keep the better stuff. Ask to see pieces that interest you, and examine them closely. Look closely at the racks where they usually hang the cheaper stuff. I found a sterling silver Native American belt buckle, with a turquoise stone in it and signed by the artist, hanging in a zip lock bag on a rack. I bought it for $2.80 and sold it on eBay for $52! It was badly tarnished, but I polished it up and it was beautiful.
There always seem to be lots of watches in those cases. Beware of copies of famous makes, and buy only name brands that you recognize. Make sure the band is in good condition and that there are no scratches on the crystal. The watch probably won’t be working, so plan to spend $5 to $7 for a battery. If you’re buying for resale, be sure to include the cost of a battery to see if the watch is worth buying. You’re taking a chance there – it might not work even after a new battery is installed.
Whether you are buying jewelry for your own collection or for resale, there are several things to look for when examining thrift shop jewelry.
1. Condition, condition, condition: You are going to come across all kinds of jewelry in all kinds of condition. Look for broken clasps, missing stones, worn metal finishes, and any green material on gold tone jewelry. The green stuff is corrosion, and it can’t be cleaned off. Pass on that one. Check that stone settings are tight, and if they aren’t, be careful with the piece – you should be able to tighten them. If the piece is dirty you can clean it. Bring a jeweler’s loupe or strong magnifying glass so you can examine the piece closely.
2. Is the piece signed? The name on the back of a pin or earring, on the clasp of a necklace or bracelet, or on an earring clip is the “signature” of the designer. Signed pieces can be more valuable than unsigned, but there are also many many “unsigned beauties” out there. Look for the name, and if there is a copyright symbol ©, that means the piece was made after about 1955. No symbol – you probably have a real vintage piece. Look for the numbers 925 on silver jewelry – that means it’s sterling silver, and if the price is right, you’ve got a steal.
3. Price: It’s hard to put a price on thrift shop jewelry – the cheaper, the better, of course! I try not to spend more than $3 for a pin, bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings. You might come across something really spectacular that costs more, and if you think you can profit from it, or you want it for yourself, go ahead and buy it. A good rule of thumb when shopping thrift shops is this: If you like it but aren’t sure, set yourself a limit, say $5. If it turns out to be not so great, you’re not out that much. As mentioned, some thrift shop employees know more about jewelry, and will price some pieces too high for you to sell and make a profit. But there seems to be quite a bit of employee turnover in these shops, so the next person pricing jewelry might not be as knowledgeable.
After Christmas is a good time to pick up Christmas jewelry. Some shops will mark down holiday items to get rid of them, other shops just store them away for next year.
I love shopping at thrift shops – just like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. Every trip is a treasure hunt. Some days are slim pickin’s, but some days are very rewarding. Just yesterday I got 10 pieces for $15 – several are sterling silver, and one piece may be jade – I’m still not sure.
Be consistent in your thrift shop shopping. Try to go out every week, and find out when the shops have their special promotions. Most of the large chain shops put out new merchandise all day long, some other shops restock on certain days. Find out when those are, and get there early.
Read books about costume jewelry, and become knowledgeable, so when you shop the thrift shops you’ll be armed with information. Have fun with it, get to know the thrift shop staff, and you’ll come home with some fabulous jewelry at fabulous prices.
Fashion Style: Product of Inner Artistry
Want to be trendy and stylish in all your favorite parties and occasions? It is amazing and fun to be unique and fashionable. Even wearing a mullet wig can make a difference if you just know how to carry the fashion you chose to impose. During parties, it is important that you know every detail of the occasion. This can prepare you for your outfit and style. The more unique you are the more you can definitely stand out in the crowd.
Parties like Halloween and Costume can make possible of wearing the stylish Halloween wigs. There are definitely a lot of designs to choose from depending on the character you are trying to portray. Pirate costume is always nice when perfectly matched with mullet wig. If you are trying to be Jack Sparrow just for a night, make it come true by choosing one of the stylish pirate costumes paired with one of the Halloween wigs then, the charming pirate will definitely be on their sight.
Your fashion statement is definitely a must when it comes to attending a party. You will be hiring a personal fashion coach or you will be managing your own style. Either ways, you need to be the unique and different to stand out.
There are cases when you will be stressed thinking of a fashion and style you need to materialize during a party. This is true to a lot of party goers especially when they have already tried to appear in a lot of parties. Sometimes, you will run out of fashion ideas. Even finding a pair for a mullet wig may be hard to do but not to worry. You can definitely do a way for finding a solution for this dilemma of yours.
If you have been a party goer ever since, then you already know at least in your mind the possible parties you are attending every year. If this is the case, make a list of parties to make also your preparations ahead of time. This can also save your effort and the possible stress and worries you will undergo. If you are a regular Halloween party attendee then matching one of the Halloween wigs for a perfect outfit or costume will not be hard for you anymore.
Trust your fashion statement. It is actually fine if you like experimenting to different styles. The important thing is you are able to carry the fashion you created. Confidence can make a lot of difference especially in wearing your costumes and definitely portraying the character you chose. Say, a gruesome witch. You will definitely be wearing a dirty and filthy witch costume. Your hair will be a total mess or you can wear a Halloween costume to save hair accessories and gels. If your esteem is low you will end up a real witch hiding in one corner.
The catch is that, one should not be afraid to show her own style and fashion. We should understand that our fashion statement represents on what a person we are. We are artistic and definitely creative to let the partly continue with fun and joy until it ends.
Income Tax Preparation
Income tax preparation is an important aspect of everybody’s life. Each April 15th, United States citizens scramble to get their tax return preparation completed in time for the deadline. In order to make income tax preparation easier, there are many tools available to help make the process smoother. Free income tax preparation and online income tax preparation are methods that are readily available to help make tax season a bit easier.
Free income tax preparation is often available as an incentive for refund anticipation loans. A tax specialist will analyze your finances and prepare your taxes. If it is determine you are entitled to a refund, they take a percentage of that refund.Consequently, the tax preparation service makes money, but not until your refund comes through. There is no out-of pocket expense to you, plus you get the added assurance that your tax preparation is done thoroughly and accurately.
Online income tax preparation is available at many locations to assist you with your filing. The income tax preparation software usually consists of an easy-to-use interface which asks a series of questions. You will answer each question then move to the next screen. Some questions will not be applicable to your particular situation so you will choose the “not applicable” option and continue. The professional income tax preparation software thinks of everything for you. You do not have to be familiar with tax laws or the complexities of tax preparation. Instead, the software will cue you to the possible deductions you may be allowed to take.
Simply answer all the questions on the tax preparation software as completely as you can and your tax refund or payment will be automatically calculated for you. You will then have the option to print out the forms for your signature and submission. If you choose this option, print all the necessary forms that the tax preparation software informs you that you will need. Sign all the forms where appropriate, and attach any supporting documentation. Most income tax preparation software will generate a checklist that you can use to ensure all supporting documentation and forms are properly enclosed.
Many online income tax preparation software systems have electronic submission capabilities. This way, you can file all the necessary tax paperwork without having to go to the post office to wait in long lines. This is especially useful when it gets closer to the tax deadline and many people are rushing to get their taxes posted. The lines can be outrageous and being able to file your return from the comfort of your own home is much more convenient.
Tax preparation help can be found on numerous websites and at the Internal Revenue Service website. If you have a question about the proper way to complete your tax preparation or what forms to file, the Internal Revenue Service website is a great place to look for tax preparation help. Income tax preparation software also often has available tax help files and links for resources.
Tax preparation services are another useful option for tax preparation. Tax preparation services can often be found in kiosks in shopping centers or malls as well as in stand-alone offices. Tax preparation services work for a fee, but they hire highly skilled accountants and tax specialists who will know exactly how to most effectively prepare your taxes to get the maximum amount of deductions. The person who prepares your taxes will walk you through a series of questions and will possibly ask to see certain types of documentation. This process will assist them in developing the most thorough and accurate tax return possible.
Federal and state income tax preparation can often seem like a daunting task. Free tax preparation is available for those who are concerned about their budget. Any fees that are applicable are generally deducted from your refund so there are no up-front costs. Online income tax preparation is available for those who want the convenience of preparing and filing taxes online. You can avoid the long lines and hassle of the post office by choosing this option and you can generally get your refund, if there is one, directly deposited into your checking account. Income tax preparation services are also available at a fee, and are generally used for more complex tax returns. All options are readily available and easy to use. Any of these options will make your tax preparation much easier and less stressful.
2017 Fashion – The Top 5 Styles You Will Love
This summer’s fashion styles are a mixture of stunning oriental and floral patterns to bold stripes and checks, tuxedos and suits to swinging sixties styles, matte polka dots to shimmering metallic evening dresses. Even though the assortment is vast, I am going to concentrate on the top 5 styles this season that are guaranteed to get you noticed!
Sixties
The swinging sixties are back in fashion. With colors becoming even more bold and vibrant and the mini skirt creeping its way back in distinctly, it is not surprising that this free flowing, carefree style has made its return with great pride. Pleated minis are a cute addition to any fashionistas wardrobe and with the weather becoming more friendly towards them why not let it shine and show it off in style. Even that long sleeve, cotton tie-dye top which has been hiding away all winter will be a welcome change this season.
Metallic
A particular favorite in the catwalks this season, metallic are an all-round must have this summer. With shimmering gold and silvers they can set any outfit off with a beautiful, eye-catching shine. Long, scoop neck metallic mesh tops are a favorite at the moment for casual wear so why not make it stand out with a contrast color underneath? Another constant appearance for metallic is the ever so glamorous evening dress. Just the way metallic fabric falls gives that sophisticated sense of style to any figure.
Stripes
Stripes are great for setting the perfect appearance. Vertical stripes are excellent for giving that tall, slim appearance so use them to your advantage. Most people do not realize but pinstripe suits add that touch of sophistication without going overboard, for those people who feel they could not pull off bolder stripes. However, do be cautious; gauge the size of stripes to suit your figure as incorrect judgment can cause an extreme fashion faux pas.
Oriental prints
Caught on the catwalk last winter and still heading down the red carpet this season. Red, black, turquoise and pink colors with that beautiful cherry blossom pattern in shining gold look amazing in every aspect. Keeping in theme with the iconic floral styles, it is not surprising oriental patterns have entered the summer must haves. Not only do they catch the light and make your stunning outfit stand out, they accentuate the figure attractively. Splash out on gorgeous gold cherry blossom kimono jackets, mandarin collared tops and trousers this summer and get those heads on the high street turning towards your glimpse of eastern paradise!
Checks
With check starting on the red carpet in last October, this high class style (mostly associated with the royals) has kept up its appearance this season. Chess board blocks in black and white are a great way to set that upper market look, however be careful; too much check can overkill an outfit, instead treat it as an addition, a check collar over a suit jacket can put that je ne sais quoi to a tailored suit without going overboard.
So, with these top 5 styles in every shop window at the moment and their popularity on the rise throughout summer, you can rest safe in the knowledge that these fashion flairs can be a happy addition to your wardrobe and get you noticed without breaking your bank balance.
Obama's Sesame Street Bus Tour
You could call it the Trailways tour, or the non-campaign tour, or the I hope I run into Sarah Palin at a truck stop tour. But I’m going to call President Obama’s bizarre three-day road trip around the upper Midwest his Sesame Street tour.
Sesame Street, as in “brought to you by the number 270 and the letters G, O and P.”
With America’s rural population at a record low (only 16 percent of us live outside urban areas), and with sky-high commodity prices making the farm sector one of very few vigorous parts of the U.S. economy, Obama’s decision to spend three precious days of his term talking about jobs in places like Cannon Falls, Minn., and Decorah, Iowa, doesn’t seem to make any sense. Tooling down the heartland’s two-lane byways in a tricked-out $1.1 million Secret Service brontosaurus seems politically tone-deaf, too. It cannot have made the president’s green supporters very happy. On the other hand, the presidential behemoth must have put a few smiles on the faces of corn farmers, who are happy to sell their crops to ethanol and biodiesel makers.
There is a method to the apparent White House madness, however, and I am pretty confident it has a lot to do with the Electoral College.
Presidential races are not determined on the basis of who gets the most votes. If they were, we would all remember the Gore administration. Instead, it takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the White House. At this early stage in the campaign, the president’s prospects look pretty dim.
Florida, oddly enough, is the key to understanding this week’s bus trip.
Let’s create our own map of the possible Electoral College results next year. The website 270towin.com makes this very easy. For starters, let’s give Obama all six New England states, plus the Democratic-leaning Northeastern states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Delaware, as well as the District of Columbia. Pennsylvania is not a sure thing, but we will be charitable toward the president. Let’s also give him all the Pacific states except rock-ribbed Republican Alaska. He is entitled to his home state of Illinois, and we can throw in Michigan, if only because Obama can (and certainly will) claim credit for rescuing General Motors and Chrysler. Finally, we will give him Minnesota. It is a pretty evenly divided state, and home to Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann, but Minnesota has gone to Democrats in every presidential election since the Nixon landslide in 1972.
That’s 236 electoral votes. If Obama could count Florida in his column, he would be up to 265. He would need to pick up only one shaky swing state to get over the hump, even a small one like Nevada, with six electoral votes, or New Mexico, with five. That is a manageable goal.
The problem is that Obama’s chance of winning Florida is slim, and getting slimmer. He carried the state in 2008 with a heavy turnout among minorities and solid support among independent white voters. This time his white support is far weaker, and his hard-core Democratic base is far less motivated than his Republican opposition. Obama has to brace for lighter turnout in the Democratic-leaning South Florida metroplex, and stiff resistance in the critical corridor along Interstate 4, running from Tampa to Orlando to Daytona Beach.
If he loses Florida, as he probably will, Obama’s prospects are bleak. States like Virginia and North Carolina, which he pulled into the Democratic column last time, are hopelessly out of reach. His chances don’t look good in Ohio either, though this may depend on whom the Republicans nominate and how effectively that person campaigns. He cannot count on Ohio. Missouri, another important swing state, is probably also beyond Obama’s grasp. Health care reform pushed that state sharply to the right.
Without Florida or Ohio in his column, Obama’s only hope is to run the table by winning every other state in which he conceivably has a chance. That would be Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico. He also cannot afford to lose any of his base states, notably Minnesota and Illinois.
Now the motivation for the bus trip becomes clear. Motoring his way through Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois gave Obama a chance to show some love for the region. He also guaranteed himself plenty of exposure in neighboring Wisconsin, which was busy on Tuesday with the last of its recall elections stemming from this year’s legislative fight over public worker unions.
Wisconsin is undoubtedly causing the president and his political handlers plenty of aggravation. Without Florida or Ohio, they cannot win without Wisconsin. Yet Democrats and their labor allies spent tens of millions of dollars in nine recall elections affecting state senators with unsatisfying results. They picked up only two of the six Republican seats they challenged, leaving the Legislature in GOP hands. They also lost a stiff challenge to a sitting, Republican-leaning state Supreme Court justice. Wisconsin remains a close call, but it clearly leans Republican right now.
Why didn’t Obama ride his bus there? Probably timing. A visit on Monday or Tuesday would have looked like blatant interference in the recall elections and might have sent Republicans streaming to the polls. A visit on Wednesday would have risked embarrassment if one or both of the Democratic senators who were challenged this week had been knocked off. The safest course was to stay out but stay close, and that is what the president did.
Sesame Street has always been one of the most instructive shows on television, and the Sesame Street Bus Tour was equally informative. By staying away from Florida, Obama taught us a lot about the reception he thinks he will get down there. By confining himself to the upper Midwest, he underscored how important the region has become to his presidency. Presidents usually take faster transportation options, and nobody relishes the thought of three days on a bus. Not even one tricked-out by the Secret Service.
Fundamental Career Guide Towards All Travel Agency Career
The majority of those who desire a travel agency job are the ones thinking about traveling. A travel agent position will certainly open up opportunities for you to go to the Caribbean, Venice, Egypt, Tuscany, Malaysia, Morocco and any place else in the globe, however, not always. But in many instances, having a travel agent position allows you for you to visit the well-known narrow walkways of Baghdad, bargain with carpet retailers of Turkey and gesture with the man-eating tigers of Nigeria. That is a fantastic possibility for many, especially those who do not want a desk job in an 8-5 office.
Keeping a travel agency position requires that you be passionately in love with traveling and also have enough knowledge to influence plenty of people as possible to go with you to vacation packages in unfamiliar destinations. It is primarily the infectious travel love that makes your agency’s consumers be interested in just what the planet boasts also in doing this supply you with the revenue. A career in travel agencies indicates you can actually motivate others to enjoy everything you have loved during you expeditious journeys. Traveling for you becomes an enterprise when it is exciting for other people.
Fundamentally, a travel agency career involves assisting others schedule, organize and prepare for their vacations. Your task is to arrange and book their tickets and accommodation packages for as many vacation goers as you can influence. The education qualification needed for you to join a tour operator career is not as high as with many other career paths. You need at least a high school diploma and then professional training as a travel agent and the required certification. Main travel firms demand that their travel agents have a suitable degree. You may therefore seek such a degree or select the vocational schools offering specific in travel.
Besides the college background and professional education, your odds of acquiring a travel agent position may also depend on considerable business working experience. It helps if you’re able to prove to be a devoted traveler or to have enough knowledge about holiday destinations. Such expertise and knowledge adds volumes to your resume. The very best method towards such a CV is very first to get formalized training on travel to develop insight on how the business functions. Look for expert courses in such areas as sales and marketing, travel destinations, holiday package salesmanship and such relevant fields in the travel business.
The best vocational colleges’ diplomas or university degrees usually uncover you to the geography, history, languages, and communication expertise essential when traveling to several nations around the globe. A good method right here is always to go with the training with self initiative to master about the tourism, about the planet leading to internet businesses. Today, the world-wide web is the best reservoir of knowledge that you need to continually exploit as a confident or practicing travel agent.
It will likewise do you lots of good to help keep abreast with current routines. In this regard, apply for continuing classes in the travel sector such as the CTA qualification (Certified Travel Associate) as well as the CTC certification (Certified Travel Councilor). Even while, understand that your success in the travel agent job is determined by how trustworthy you are to clients, how dependable, how effective, how structured and just how innovative you might be while coordinating the itineraries of one’s clientele.
You must discover ways to successfully communicate while selling certain locations and packages to travelers while also being able to organize a creative traveling schedule, dependable in rent cars or taxis for travelers, booking hotel rooms, assisting specific travel budgets etc, for these are the basic features of a successful travel agent. When the art is learn, having a travel agency career is among the many enchanting encounters an outdoor individual may ever ask for.
Top 10 Myths For Payday Loans
1. Payday loans trap consumers in “cycle of debt”
Although the phrase “cycle of debt” is a favorite among industry critics, it is not based on the truth. Researchers and American state regulators consistently report that 70-80% of customers use payday cash advances between once a year and once a month.
It is important to understand that a payday advance is not meant to be a long term loan. What a payday loan has done is assist millions of families with emergency needs. This means that a payday advance is given only under the agreement that it will be paid off on the applicant’s next payday (hence the term, payday advance). Short-term loan providers also operate a rollover service to help keep the payday advance applicant from being stuck in a long term, high interest rate loan.
2. All operate as loan sharks
A payday loan provided by a reputable payday loan or cash advance company does not take advantage of people. It is meant to be used only for a short term emergency situation by employed persons who need a little bit of help between paydays for emergencies. This is a very common occurrence when most families live pay check to pay check and may not be financially prepared for emergency repairs, travel or medical expenses. In reality, quick payday loans fill a necessary component in the economic world.
3. Rude employees
Payday loan companies do not compete on the price of their loan, therefore it is important for them to compete on other aspects of the service to create a competitive advantage. One of these ways is through customer service and to ensure all employees are financially knowledgeable and are fully qualified for the job to certify their customers are given an excellent customer service. This is further enhanced through the recording and monitoring of telephone calls in and out of the company.
4. Target vulnerable people, the poor etc
Payday advances are marketed toward subprime clients without a distinction in employment or culture. In fact, payday loans are marketed toward those people earning between £10 000 and £25 000 per year. Most payday advance members are under 45 years old and all applicants are currently employed with a steady income and have an active checking account. In reality, payday advances are meant for working adults with an immediate emergency need that cannot be satisfied through bank and union loans.
5. Hide fees and have high interest rates
The payday cash loan facility is required by law to disclose any application fees, interest rates and other fees. In accordance with OFT guidelines, it is a legal requirement that all fees and rates must be clearly outlined and disclosed to the customer.
A payday loan does have high interest rates. This is not because the lender is trying to take advantage of emergencies, but because they are a short term lender. The payday loans are meant to be short term loans, not long term loans that are constantly refinanced with monthly statements. This means that the payday loan company assumes greater risk at the same profit level as other financial institutions.
6. Threaten customers with coercive collection practices
Short-term loan providers are committed to collecting past due accounts in a professional, fair and lawful manner involving no criminal actions. In accordance with BBCA’s guidelines, companies in the UK may not pursue criminal actions against a customer as a result of the customer not repaying their loan. If absolutely necessary and after all other approaches have been tried, the lender may turn the issue over to a collection agency.
7. Operate outside the OFT guidelines
All short-term loan lenders should follow OFT guidelines and are dedicated to practicing all practices and collections in the best way possible. The company strives to educate the consumer and to make sure that our borrowers clearly understand the payday loan process. This is in accordance within the customer selection criteria in a Responsible Lending policy.
8. Unethical
Many posts have been written on consumer forums about how payday loan lenders are unethical and immoral for taking money from people who need it the most. This is not the objective of payday advances; these short-term loans are meant to tie over consumers until payday and be paid back on time. One loan provider operate a ‘Responsible Lending’ policy, listed in this policy are guidelines stating that the company’s charges are transparent and only lend to customers who can pay the loan back. The company also offers a payment plan option if customers are unable to pay back the loan on time; this allows them to pay back a small amount per week which the customer can afford.
Short-term loan lenders who offer payday advances have also been seen to partner with a charity to match customer donations made through the website. For example, one lender has partnered with Starlight Children’s Foundation to match the 50p donation, customers can choose to make on their interest payment.
9. Adds unauthorized charges to accounts
Payday loan providers only charge customers what they owe, and do not want to charge customers more for their loan. All companies ethical practices and responsible lending policy ensures customers only pay back the interest payments and charges which are relevant to their account.
10. Employees are trained to set hooks
Employees from payday loan providers are trained purely for business purposes, and to help customers as much as they can. Employees from short-term loan providers pride themselves on excellent customer service and helping customers out. To employees from this short-term loan lender happy customers mean increase commission.