Q. What is Anews?
A. Anews is Canada’s a free article directory where you can find and submit articles for free.

Q. How long does it take for my article to be listed in the Anews?
A. Depending on the activity level of the editors, it may take up to 48 hours for your article to be reviewed and deployed to production.

Q. Does it cost money to submit articles to Anews?
A. No, we do not charge for article publication or pay for submitted content. We run advertising on our site to help us keep the site running free of charge.

Q. Does Anews accept all its article submissions?
A. We care a great deal about the quality of the Anews, and pride ourselves on being highly selective. We don’t accept all the articles, as our goal is to make the directory as useful and interesting as possible for our users.

Q. Can I get my article listed in more than one category?
A. You should submit your article to the single most appropriate category that is directly relevant to your site’s content. Please do not submit the same article more than one time.

Q. Does Anews have a link exchange program?
A. Yes. You are welcome to exchange links with us at: http://www.anews.ca/link-exchange/

 Make Money Online

While I have enjoyed great success with my online ventures, I have decided to help others learn by my experiences, hence saving you money and time.
Four Main Areas To Concentrate On:

Domain Name – If you do not already have a domain name, you will need to register one. Many places charge up to $35.00/year for a .com domain name. Some will charge less if you also use their web hosting solutions or if you register your domain for multiple years. At Order Your Domain, a reputable domain registration service assisting others with their domains for 10 years, you can register a .com domain for just $7.69/year with a slew of extras thrown in for free that other domain registrars charge for.

When selecting a domain name try to keep it short and relevant to the products you want to offer. A good example is OrderYourDomain.com, which includes keywords as well as states exactly what the site pertains to.

A good trick is to find a few good domain names that are common search phrases and point the extra domains to the corresponding page on your existing website. For example, FishingEmail.com, a decent search phrase (Fishing Email) points to GoneFishing.net/email, which offers a free email account such as YourName@GoneFishing.net.

Web Hosting – you will need this to build your site, create your email accounts. Again, Order Your Domain offers the best of both worlds. Point and Click, WebSite Tonight – For those who do not know HTML, do not wish to learn, or just anxious to get started. Hundreds of professional templates along with other nice tools are offered through WebSite Tonight. FTP Accounts – for the more advanced where you create your own website and upload to the server via a FTP client.

When choosing a web host, keep in mind most new online businesses do not require a large server unless you have a large number of products, huge databases . . . Most web hosting companies will permit you to start with a smaller hosting package and upgrade as your needs expand by simply paying the difference in the monthly fee.

Product and/or Service — Usually the best products or services are ones that are your own. You should be very knowledgeable in the field you are going to offer; hence you could write an eBook and offer as downloadable once payment is received. This automation can save time and money as printing costs money and running to the post office everyday will take time. Your time can then be put to much better use, marketing your website to increase sales!

If you do not have a product to sell or wish to simply add more products to compliment your own, try LinkConnector Network , a free to join affiliate network of thousands of products and services. There are a few things that make them stand out from other networks . . . the commissions are usually higher and you get your own personal account representative for assistance if needed.

For payment processing do not spend thousands of dollars on a merchant account. If needed, you can always add at a later date, but for now use a free service such as PayPal. The only fees you pay are per transaction; you pay nothing except a small percentage when someone pays you!

Marketing – How will you market and promote your products and/or services? There are many ways to accomplish this. The correct way is to use a number of different marketing techniques, finding which work best for you. Some of the best are writing and publishing your own articles and then submitting to article archives such as Idea Marketers, allowing others to use with a four- or five-line signature with links back to your site (see the end of this article).

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) search engines such as Yahoo or Google.

Assisting others needing help on targeted discussion forums.

One free way to begin driving targeted traffic to your website is with TrafficSwarm. Once you setup an account you can target your audience by choosing which categories your ad will display under.

Collecting emails for your own newsletter is a must for any serious internet entrepreneur. Use of Smart Autoreponders will send numerous prewritten emails out over a period of time, which you determine, to those who sign up. Use a remotely hosted script such as Aweber as this is your best bet and one I have used for years. Not only can you send one batch of preset emails to potential customers, but set up a separate batch of emails for existing customers for backend sales, hence increasing your profits for pennies on the dollar!

Source: ideamarketers.com | Bruce Galle

How much Home can you afford?

Yes, you need a mortgage. So the first step in determining how much a bank will lend you is to understand how much you can afford each month. This is determined using two lending principals.

1. Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDSR) calculation:
This lending principle simply states that your monthly housing cost should not exceed 32% of your gross monthly family income.
2. Total Debt Service Ratio (TDSR) calculation:
This lending principle summarizes that your monthly housing cost and payments on all of your other debts (including loans, credit card and lease payments) should not exceed 40% of your gross monthly income.

Everybody is total costs are different, but hopefully you have enough money for a nice down payment.

Source: howrealtorshelp.ca

Things you should never buy new

1. DVDs and CDs: Used DVDs and CDs will play like new if they were well taken care of. Even if you wind up with a scratched disc and you don’t want to bother with a return, there are ways to remove the scratches and make the DVD or CD playable again.

2. Books: You can buy used books at significant discounts from online sellers and brick-and-mortar used book stores. The condition of the books may vary, but they usually range from good to like-new. And of course, check out your local library for free reading material.

3. Video Games: Kids get tired of video games rather quickly. You can easily find used video games from online sellers at sites like Amazon and eBay a few months after the release date. Most video game store outlets will feature a used game shelf, as well. And if you’re not the patient type, you can rent or borrow from a friend first to see if it’s worth the purchase.

4. Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: Sometimes you’ll need to buy formal clothing for special occasions, such as weddings or prom. Most people will take good care of formal clothing but will only wear it once or twice. Their closet castouts are your savings: Thrift stores, yard sales, online sellers and even some dress shops offer fantastic buys on used formalwear.

5. Jewelry: Depreciation hits hard when you try to sell used jewelry, but as a buyer you can take advantage of the markdown to save a bundle. This is especially true for diamonds, which has ridiculously low resale value. Check out estate sales and reputable pawn shops to find great deals on unique pieces. Even if you decide to resell the jewelry later, the depreciation won’t hurt as much.

6. Ikea Furniture: Why bother assembling your own when you can pick it up for free (or nearly free) on Craigslist and Freecycle? Summer is the best time to hunt for Ikea furniture–that’s when college students are changing apartments and tossing out their goodies.

7. Games and Toys: How long do games and toys remain your child’s favorite before they’re left forgotten under the bed or in the closet? You can find used children’s toys in great condition at moving sales or on Craigslist, or you can ask your neighbors, friends, and family to trade used toys. Just make sure to give them a good wash before letting junior play.

8. Maternity and Baby Clothes: Compared to everyday outfits that you can wear any time, maternity clothes don’t get much wear outside the few months of pregnancy when they fit. The same goes for baby clothes that are quickly outgrown. You’ll save a small fortune by purchasing gently used maternity clothes and baby clothes at yard sales and thrift stores. Like children’s games and toys, friends and family may have baby or maternity clothing that they’ll be happy to let you take off their hands.

9. Musical Instruments: Purchasing new musical instruments for a beginner musician is rarely a good idea. (Are you ready to pay $60 an hour for piano lessons?) For your little dear who wants to learn to play an instrument, you should see how long his or her interest lasts by acquiring a rented or used instrument to practice with first. Unless you’re a professional musician or your junior prodigy is seriously committed to music, a brand new instrument may not be the best investment.

10. Pets: If you buy a puppy (or kitty) from a professional breeder or a pet store outlet, it can set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. On top of this, you’ll need to anticipate additional fees and vet bills, too. Instead, adopt a pre-owned pet from your local animal shelter and get a new family member, fees, and vaccines at a substantially lower cost.

11. Home Accent: Pieces Home decorating pieces and artwork are rarely handled on a day-to-day basis, so they’re generally still in good condition even after being resold multiple times. If you like the worn-out look of some decor pieces, you can be sure you didn’t pay extra for something that comes naturally with time. And don’t forget, for most of us, discovering a true gem at a garage sale is 90% of the fun!

12. Craft Supplies: If you’re into crafting, you probably have a variety of different supplies left over from prior projects. If you require some additional supplies for your upcoming project, then you can join a craft swap where you’ll find other crafty people to trade supplies with. If you have leftovers, be sure to donate them to your local schools.

13. Houses: You’re typically able to get better and more features for your dollar when you purchase an older home rather than building new. Older houses were often constructed on bigger corner lots, and you also get architectural variety in your neighborhood if the houses were built or remodeled in different eras.

14. Office Furniture: Good office furniture is built to withstand heavy use and handling. Really solid pieces will last a lifetime, long after they’re resold the first or second time. A great used desk or file cabinet will work as well as (or better than) a new one, but for a fraction of the cost. With the recession shutting down so many businesses, you can easily find lots of great office furniture deals.

15. Cars: You’ve probably heard this before: Cars depreciate the second you drive them off of the dealership’s lot. In buying a used car, you save money on both the initial cost and the insurance. It also helps to know a trusty mechanic who can check it over first. This way, you’ll be aware of any potential problems before you make the purchase.

16. Hand Tools: Simple tools with few moving parts, like hammers, hoes and wrenches, will keep for decades so long as they are well-made to begin with and are well-maintained. These are fairly easy to find at neighborhood yard or garage sales. If you don’t need to use hand tools very often, an even better deal is to rent a set of tools or borrow them from a friend.

17. Sports Equipment: Most people buy sports equipment planning to use it until it drops, but this rarely happens. So when sports equipment ends up on the resale market, they tend to still be in excellent condition. Look into buying used sporting gear through Craigslist and at yard sales or sports equipment stores.

18. Consumer Electronics: I know most folks like shiny new toys, but refurbished electronic goods are a much sweeter deal. Consumer electronics are returned to the manufacturer for different reasons, but generally, they’ll be inspected for damaged parts, fixed, tested, then resold at a lower price. Just make sure you get a good warranty along with your purchase.

19. Gardening Supplies: This is an easy way for you to save money, and all you need to do is be observant. Take a look outdoors and you’ll likely find such gardening supplies as mulch, wood, and even stones for free or vastly reduced prices. Used garden equipment and tools are also common goods at yard sales.

20. Timeshares: Buying timeshares isn’t for everyone, but if you decide that it suits your lifestyle, purchasing the property as a resale would be a better deal than buying it brand new: on average, you’ll save 67 percent on the price for a comparable new timeshare. If you’re new to timeshare ownership, give it a test run first by renting short term.

21. Recreational Items: It’s fairly easy to find high ticket recreational items like campers, boats, and jet skis being resold. Oftentimes, they’re barely used at all. As long as they’re in safe, working condition, they’ll make for a better value when purchased used than new.

Source: Yahoo.com

Avoid being a horrible investor

1. Do little or no research before buying a stock.
Would you trust a stranger to take care of your kids or drive your car? Then why would you entrust your portfolio, your hard-earned money, to the hands of management teams and businesses that you hardly know?

If you want to make blind bets, head to Vegas. It’s more fun losing money in a casino than in front of your computer. While you’re at it, you could do a little research on casino stocks, and you’ll see that the house always wins — especially when companies like MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM), Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), and Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq: WYNN) dodge their financial problems for an amazing 2009.

Remember, every time you buy a stock, there’s someone on the other side of the trade. Consider these other people the “house.” If they know more than you about the stock, you’re at a disadvantage.

2. Buy stocks based on tips and rumors.
In my life, I’ve gotten two tips that could be construed as insider information, which I declined to act on. Both tips were of the “I have a friend, who knows a guy, whose cousin” variety. Anyways, I checked out the tickers about a year after hearing the tips, and both had plummeted.

3. Be an envious investor.
Charlie Munger often states that the worst of the seven deadly sins is envy, because other sins, like lust or gluttony, provide the sinner with pleasure. Envy, on the other hand, has no pleasurable aspect whatsoever.

I blame envy for a lot of things. I think envious investors bid stocks like eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) and Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) up to amazing heights during the tech boom, and Crocs (Nasdaq: CROX) to over $75 a share two years ago. I think envy drove Shaq and Kobe apart and effectively dismantled the Lakers dynasty — at least temporarily. I also think envy causes the average investor to get swept up into bull markets and decimated in the subsequent crashes.

4. Invest with low conviction.
Doing a lot of research doesn’t help much if you don’t stick around to reap the benefits. I think investing without conviction is like marrying someone you just met a week ago. After the initial honeymoon phase, failure awaits after the first set of speed-bumps.

When investing in stocks, I can almost guarantee you won’t catch the bottom. There are just too many random factors involved in the collective buying and selling activities of millions of people around the globe.

In fact, I think investing without conviction almost guarantees failure. Let’s say you were smart enough to figure out that Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) was a bargain back in 2001, and bought in the $10-12 range. The stock had cratered more than 70%, so investors could reasonably think that was the bottom of the barrel.

Unfortunately, everyone who invested in Apple’s stock in 2001 would’ve seen their investment fall around 20%-30% over the next year. They’d also have to wait nearly two years just to get back to breakeven. Many investors would not have the conviction to ride out this storm, and would have bailed out at a loss. However, those with conviction who held on would be sitting on a 20-bagger, with the stock currently above $210 per share.

5. Fail to separate price from value.
Oddly enough, we have no problem distinguishing between price and value at the mall. We don’t say, this Gucci handbag is worth $3,000. We say, wow, that handbag costs $3,000. What a rip. At the mall, we know that the price people want us to pay, and the value we receive, can be two very different things.

The same rules apply to the stock market. For most companies, share prices move around a lot more than intrinsic value. Sometimes the two move together, sometimes they don’t — but they’re two very different things.

The investor who fails to discriminate between price and value fares no better than the tone-deaf contestant in American Idol. Both lack vital ingredients for success.

Final thoughts
So there are a couple of examples of what not to do. If you eliminate as many bad investing habits as possible, you might just turn into a great investor.

Source: Fool.com

Best business opportunities today

1.Fast food franchises
Fast food is such a integral part of many people’s diets that they will continue purchasing it no matter what. Others who usually don’t buy it will turn to fast food as a kind of comfort food in uncertain times. Old established fast food chains especially will profit from this kind of food nostalgia. Pick the right fast food franchise in the right place and this business opportunity could be a real money-maker.

2. Repair businesses
One obvious way that people save money is to make do rather than buying new, which makes businesses specializing in repairs excellent business opportunities. Auto repair and shoe repair are two examples of repair businesses that I speak of in Best Small Business Ideas for Tough Times. But they’re certainly not the only possibilities. What about furniture refinishing, furniture reupholstering and sewing and mending?

3. Collection agencies
When times get tough, more people have a tough time paying what they owe. Businesses hire collection agencies to help them get the money that’s owed them. If you don’t have any experience in collection yourself, the best way to get in on this best business opportunity is to hire experienced collectors to work in your agency. (Note that in Canada, all collection agencies have to be licensed and bonded according to legislation.)

4. Medical supplies
With our aging demographic, medical equipment and supplies are necessities for growing numbers of people, making providing medical supplies one of the best business opportunities around. Besides products that provide increased mobility such as scooters, wheelchairs, and walkers, bathroom safety products such as special toilet seats and bath lifts will be in increased demand.

5. Motivational speakers
What do people need more than anything else in tough times? Hope. That’s what the best motivational speakers provide and that’s why they’re going to be in demand in 2010. The most popular speaking topics will be those that speak to people’s concerns and offer them possible solutions such as getting more out of less. People who have personally overcome adversity will also be popular speakers.

6. Cleaning businesses
Remember what I said about necessity. Good times or bad, things get dirty and need to be cleaned providing a good business opportunity for those willing and able to do the cleaning. Residential cleaning services may drop a bit depending on employment rates but the demand for commercial cleaning will continue to be steady as institutions and businesses just need to get it done.

7. Discount/surplus stores
Throughout 2009 consumers will be looking for bargains, making discount and surplus stores a natural business opportunity. Obviously I’m not the only one who thinks so as discount stores are springing up all over. The best way to get in on this business opportunity is by buying into a franchise. Buck or Two and the Great Canadian Dollar Store are just two discount store franchises you may want to investigate.

8. Sports equipment
Selling sports equipment will continue to be a good business opportunity. Sports devotees will continue to do what they love to do as long as they can and will continue to be willing to pay for the equipment they need to do it. So skis, boards, skates and mountain bikes will all continue to sell. There will, however, be increased interest in used sports equipment, an interesting business idea in itself.

9. Senior care
On the list last year, this makes the list of best business opportunities again this year because of ever-growing demand. Business opportunities in senior care range from opening your own senior care home through providing in-home care or home services such as preparing meals, housekeeping or running errands. Senior care franchises are another option for getting in on this business opportunity.

10. Chocolate
The lure of chocolate is irresistible at the best of times and in uncertain times, people will eat even more of it. And that’s a lot of chocolate. In 2005, Canadians consumed 3.90 kgs per person, while Americans polished off even more – 5.58 kgs per person. While the market is dominated by the big manufacturers such as Hershey and Mars, there is still room for small businesses to specialize in producing premium gourmet chocolates. Of course, you’ll need to find an experienced chocolatier to turn this business opportunity into a viable business – or become one yourself.

Why Are These the Best Business Opportunities?

Because these are business opportunities that have legs. Taking into account the economy, consumer and business trends, these are businesses that should be profitable not just for 2010, but for years to come.

But not every business opportunity is right for everyone. You always need to do your homework; writing a business plan is a good (and safe) way to find out if the small business opportunity you’re considering is worth investing your time and money in.

Source: about.com

It’s different in two ways: First, there is no tax deduction for putting money into a TFSA, as there is in an RRSP. “With a TFSA, the money invested is after-tax money,” says the advisory. “With an RRSP it’s pre-tax money that you are investing.”

The other big difference is that money taken out of a TFSA will not be taxed at all, no matter how much the funds have grown. With an RRSP, every cent you withdraw is taxed as ordinary income, even if it came from dividends or capital gains.

Now let’s see exactly what you are getting with the new TFSA.

Spelling it out

The advisory spells out this new savings plan, detail by detail:

• As of 2009, any Canadian of age 18 or older will be able to invest up to $5,000 per year in a TFSA.

• No taxes will be payable on any investment gains, including capital gains.

• The money in the TFSA can be withdrawn at any time.

• Any funds that are withdrawn can always be put back into the account at a later date without reducing contribution room.

• Any unused contribution room for any year can be carried forward to a future year.

• There is no lifetime contribution limit.

• A person may also contribute to a spouse’s TFSA.

• Assets from a spouse’s TFSA account will be transferable upon death to the other spouse without tax implications.

The advisory sees two big positives in this plan. “First of all, Canada’s savings rate is both dismal and declining, so anything that reverses this trend is welcome in the sense of general economic health.

“Second, knowing that you will never be taxed has a certain appeal.”

But there are three drawbacks that must be noted, in this advisory’s opinion.

Fees, deductions and tax brackets

The first drawback is the contribution limit of $5,000 and how much of that will be eaten away in fees. “It remains to be seen how much the banks and other financial institutions will charge to administer one of these accounts (RRSP fees generally run from $60 to $120 a year),” says the advisory, “but in the first year especially that fee will cut significantly into your return.”

When the account balance gets to $10,000 or $15,000, the fee will constitute a lesser percentage, of course, but it still erodes your return. This also happens with RRSPs, of course, but in most well stocked accounts, the fee takes a much smaller bite.

Next, capital losses won’t be deductible against capital gains. If you lose money in a TFSA, there is no tax cushion to offset it.

Finally, there is this to consider. It’s quite possible that you could be in a significantly higher tax bracket when you put the money into a TFSA than you are when you take the money out. “While contributing to an RRSP under these circumstances would result in a net tax reduction, doing so with a TFSA would actually result in higher net taxes being paid.”

When you consider how the value of your investment compounds, it makes this scenario even less palatable, adds the advisory.

“Don’t get us wrong,” concludes the advisory. “We like the concept of a TFSA. Just know that there are some caveats to it as well.”

Top 2 Stocks For Cashing In On Obama’s Stimulus Plan

While the politics behind President Obama’s stimulus plan are debatable…

The potential for making money from this rare $787 billion investment in America is undeniable.

Because unlike the nebulous “bailout plans” that are propping up the U.S. automakers and floundering financial institutions like Citigroup and Bank of America, this stimulus plan isn’t a bailout.

It’s a massive investment that will hand billions of dollars’ worth of projects to healthy, competitive businesses. (Like the companies you’ll discover just ahead…)

And this may be your one-time chance to invest in the companies that could see their revenues soar once the stimulus money rolls in…

But a quick word of warning — not all stocks will go up in the months and years ahead. There will be some big names that never recover from this downturn…

Just as the brutal bear market of 1973-74 sounded the death knell for many darling stocks of the day, like Bethlehem Steel and Johns-Mansville…

At the same time that it set the stage for historic run-ups by a handful of companies like Radio Shack (a gain of 1,557% between 1978 and 1983!) and Wal-Mart (a 1,900% surge from 1973 to 1983!).

The bottom line in all this: You can make a very profitable decision right now. By striking at this rare historical moment, you could build for yourself and your family a comfortable lining of wealth.

Of course, you need an edge. A trusted, independent resource. And that’s where The Motley Fool comes in!

Because while a lot of so-called experts are picking “Obama stocks” that might jump up a little bit in the months ahead…

The Motley Fool’s Inside Value investment advisory service team of researchers dug deeper…

They scoured the world of undervalued stocks… looking for those rare investments that change lives. The stocks that will be talked about decades from now…

And the only stocks that can deliver that kind of long-term performance are the ones with pristine balance sheets and high intrinsic values that sit smack-dab in the slipstream created by a monster trend — the multibillion-dollar trend of Obama’s epic investment in America!

So let’s dive right in… and take a look at the one company that’s in a prime position to cash in on the coming Internet expansion boom…

And take a look at our next investment… it’s a rock-solid company that’s in the sector the U.S. Department of Labor estimates will generate 3 million new jobs by 2016.

And by 2010, Americans will be faithfully handing over $2.6 trillion each year to companies in this industry. Discover how you can profit from this phenomenon…

Overhauling The U.S. Healthcare System

How about a quick quiz to test your healthcare know-how? Pencils, everyone:

1. Approximately what percentage of the U.S. population is uninsured?
1. 1%
2. 5%
3. 15%

Answer: C. The Census Bureau estimates that some 46 million Americans were uninsured in 2007.

2. In 2004 (the year for which the most recent data are available), which location had the lowest infant mortality rate?
1. Cuba
2. Detroit, Mich.
3. Russia

Answer: A. Cuba’s infant mortality rate was 5.8 per 1,000 births, compared with Russia’s 11.5 and Detroit’s 15.5.

3. Which product does Starbucks [Nasdaq: SBUX] spend more money on?
1. Coffee beans
2. Health insurance for employees

Answer: B.

You don’t have to be a neurosurgeon to realize that something seems awry here. When a nation spends more than $2 trillion a year (roughly 16% of the gross domestic product) on health expenditures yet has a healthcare system ranked 37th in performance in the world, according to the World Health Organization, or when “a doctor… can get more data on the starting third baseman on his fantasy baseball team than on the effectiveness of life-and-death medical procedures” — as stated in a New York Times op-ed — something certainly needs revamping.

To bring America’s health care up to speed, the government is investing more than $140 billion into the sector. Some of the money will update the industry’s technological capabilities, some will fund research, and the remainder will increase Medicare and Medicaid budgets. One company clearly stands to benefit: UnitedHealth Group [NYSE: UNH], the country’s largest provider of health care services.

UnitedHealth operates with four divisions, but the bulk of its business ($75.9 billion, out of $81.2 billion in revenue during 2008) comes from its health care services segment. It provides both fee-based and traditional risk-based coverage to small and midsize companies as well as to families and individuals. Under the fee-based plans, UnitedHealth simply acts as an intermediary, collecting fees for administering the plan and leaving insurers with the potential risks of higher costs. With risk-based coverage, UnitedHealth collects monthly premiums that are ideally 15% to 20% higher than the costs it will pay out in claims.

Government-sponsored health plans like Medicare and Medicaid also fall into this division. For these, UnitedHealth bids on contracts from the government and manages the program with the government’s funds. The size of UnitedHealth’s network gives it a competitive edge when bidding for these plans, meaning it’s likely to receive the bulk of the money coming from the stimulus plan.

And then there’s Obama’s campaign promise of universal health care. Bruce Berkowitz, founder of Fairholme Capital Management and manager of the Fairholme Fund [FAIRX], which owns nearly 1.5% of UnitedHealth’s outstanding shares, believes that if this promise comes to fruition, the government could only accomplish it in one way: by using the managed health care companies, of which UnitedHealth is the largest.

Its current share price more than accounts for the possible risks, meaning we believe there is significant value to be found, with high potential reward. This investment is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Our next company is smack-dab in the momentous effort to rebuild America’s transportation infrastructure. Find out the name of the company that’s in the perfect position to cash in…

Rebuilding America’s Highways

Any driver knows that our roads could use some TLC. But just how bad are they?

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, more than a quarter of our nation’s bridges “are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.” As for our roads, we “spend 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic,” sucking some $78 billion out of our economy. Not only does this cause unnecessary damage to our cars, but these road conditions lead to 14,000 deaths a year.

Over the past two decades, as government spending skyrocketed to historic highs, infrastructure spending has plummeted to record lows.

So to bring our roads up to speed, the stimulus plan is slated to invest nearly $30 billion in our highways and bridges, which alone should help create more than 500,000 new jobs. It should also fuel economic growth because, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California recently put it, “The faster we can move people and goods, the stronger our economy is.” Some have estimated that every $1 invested into highways generates $5.40 in economic benefits.

Vulcan Materials [NYSE: VMC] is one company whose products will see a significant spike in demand as our roads are revamped. According to company data, Vulcan is the nation’s largest producer of aggregates (think crushed stone, sand, and gravel), a top-five asphalt producer, and a top-10 concrete producer, operating with a strategically significant coast-to-coast distribution network.

About 20% of the company’s revenue comes from the residential market. Growth here will likely stay slow until the housing market recovers — but the overwhelming majority of Vulcan’s revenue comes from public projects such as highways, so the increased demand in this area should more than compensate for the residential slowdown.

This company has an enormously wide moat, with assets that are not easy to come by, making Vulcan a dominant player in a high-demand industry today. It’s trading more than 40% below our estimated intrinsic value, with a 3.8% dividend — now is as good a time as any to buy stock.

Next up is the smartest way to cash in on the coming “Green Energy” boom. Find out its name and ticker symbol…

The Smart Way to Invest in Green Energy

We’re willing to bet the phrase “energy-independent America” was one of the most-used taglines of both Senator McCain’s and President Obama’s campaigns. But it hasn’t disappeared — it just made an appearance in the economic stimulus plan, with nearly $79 billion allocated to this initiative in the form of tax credits, grants, and dedicated research.

Despite many experts claiming to know whether it will be specifically wind power or biofuels that ignite a green revolution, there is simply too much uncertainty and too many unknown variables to discern which technology will emerge as the most profitable. Not to mention that no green energy company has yet to dig a wide moat — heck, many aren’t even profitable at all.

But that’s not to say you should avoid this emerging sector in its entirety.

Rather, we think that if you want exposure, it makes the most sense to not put all your green eggs in one basket. That’s why we think an inexpensive ETF like PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy [NYSE: PBW] is the smartest way to go if you want to profit from green technology.

This ETF has positions in roughly 50 clean-energy names with business models ranging from manufacturing green-friendly auto parts to manufacturing solar energy equipment. Most of its positions are in small caps, with the weighted average market capitalization clocking in at just $2.3 billion. Even though the portfolio is relatively diverse, an investment in this ETF will likely be volatile. We certainly wouldn’t recommend overweighting your allocation here, but long term it’s sure to be a winner.

But if all this government spending has you worried about inflation, discover an investment that will help you protect your nest egg…

Inflation-Proof Your Portfolio

The stimulus plan’s passage brings the total price tag of the government’s intervention to an astonishing $9.7 trillion. Two Bloomberg columnists calculated that that’s would be enough to pay off more than 90% of America’s mortgages.

That many dollars added into the economic system, coupled with rock-bottom interest rates, means one thing is certain: Inflation is a-comin’.

Knowing that it’s inevitable, we have one final investment recommendation that will counteract the effect inflation could have on your portfolio over the long term: Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities [VIPSX].

This mutual fund is a cheap and easy way to get access to Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, or TIPS as they’re known in the bond world. The principal on TIPS is adjusted upward as inflation rises (likewise, it falls during deflationary periods), so your interest payments similarly rise with inflation (or fall with deflation). With inflation on the horizon, this is a smart way to ensure that a portion of your portfolio will keep up with it. It makes sense to have a significant portion of your bond allocation in TIPS, especially if you’re in or nearing retirement, and this Vanguard fund is the cheapest one out there to help you do so.
What to Do Now

There you have it — our five best ideas for how to profit from this momentous economic stimulus package, all arising from our in-depth analysis and independent research.

Truth be told, the same holds true for all the stocks recommended in Motley Fool Inside Value, the investment advisory service behind our top picks: Sprint Nextel, UnitedHealth Group, and Vulcan Materials.

But it doesn’t have to stop there. The Motley Fool just put the finishing touches on its brand new premium report highlighting the very best small-cap stocks, selected for you by some of the nation’s top independent equity analysts.

Source: fool.com

But I think we do a pretty good job of putting one on, as we consider it a bad day if we make less than $400. Of course we usually have lots of stuff to get rid of, old collections, etc.

I will often sell inexpensive collectibles, stuff I am paring down or not interested in anymore. Selling online is not always worthwhile to me, e.g. if I have a collectible or piece that might sell for $10. on eBay, I am happy to sell it at a garage sale for $4. to $5. No commissions to eBay and Paypal and no time spent wrapping and taking the box to the post office.

These are our top tips for having a terrific garage sale from years of experience, as well as ideas used from the forum, tips that have helped make a big difference.

Countdown to a Garage / Tag Sale — One Month to Go

* Go through closets, kitchen drawers, the kids toys, clothing closets and start filling boxes.
* Start saving grocery sacks.
* Scout out tables and clothes racks that can be borrowed to be used in the sale.
* Do a little arm-twisting for help on the big day, two people to working a sale is okay, three people working is much better.

Two Weeks to Go

* Decide where and how many signs you need, then visit an office supply store to pick up a few pre-printed signs (cheap and so much easier to use than homemade signs).
* Supplies: Buy (or gather up) colored price stickers, poster boards, masking tape, Ziploc bags and a few black markers.
* Find out if your city requires a permit to host a garage sale.
* Check the newspaper classified ad deadlines, look into your church or school bulletins that might also allow you to mention the sale.

One Week to Go

* Start saving newspapers to wrap fragile items.
* Wash and clean everything. Sounds simple, but many times I’ve seen garage sales where the stuff looks so yucky I wouldn’t even want to touch it, much less buy it.
* If you’re going to donate the leftovers, find out who will come pick them up or where you can take them immediately after the sale. Goodwill has a drop-off area just for that specific purpose a few miles from us. We bundle up our stuff and take it that evening. There are charities that will arrange for a pick-up the week after the garage sale, but make sure they know it’s from a garage sale. I always donated to the Salvation Army until the time they came for pick-up and wouldn’t take anything because some of the stuff still had garage sale price tags on it. I was not a happy camper when I had to move numerous boxes of stuff back into the garage and find someone else to pick it up.

Two – Three Days to Go

* If you are having the sale in an enclosed/covered area, start setting out tables and clothes racks and placing items out.
* Use Ziploc bags for small items that are hard to put a sticker on, such as little toys with extra pieces, also for jewelry that might be easily walked off with.
* Keep like items together, books on one table, kitchen stuff on another, etc.
* Get a large cardboard box or two for freebies. Label the box “Free for Kids Only”.Fun goodies like McDonald Happy Meal toys, balls, toy cars, crayons, etc, things that might sell for a quarter or so are put in the box. This keeps the kids busy while their parents shop and is always a big hit.

Pricing and Protecting

* Use colored stickers so that items don’t have to be individually marked. Post a legend on a prominent posterboard — e.g. orange sticker is 25 cents, red sticker is fifty cents.
* Also use the posterboard to put up prices of items that will all be the same price: e.g. jeans – 50 cents, hardcover books – $1., etc. That way they don’t have to be individually marked.
* Scotch tape two-piece breakables together, but not if it’s cold-painted, be sure tape won’t take off finish!
* Several years ago we started putting up a sign advertising everything left would be 1/2 price after 3 PM, with the exception of a few things marked firm. No more haggling during the day and we were surprised at how many folks did come back.
* Price things realistically, give folks a bargain, but don’t give it away. I vividly remember a scene a few years ago when we had a few mens golf shirts for sale, excellent condition for fifty cents. Someone wanted to pay a quarter each and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I finally grabbed the shirts and put them in a box to donate.
* You’ll never get book value or even close to it at a garage sale, but it’s still nice to know what something might be worth online. So if you’re not familiar with the value of an item, check online to see what it is selling for on eBay (checked closed auctions!). It might be worth holding onto and selling at a later date online.

Day of the Sale

* Get up early and have someone put the signs out (or do it the night before).
* Put on a pot of coffee — put out a few Styrofoam cups and offer it to those early morning shoppers (free).
* Designate one person to be in charge of the money box, as well as keeping a close eye on any small valuable items, remove the larger bills out of the money box periodically through the day.
* Open the doors at the time mentioned in the ad, we never open early, it annoys those who play “fair” and show up at the right time.
* Say hello and goodbye to shoppers, it’s not any fun to go to a sale where you are completely ignored by the seller who is reading a book or engrossed in a long-winded telephone conversation. You should never be too busy to say hello.
* When people purchase a breakable, be sure to wrap it up in newspaper before bagging it up. Or if you are super busy, give them the space and opportunity to pack it themselves.
* When it’s time to discount the stuff 50(or whatever) remove any items that were marked firm and put them away or on a special table.
* When the sale is over, pack away all your stuff, separating stuff you might want to keep from the stuff to be donated to charity.
* Fold up the tables and racks while you still have your helpers, then go inside and count your profits!

Source: collectibles.about.com/

Though the heady days of the real estate boom are gone for now, real estate continues to be one of the safest investments you can make—that is, if you invest smartly. The key is to know what improvements to make, be realistic about what you can expect to gain, and to have a very clear idea of what is happening in the neighbourhood. Caroline Altman of Lighten The Load, a company that specializes in a range of home staging, decorating and moving services, offers the following tips to would-be real estate tycoons.
Click here to find out more!

1 Do your homework
Before you even think about flipping a property, compare the home you plan to flip with other homes in the area. If a comparable property sold for $600,000 with a renovated kitchen and new appliances, don’t think you can get the same $600,000 by repainting the kitchen cabinets and laying down new linoleum.

When you scout other properties, note what upgrades have been made. Are the kitchens and baths fully renovated, with granite countertops and stone tile, custom cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, or more modest? Are there brand new hardwood floors throughout? Recessed lighting? A finished basement? Is the electrical and plumbing upgraded?

2 Upgrade landscaping
Remove old or dying trees, bushes and flowers. Trim overgrown areas. Replace dead grass with fresh sod. Plant evergreens, wreaths and potted urns in winter, and colourful blooms in spring and summer. Use wood chips (try chocolate- or cedar-scented versions) or gravel to inexpensively cover large trouble areas.

3 Spruce up the exterior
Paint flaking or dry-rotted windowsills and shutters. Paint the front and back doors as well as the garage doors, or if needed, replace them. Repair or replace broken or non-working eavestroughs. Repair or replace any aging or broken fencing. Finally, consider adding exterior lighting to enhance curb appeal.

4 Renovate the kitchen and bathrooms
These are perennial focal points for buyers, but you must find a balance between being cost-conscious and looking like you took the cheap route. Kitchens can cost between $15,000-$80,000, and bathrooms can run between $6,000-$30,000. Again, check the comparables and see what materials they used. If most of the homes in the neighbourhood feature granite countertops and brand-new appliances, then you should follow suit if you expect a similar price tag.

5 Replace/upgrade flooring
Again, check the comparables in your neighbourhood before you decide on what new flooring you should choose. If all the homes in the area have new hardwood, don’t lay down laminate, unless you want to sell your property at a lesser value.

You can cut costs by choosing synthetic versus natural stone tile, and sanding and re-staining hardwood instead of replacing it. Also, you can save by having your carpet company bind large remnants for bedrooms instead of installing wall-to-wall carpet. This should only be done if the floor is hardwood and in relatively good condition.

6 Paint
Don’t just paint the walls; do everything—ceilings, closets, baseboards and interior doors. It will make the property feel brand-new. Remember to choose neutral colours.

7 Change old switch plates
Nothing ages a property more than old, outdated and yellowed switchplates. You can hire an electrician or do it yourself if you have the skills. Dimmer switches in dining rooms, eat-in kitchens and living rooms add an inexpensive and nice touch.

8 Install crown mouldings
Adding crown moulding is a non-structural change that can reinvent any interior. Avoid the cheaper versions from large hardware chains that you can install yourself; they may save you money, but will look cheap. Make sure you choose a crown moulding of significant size that matches the style of the house, and make sure there are no visible seams once installed. Also, if you re-do crown mouldings, consider adding new baseboards as well.

9 Modernize lighting
Pot lights run about $100 and up, making them a high-return investment. Consider adding new chandeliers in the foyer, dining room and kitchen. Check a large hardware chain for knock-off versions of designer fixtures that you can purchase for a fraction of the cost.

10 Upgrade plumbing and electrical
If you can afford it, the cost is well worth it, since the buyer will likely ask for more credit back on the purchase than an electrician and plumber would charge to complete the work beforehand.

Finally, make sure you have a savvy real estate agent on board who knows your specific neighbourhood. Make sure that the changes you make bring your property up to a similar level to the competing properties in your neighbourhood. Also, be aware of fluctuating markets. Don’t assume that a property that sold in your neighbourhood a year ago will yield the exact same price.

Remember the goal to flipping is to make money. Be realistic about profit margins before you begin. You can’t sell a million-dollar home in a moderately priced neighbourhood where homes go for a maximum of $600,000—no matter how much marble you use.

Source: www.styleathome.com