Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Interest rate decision expected this week The Fed will announce a decision on interest rates this week, and many economists expect them to be lowered. Those who think rates will be raised again say it would confirm that we are headed toward a recession. The decision is expected Wednesday.… Read more
You can’t get through the news these days without hearing about inflation and how rapidly it’s increasing. Rates were generally low for quite some time and we all got used to it. Suddenly, however, everyone is getting squeezed by inflationary pressure. But what exactly is inflation, and how does it affect the money you have in the bank? Read on to learn more about what it is and what it… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. President Biden assures Americans that the banking system is safe amid Silicon Valley Bank collapse President Biden reassured Americans that their deposits in the banking system are safe and that his administration will take action to contain Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. He explained how his administration will protect small… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. China is booming as Zero Covid approach ends The Chinese economy is heating up, with manufacturing growing at its highest rate in a decade. The improvement is due to the widespread loosening of restrictions which brought millions of people back to work and bodes well for the world economy.… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Inflation measures surged at the fastest rate since last June Consumer prices rose 0.6% from December to January, the fastest pace since June. Core inflation was up 4.7% compared to this time last year. Consumer spending rose 1.8% from December to January. Government takes action against crypto industry Last… Read more
2023 is expensive. The cost of living is higher than ever, interest rates keep rising, and it keeps getting harder to stay afloat, let alone get ahead. As a result, carrying debt has become commonplace. But, with the challenges of the past few years, many of us have more debt than we’re comfortable with. How do you get ahead while you’re still trying to catch up? Here are some tips… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Meta follows in the footsteps of Twitter Mark Zuckerburg announced that Meta is launching a pay-for-verification subscription service called Meta Verified for Facebook and Instagram, much like Twitter Blue. The launch begins in Australia and New Zealand this week, with more countries to follow. Nearly 1.1 million cars recalled… Read more
Everyone likes making money, especially small business owners. Invoicing, however, is typically one of the tasks that small business owners like the least. Chores like creating and sending invoices get set aside for other duties that are seen as more enjoyable or even more urgent. You tell yourself you’ll get around to it tomorrow, but tomorrow becomes next week, next week becomes next month, and suddenly you realise your client… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Amazon takes half of each sale New figures show that Amazon takes half of the profit that each small business makes on its Amazon Marketplace platform. Stock market starts the week strong ahead of inflation data Wall Street started the week noticeably higher as investors await inflation which will… Read more
All business owners need to be aware of their break-even point — that is, the number of units they need to sell in order to cover their operating costs. Once you’ve reached your break-even point, it’s time to celebrate: your business is no longer in the red, and you are officially earning a profit. This article will show you how to calculate your break-even point so you can make wise… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Is the U.S. economy really heading for a recession? Here’s what the economists think While many economists believe the U.S. is headed for a recession, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate remains at 3.5%, the lowest in around 50 years. Economists say the country could… Read more
Stale inventory is a costly nuisance for any business owner. Ideally the rule of thumb is to sell the goods taking up space on your sale floor within 90 days; after the three month mark stale inventory becomes dead inventory. Products are much harder to move and nearly impossible to get top dollar for. Fortunately there are a number of ways to recoup at least part of your investment on… Read more
No matter what your financial goals are, consulting with a financial planner can help just about everybody. Not only will they help you refine your goals, they’ll guide you in creating strategies for your money, and keep you accountable to your plan. They’ll also help you navigate different saving and investment strategies, so you know your money is working for you. They’ll also make sure you have the information you… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. The Fair Tax Act explained A group of House Republicans is supporting the Fair Tax Act, which would eliminate income, payroll, estate and gift taxes and replace them with a 23% national sales tax. However, it’s unlikely to make it through the Democrat-controlled Senate. No more free grocery deliveries… Read more
As a parent, you may worry about how to ensure your child can receive a post-secondary education. Costs are constantly rising, and you may face high tuition fees as well as cost of living expenses if your child has to live away from home. Here are some steps you can take to save for your child’s education. Be clear about what you can and cannot afford to pay Being clear… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. The government hits its debt ceiling The treasury secretary said the government would suspend debt issuance and investments into two government employee retirement funds until Congress acts. Microsoft throws its weight behind OpenAI Microsoft is making a multibillion-dollar investment in the artificial intelligence startup OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, DALL-E… Read more
Early retirement may sound like a big dream, but it is achievable if you’re willing to do some planning and stick to your strategy. Here are four steps you can take to put yourself in a position to retire early. 1. Figure out how much money you’ll need after you retire This involves figuring out what age you want to retire at–if you want to retire at 55 you’ll need… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. How will this recession be different from 2008? Economists predict a recession will arrive by the end of this year, but the downturn will likely play out much differently than it did in 2008. Leaders descend on Davos to talk about economics The World Economic Forum (WEF) returned to… Read more
When it comes to your finances, it’s a good idea to check in on your progress periodically, to see if any adjustments to your budget or changes in your habits are necessary. Even if you’ve set your budget for the year, you may learn a new strategy or have a priority come up suddenly that causes you to shift your thinking. Here are ways to take stock of your finances,… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Layoffs ahead for Goldman Sachs According to a person familiar with the matter, Goldman Sachs will lay off as many as 3,200 employees this week. The bank has been hit by a slump in global activity. Investors weigh their chances against further rate hikes Money market bets are showing… Read more