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<title>harshamaitra's Journal</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra</link>
<description>My Journal</description>
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<item>
<title>Is an under construction property the right choice for you?</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-08-13-13:37/</link>
<description>You want to buy a new home and cannot decide between an âunder construction propertyâ or a âready to move inâ property. Donât worry; this is a very common confusion for aspiring home owners. Both options have their pros and cons, and we will discuss here today the advantages and disadvantages of buying an âunder construction propertyâ so that you can make an informed decision.

The advantages of Under Construction Properties:
The biggest advantage of investing in Under Construction Properties is that you donât need a lump sum amount at any point of time; the payments are made slowly and become more convenient to arrange for. All you need to do is apply for a home loan, and periodically the bank will release money as and when the builder demands the payment. All you need is about 20% ready cash which you pay as down payment initially. 

The second advantage of choosing Under Construction Properties is that you have many new options. Builders come up with new properties in all locations, which means that you have a wide choice open in terms of location and floor area. You can sit and analyze which area of the city you want to live in â suburbs or the heart of the city, or can even base your choice on distance from every day amenities like metro stations, supermarkets and good schools and hospitals. 

Also, you can decide which floor you want to live in â the 3rd floor or the 12th floor, because the prices for each floor usually differs. Decide this based on your lifestyle and your family and you can get a much better deal.

Another advantage is that with Under Construction Properties, builders now offer you all latest fittings and woodwork already done in apartments. Your home will come with a modular kitchen and basic wardrobes etc, which means that when you move in, there is no need for renovation. Also, everything will be brand new and in excellent condition, as opposed to ready to move in properties that often have been lived in before and deteriorate as a result.
More potential for property price appreciation is there, as the properties are made by reputed builders and have more modern fittings attached. Also, as cities are growing larger, even societies built on the outskirts of the cities are coming in to a future development plan, which means the rate of your property will go up steadily.

The disadvantages of Under Construction Properties:
The biggest disadvantage is that more often than not, projects are delayed due to payments and land permissions and even though your builder might give you a deadline of 2 years, you might have to actually wait for 3 years or more before you move in to your home.

Sometimes you will not get what you expected. Builder soften build a âmodel homeâ on the property, which is shown to all aspiring owners when they come for booking a flat. Now it may be possible that what you saw was different from the home they finally build. They might use flooring in different colours, woodwork might differ and even layouts change sometimes. This is because as the builder works on the property, cuts are made on standards and fittings to meet budget and you might not be 100% happy with the end result.

Also, you can only claim income tax benefits on your purchase once you get the possession papers. And with Under Construction Properties, that is sometimes quite a headache. So you might be already paying EMIs but not be able to get tax benefits for that.


To Get More Information on &lt;a href="
http://www.bankbazaar.com/axis-home-loan.html "&gt;Axis Bank Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-personal-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Personal Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-08-13-13:37/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:37:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Shopping for personal loans</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-08-07-15:12/</link>
<description>Personal loans play a very important part in every individualâs life because these are loans that help anyone achieve personal as well as professional goals. That said, it is not easy to pick and choose the loan plan that is best for you. Owing to the widespread popularity and relevance of personal loans in the Indian context, the funding market has grown in multitudes. 


This has helped loan seekers get loans at low interest rates but, again with the kind of choice available, time spent on reviewing loans plans has also gone up significantly. Although today, there exist customized loan plans for individuals with very specific funding needs such as education and business, the choice and the modalities involved in applying for loans has thrown many loan seekers off the balance and make decisions that work against their financial goals. 


Shopping for personal loans should therefore be done on terms that help you cut through the clutter and assess your choice based on parameters that help you get the best without foregoing a lot.


 A couple of years back when a person was in need for financial help he or she would approach a bank and play by their tune without knowing about the other kinds of options available out there. Now, you donât have to go from pillar to post to look for the plan that is best suited to serve your interests. 


Going through an online review site is the best way to go about seeking financial help from banking and lending institutions. These are review sites where you can conduct apples to apples comparison and see for yourself what plan will suit you. For every bank that is offering a personal loan, you can compare services using parameters like interest rate, loan tenure, flexible options etc. 


Using such platforms, you can also read about these banks and get inside information which is otherwise hard to get when you approach banks one by one. 


First thing people do when they need to apply for a loan process is get in touch with a broker. What they donât understand is that, a broker or a bank representative will have knowledge that is confined to the services offered by his company. Even if he has knowledge about other types of services, he will try and sell his case to you. 


This is perfectly fine if the plan you get works out for you in the long term. But, when you go this way you would be limiting your opportunities and not really helping your cause of getting the best. So, when you have to take a decision about the bank you want a loan from, it is always wise to conduct your research online first and then based on the information you gather, fine tune your options. 

The same approach helps irrespective of the kind of personal loan you apply. This also helps you understand the loan application process more closely and make adequate arrangements pertaining to paperwork. 

To Get More Information on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/axis-home-loan.html"&gt;Axis Bank Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-personal-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Personal Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-08-07-15:12/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 7 Aug 2012 15:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Personal finance and tax</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-08-06-16:45/</link>
<description>Personal finance is done by everyone. But if it is not done properly, you can face problems in future.  A good personal finance can provide you a secured future when you donât have to worry about monetary problems. You can do whatever you want and enjoy your life. For getting all these, you have to do a good planning of your personal finance. The plan should be the best possible within your earnings and expense. 

Different ways for saving tax

The personal finance planning will need to save your extra expenses. For this it is very necessary to save your taxes. The income tax is a big amount of money which is charged from your salary every year. You get very less salary in some months of the year because of deduction of income tax. So you have to plan to overcome the problem of financial crisis in these months. If proper personal finance is not done, you can face serious problems in these months. You have to save for these particular months. 

There are some ways by which you can save your taxes. Some government rules are there following which you can save your taxes. You can invest in government projects. This will save your taxes to some extent.  You can do insurances from government registered insurance companies. Then also you will be given tax concession. You should keep looking for such tax saving components. Tax saving ways such as infra bonds and PPF are limited but can be found if some research is done. Tax free incomes can also help you by providing you with tax less earnings. Tax can also be saved with home &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/"&gt;loan&lt;/a&gt; tax rebate and charity.

To Get More Information on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/axis-home-loan.html"&gt;Axis Bank Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-personal-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Personal Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-08-06-16:45/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 6 Aug 2012 16:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Marriage Loans for Indian weddings</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-31-14:24/</link>
<description>Indian weddings are expensive and itâs not unusual for couples seeking to tie the knot to look for some amount of monetary assistance to ease out the financial burden. A marriage loan is the best option to source in funds for the purpose and it is also the most popular one in the personal loan category to exist for takers. Marriages demand a number of celebrations in row and marriage loans can help couples to take care of all the expenses related to them. 
An increasingly popular loan choice in the urban Indian market, marriage loans are now all set to take over the rural market too.

A better choice for borrowers

Given the rampant use of the plastic money, it might seem easier for a prospective bride/groom or their families to draw money out on credit card as loan for marriage. A closer look would however reveal that applying for a marriage loan is easier an option, primarily because, it is painless to obtain and way far less expensive than credit card loans.

Marriage loan can be obtained by the groom, the bride or their respective family members to cover the expenses associated with wedding, irrespective of whether they are employed or unemployed.

 It is best to gauge out an estimated cost of the ceremony and then chalk out the amount that is to be taken as a loan. It is advisable to take a sum which matches the requirement and not more. Personal loans can get expensive if payment is not meted out in time. And anyway, this is usually a short term loan option which does not have any penalty charges to be slapped on if it is prepaid.
Marriage loan types

Marriage loans can be categorized under 2 groups â
Secured Marriage Loans
Unsecured Marriage Loans
Secured Marriage loans

Secured Marriage Loans can be obtained against some security. In other words, the loan taker has to offer some of his personal property as collateral. It can be a house, a vehicle or a piece of land. This offers the lender security for the money taken as in case of non-payment the pledged property can be seized by him.

The interest rate for secured marriage loans is lower as the default risk is also on the lesser side.

Unsecured Marriage loans

Unsecured Marriage loans are obtained without security and no tangible or intangible asset of the borrower is pledged as collateral.

Unsecured marriage loans have higher interest rates as the default risk is more.

Rate of interest

Rate of interest in a marriage loan is mainly determined by the existing market rates at the time of loan procurement. A processing fee is also applicable for all marriage loans.

Documents required
Address proof
ID proof
Bank Statement
Last salary slip
Last Form 16, if salaried
Banks offering Marriage loans

A number of banks in India offer Marriage loans like HSBC Bank, Bank of Baroda, UCO bank etc. Terms and conditions vary from one to the other and hence it is important to read carefully through each before applying for one.


To Get More Information on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/axis-home-loan.html "&gt;Axis Bank Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-personal-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Personal Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-31-14:24/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Revolutionary banking practices that changed the system:</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-30-14:38/</link>
<description>Indian banking system has come of age and is getting better by the day. There have been times, when banking system in India was looked down and was largely considered to be archaic. However, with the advent of private players in India, banking industry witnessed a revamp of the policies in order to benefit the customer. Some of the major changes including online banking, electronic money transfer, the functionality of ATMâs and customer friendly practices have contributed to major drivers for development of the sector.
The following are some of the revolutionary changes that have benefited the Indian banking industry.
Retail banking:
The emergence of retail banking format in India has paved the way for growth in the sector. Focus on providing value addition to the consumers has brought many changes in the banking industry. With banks becoming a one stop portal for different financial services including mortgages, insurance, transactions, investment facilities and corporate banking, the retail banking system is witnessing a multi-fold rise in the overall revenues.
The entry of foreign national banks and other leading private players in the industry has also led to innovative banking practices that have been adapted by various banks in India. The ease of banking has therefore changed tremendously over the past few years. Some of the leading banks that have brought a sea change in the banking system in India during the recent past include the likes of ICICI, HDFC, AXIS and SBI banks.

Internet banking and safe money transactions:
Transactions can now be done through the net. This facility has reduced the time for banking from the customerâs end. Internet banking has also helped customers to shop and avail services from just the click of the mouse.
Phone banking system is yet another breakthrough that has given customers easy access to their banking information on the go. The money transactions are administered through safe channels and are therefore considered to be highly effective.

Faster loan processing:

Whether it is home loans or other personal loans, the help of online application procedures have reduced the processing time for banks in order to sanction the loans in quick time. With the new policies in place, banks are also keen on providing bank loans at customer friendly interest rates. The repayment options have also increased the ease of availing loans through banks. 

Educational loans have given hopes to thousands of students who want to pursue higher education in reputed institutes across india. banks are offering an amount of up to 4 lakhs for students to undergo professional education. The requirement of collateral is not required up to this amount. Institutes have also tied up with banks in order to make loan processing easier and also to reduce the burden on the students.

Trading through De-mat accounts:
Online trading has been one of the innovative strategies taken by the banks in India. Customers with accounts in banks can now open up trading accounts in order to make it easy to invest in stock markets.


To Get More information Click on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/finance-tools/compound-interest-calculator.html"&gt;Interest Calculator&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/car-loan-interest-rate.html"&gt;Car Loan Interest Rate&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-30-14:38/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:38:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Benefits of taking up a gold loan</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-25-15:42/</link>
<description>Gold as an asset has been a very integral part of the Indian household. Investments in gold are always considered to be lucrative and it is one of those investments which always seem to fetch great returns. As an investment, gold has been rated the best but, that is just one part of the equation. Even when someone is faced with the decision to trade their gold for borrowing money, the arrangement seems to be very appealing. 

The concept of gold loans is not new to the loan industry. In India where more than 90% of the population owns gold, the thought of borrowing against gold is not new to the Indian mindset. Notwithstanding the frequency with which such transactions are made, gold is and will continue to be a great source to bring in income to meet other requirements. Gold loans are easy to apply to, easy to access and most importantly have flexible terms and conditions that suit the &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/"&gt;loan&lt;/a&gt; needs of most borrowers. 

For institutes that lend money against gold, the equation is equally lucrative. Gold being one of the assets that manages to bring in great returns both in national as well as international markets, lending money in exchange of it is welcome by most institutes. This is one of the reasons why when you apply for a gold loan, you are not put through the gruesome loan application process where every bit of information pertaining to your financial standing is dug out and used against you. 

Typical loan processing involves heavy credit checks, intense scrutiny of credit history and a bunch of other things that only add to delaying the process of granting the loan amount. Gold loan application on the other hand, is free from such restrictions as anyone with any kind of credit background can apply for the loan and expect to have the money in the shortest possible time. The income earning potential or the savings of the person applying for the loan are immaterial as long as the gold put up for securing the loan amount is legitimate. This feature of gold loan makes it the ideal loan option in cases where there is urgent requirement of funds. 

Also, gold loans are very easy to manage. The interest levied on the loan amount is very affordable. Additionally, you can choose to pay the principal amount at the end of the loan tenure in one go and relieve yourself from the commitment of making periodic monthly payments. In some cases, requests for loan upgrade and tenure extension are also taken without putting the borrower through any additional paperwork. So, when it comes to securing personal loans and money that you need to attend to a pressing need, there is nothing better than opting for a gold loan. 


Being a secured form of loan, the advantages you get with this form of loan are immense. Of all the financial decisions you will be faced with, this will work out to be the easiest as it involves zero hassle. 

To Get More Information click on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-home-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Home Loan &lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/home-loan-emi-calculator.html"&gt;EMI Calculator Home Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-25-15:42/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title>Credit Card: an important element for a small business</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-20-15:17/</link>
<description>Owning a small business is a good way to make some extra money in this cutthroat economy. Every small business also needs to build on its credibility â with banks, clients and potential customers. And to make payments easier and ensure smoother running of the business, a credit card plays an important role. 

You might think that you donât need a business credit card because you already own a personal credit card. However, this is not true; every small business owner needs to separate personal finances from business finances. Owning a credit card will build on your credibility. Not to mention, it also makes shopping for office supplies hassle free, especially with online transactions. Additionally, credit card bills offer you a detailed expense sheet so you can keep track of how much you spend on your business, and how much your monthly profits account for. 

Also, financial companies respect small business owners who have a business credit card. Credit cards can make your business flourish by handling finances well and proving that your business needs to be taken seriously, even though you might be running it from home. However, when it comes to choosing business credit cards, it is a must to keep a few things in mind.

Get a credit card from a reputed bank, preferably a global bank. The charges might be lesser for local banks, but then to prove that your business is a serious affair you will need a credit card that can be used globally, should you travel abroad for business affairs. At least, have a credit card that is a Visa or a MasterCard. American Express also offers very interesting schemes and is worth looking in to. However, an Amex card is not accepted everywhere and before you choose this you need to be sure of the kind of vendors you deal with and which credit cards they prefer to accept.
Figure out your total monthly expenses and choose a credit line accordingly. Going overboard with your credit line will only result in unrealistically large bills, which might pose a problem. On the contrary, if your credit card doesnât fund all business expenses, you might again get confused between business expenses and personal expenses.
Credit cards levy an interest rate, and unless you are sure you can afford the card and maintain god credit history, it is advisable not to get a card at all. Having a credit card and then not paying bills on time is a wrong move, as this will adversely affect your credit history and get further funding for a larger business in the future a troublesome affair.

Also, be aware that most credit card companies offer very attractive schemes from time to time that might seem too good to be true. Before you try out a new offer, be sure to check the clauses well so that you donât make a mistake.
Avoid withdrawing cash using your credit card. This involves further charges, which are best avoided. Choose banking online, using an ATM with a debit card or cheques for other banking needs that involve cash.


To Get More information Click on &lt;a href="
http://www.bankbazaar.com/personal-loan-emi-calculator.html"&gt;Personal Loan EMI Calculator and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/home-loan.html"&gt;Home Loan Interest Rate&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-20-15:17/</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>The trend of green homes in India</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-18-16:18/</link>
<description>Have you ever thought about how much electricity or water is lost or overused in a house every day? This might not be something we usually pay attention to; however we should take some time of and think about this for it has the potential of actually affecting our life. Green consciousness is becoming popular everywhere, and this consciousness has also spread to the field of construction. Green buildings are thankfully becoming popular in India now.

Construction has always been a fast growing sector. However, there has not been too much awareness about using alternate methods of construction or even ensuring environmental safety when it comes to homes in India. The recent changes in the public mindset have ensured that there has been some amount of revolution in the green building industry. However, these changes have only extended to the level of waste management and water conservation. There are a couple of construction companies that are trying to make green building effective and good looking so that people are interested in buying them. Total Environment and Satya Vani Group are some of the examples. In fact, Satya Vani is trying to come up with a whole township that is going to be designed on the basis of environmental regulations. It is said that this township will use solar power and green- friendly technology as well.
There are a lot of benefits of owning a green house. You will not only be helping conserve the environment, youâre going to be making life easier for yourself as well. With the help of a green building, you will be able to conserve energy and water. In Fact, green buildings are not exactly an innovation for India. Laurie Baker was famous for building houses that were made from local natural resources. He also made sure that he recycled as much as he could. As a result of this, the houses were not only stunning, they were also quiet cheap. 

With the ever increasing number of people on the planet, investing in building green houses is going to be one of the best ways to reduce the effects of global warming and environmental destruction. A lot of architects have started including fly ash cement, recycled aluminum, green roofing, bamboo based products for houses etc. Even the technology that goes into building houses and electronic gadgets have come up with a variety of solutions to make sure that you can use them without harming the environment too much. In fact, these alternate methods and technology will contribute a lot towards meeting Indiaâs energy needs and water needs as well.

Even the Indian Green Building Council has stepped up its work and role in the Indian housing market. They have even introduced a system through which they will be able to rate a building according to the design, infrastructure, materials used, water and waste management, energy efficiency etc. By participating in the practice of building and choosing eco- friendly buildings, you will be saving the environment and giving yourself and your children a better lifestyle! 

To Get More Information click on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-home-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/home-loan-emi-calculator.html"&gt;EMI Calculator Home Loan&lt;/a&gt;
Â </description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-18-16:18/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:18:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
<title> A smart guide to discount shopping</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-16-11:43/</link>
<description>The secret key to discount shopping is not running from one store to the other in search of discounts and price cuts. The trick lies in finding and making best use of the correct opportunity at the correct time. You can easily make hefty profit on your purchases if you opt for discount shopping by chalking out some smart strategies in advance!

Start with collecting discount coupons

The first step to get hefty discounts on your shopping is to go for collecting discount coupons from malls and other stores. For that, you need to keep information on the availability of special offers as free discount coupons on purchasing products of a particular store, departmental shop, mall etc. You can easily use the coupon in purchasing an item of your need and get hefty discounts on your purchases.

Online shopping from e stores

In several other cases, developing a habit of shopping online can fetch remarkable discounts on your purchases. Since online shopping takes you to a global platform, hence you can get products at competitive prices. Most e stores face intense competition and hence can easily allow lump some discounts and price cuts on their product prices!

Stock clearance sale

In India, you are a gainer if you can make the best use of the this opportunity which you can possibly get in the months of March and April where most sellers and shopkeepers vent out their left over stocks at pretty low prices. You must be smart enough to make your move when the shopkeepers make generous offers and reduces prices of products during this time of the year.


To Get More Information click on &lt;a href="
http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-home-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/home-loan-emi-calculator.html"&gt;EMI Calculator Home Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-16-11:43/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:43:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Section 80 C and its relevance in tax planning</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-12-16:01/</link>
<description>Section 80 C of the Income Tax Act has a very big role to play in tax planning and management. Every individual who is earning or running a business should be aware of the facilities extended under this section in order to make the best use of his or her tax planning abilities. Before we get down to the details of this amazing tax saving instrument, let us try and understand the reason behind the existence of this section. 

Section 80 C has been primarily introduced to help Indians save and use their savings to further their personal and professional growth prospects. Provisions under this section cater to a wide range of needs some of which include investments, income earnings, loans so on. For income earners there is a provision which involves a part of their salary earnings. 

For instance, the Provident Fund clause under Section 80 C speaks about the tax exemptions that an individual can claim. Provident fund which features in the salary breakup of most individuals comprises of employerâs as well as employeeâs contribution. The interest earned on this fund on an annual basis is 8.5%. The interest earned along with the contribution of the employer is free from tax deductions. The person on whose name the fund exists can also make subsequent contributions to the fund and gain tax exemptions. 

As far as personal investments go, there are good number of provisions pertaining to deductions and exemptions under Sec 80 C of the Income Tax Act. For example, if you have invested in Public Provident Fund commonly known as PPF investments, you will earn an annual rate of interest of 8% over a period of 15 years which is the typical time frame in which the amount you invest matures. The rate of interest that you earn on these investments is tax free. 
Similarly, if you invest in National Savings Certificate, another long term investment avenue you get to enjoy tax benefits as mentioned under Sec 80 C. There are subtle differences on the tax exemptions levied on the interest because unlike PPF investments, interest earned here is not exempted from tax unless you decide to use earnings from the interest to reinvest in the principal investment. 

You can also plan your tax earnings based on the loans you apply. Both home loans and education loans carry tax benefits under Sec 80 C of the Income Tax Act. Home owners who have invested in homes via home loan plans can apply for tax deductions on the principal amount. Students who have funded higher education using education loan options also get to use these benefits. For students, interest paid on the principal amount is subject to tax deductions if the amount crosses the limit of Rs. 1, 00,000. 

In this way, there are a couple of other provisions that you can use to strengthen your financial standing. The sad part is that not many people are aware of these provisions and therefore donât take steps to utilize these benefits. 


To Get More Knowledge click on &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-car-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Car Loan Emi Calculator&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/icici-home-loan.html"&gt;ICICI Home Loan&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-12-16:01/</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jul 2012 16:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Corporate Credit Cards-Everything You Need To Know</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-09-11:06/</link>
<description>Corporate credit cards allow a business to exercise superior control over its business-related, travel and entertainment expenses. The majority of people who own large business find it quite hard to keep a track of the business expenses, especially when these people use credit cards (personal) to their lines of credit. One of the best ways to avoid such confusion at later dates is to make use of corporate credit cards that are issued exclusively to corporations as well as non-profit organizations and government entities. Corporate credit cards ease the purchase of goods as well as services by making the payment procedures simple.

A business can offer a corporate credit card to the employees so that they can keep a track of business expenses. Such a card when issued to the employees is also referred to as a corporate charge card. A Corporate credit card is issued by a bank or some large financial institution.

Features of Corporate Credit Cards

You will seldom see a corporate 
credit card being advertised in the traditional media, because these cards are available as custom-made options, rather than prepackaged products. Here are some of the features of a corporate credit card:

Terms for repayment are alike for small business account holders for credit cards. The payment/s can be done on monthly, or bi-monthly and even quarterly basis.

Interest rate can vary from 12 percent to 29 percent, which is considerably higher than what the rates are for a small business credit card or a personal line of credit. The difference primarily is because of high credit limit.

Annual fees for such a card are low.

Maximum limit (credit) on such a card ranges from 50,000 dollars to over a million dollars.

A credit card company will usually raise credit limits as and when the corporation undergoes expansion.


Benefits of Corporate Credit Cards

If you are a business owner, then corporate credit cards will help you with the following:

Distinguishing between a business account and a personal account.

Receiving detailed statements every month.

Transferring cash balances from one account into another.

Using credit around the world.

Controlling business-related, travel and entertainment expenses.

Travelling and making requisite purchases for the business without having to carry excessive cash. It reduces risks of theft as well as check frauds.

Simplifying accounting as well as auditing tasks.

Applying for Corporate Credit Cards

If a corporation wishes to acquire corporate credit cards, then they must:

Compare different cards that are being offered by several providers of corporate credit cards to get a deal which is the best in terms of credit terms and interest rates. 

Give complete information in the application forms, for example the business name, the address, the annual revenue as well as start date. It is also important to mention phone as well as fax numbers, the tax identification numbers, the industry type as well as details of people whoâll be using these cards.

&lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/credit-card.html"&gt;Apply for Credit Cards&lt;/a&gt; and Live Your Dreams</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-09-11:06/</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 9 Jul 2012 11:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>How to come up with the right budget for yourself?</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-03-13:29/</link>
<description>It is important for you to come up with the right kind of budget plan for yourself. You should remember that this is not about one budget that suits everybody. In fact, the right budget for you will be dependent on a lot of different things.
For one, you have to make sure that the budget plan suits your income. It wonât be wise for you to spend more than you earn for that will put you deep in debt. It will also not be wise for you to go ahead and spend all that you earn because then you will not have enough money to save for tough times. 
Remember, it is important for you to come up with a good budget so that you also manage to save some money. All of us wish that money grew on trees, but letâs face it, thatâs never happening. So why donât you just save on all the praying and start saving some money instead? It will be quite tough for you to go around borrowing money in case you want to meet some emergency and you donât have any savings. Better yet, think about it this way - good savings means that you will be able to spend that saving on something worthwhile- like going on an exotic holiday or buying yourself that Playstation Move youâve always wanted!
It is really not that tough for you to think and come up with the right budget plan. You know your lifestyle and you know how much money you spend every month on specific things. If you donât, then start keeping a track of the amount of money you spend every day. If you find that youâre spending more than you want to, you can just analyze your day by day accounts and find out what things you should cut down on.

One tool that will be really good for you is a spreadsheet. You can just create a spreadsheet about all your income and all your expenditures. This will make it really easy for you to compare both these columns. In case you own a smartphone, it will be easier for you to get a budget app- there are a lot of them available for free download on the internet. The budget apps will compare the things for you and also give you suggestions. 

It is recommended that you save up some money. However, there is no need to frugal at all. This is your hard earned money and you should spend some of it on yourself and the things you want. Just cut down on the parts of your budget that you think are overboard- not all forms of indulgences and expenditures. 

A good budget plan can solve most of your problems for you, if you just do it right. Just take a little time off your daily schedule and spend some time on working out a budget for yourself. 

To Know More Information Click &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/hdfc-home-loan.html"&gt;HDFC Home Loan&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/axis-home-loan.html"&gt;Axis Bank Home Loan &lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-07-03-13:29/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 3 Jul 2012 13:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Different ways to invest money in India</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-06-20-15:01/</link>
<description>There are different types of investments available in India in which one can put their money and earns profits or interest. The most common investment in India is the bank deposits. Some of the different types of bank deposits available are fixed deposit, recurring deposit, monthly income scheme etc in which one can earn certain amount of interest on the money deposited in these different types of deposits. Gold investment is also another most common investment made in India. Gold is a precious metal and the value of the gold always keeps on increasing so definitely one can earn profits when one sells their gold when they need liquid cash. One can invest in gold by buying gold jewellery, gold bars, gold coins, gold deposit schemes etc. 
One can even invest their money in the Indian share market.

Though there is a risk in buying and selling shares with experience and by taking correct decisions one can earn high profits through shares trading. Other investments in India include mutual funds, bonds etc. One can even invest their money in the different types of insurance policies available in which one can cover the costs of unexpected things in life like accidents, medical treatments, children education, marriage etc and also earn interest on the premium at the end of the insurance period. There are different Indian banks, insurance companies and other financial organizations in India that offer the citizens of India different investment schemes and programs.

To Know About Interest rates check: &lt;a href="www.bankbazaar.com/finance-tools/emi-calculator.html "&gt;Loan Calculator&lt;/a&gt; | &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/home-loan.html "&gt;Home Loan Interest Rate&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-06-20-15:01/</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>BICYCLE WOES - THE POOR GET POORER</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-06-12-11:01/</link>
<description>The cycle has always been one of the most important modes of personal transport in India. Although the humble cycle has always been ignored and denied this status, it is true that majority of Indiaâs poor rely completely on cycles to help them get around. These are people who knew nothing about the inflation, rising petrol and automobile prices that plague the world we live in. These are the hard working men and women of this country who have very little time or energy for anything outside work and take home between rupees 100 - 150 per day! They may be the strongest of the lot but they are also highly vulnerable to unreasonable price hikes on their primary means of transport. As a group they may be termed as highly price -sensitive and from February 2011 they have been adversely affected by price hikes on cycles due to the increase in prices of the raw materials. All they know, is that they can no longer afford what they used to as their salaries do not get reviewed every year at a budget session in parliament.

The prices of steel and that of rubber have been on the increase right from late 2010 and this has been shunting the prices of cycles ever higher. In addition to the steel thats is used to make the tubing of the cycle, the prices of various other metals like nickel and zinc which are also very important in the cycle manufacture progress have also become more expensive. 80% of the 1.4 crore units in the Indian bicycle market are owned by farmers and daily wage labourers who can seldom have access to afford any other means of transport. Them cycling to work and back is the only thing that keeps their monthly budget on track and now theyâll have to think twice before purchasing that new cycle. For them, a cycle is not a luxury or a tool for fitness as it has come to be for many city dwellers; For them, It is an absolute necessity as they could only dream of owning a motorbike and fuelling it up from time to time, given the costs involved. This apathy shown by the Indian Finance ministry in not subsidizing the prices of cycles so that the common man can afford them is pathetic! More So in a country like India where 500 million people cannot even afford a cycle in the first place. This makes millions of lives very uncomfortable.

Riding a cycle can increase your walking speed by four-fold with no additional energy being used. this means that an hour long walking journey could be finished within 15 minutes by pretty much anyone! This save people time, effort and also goes a really long way to maintaining the health and the local environment. The most beautiful thing about a cycle is that it is virtually noiseless and does not disturb animals or people as it goes past. &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/guide/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt; 

&lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/home-loan.html"&gt;Home Loan Interest Rate&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-06-12-11:01/</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Things to consider when investing in online mutual funds</title>
<link>http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-06-07-14:17/</link>
<description>&lt;B&gt;Things to consider when investing in online mutual funds&lt;/B&gt;

Generally we use a demat account to operate the online mutual funds. One needs a very high speed internet connection that updates all the information about the mutual funds in real time. Slow internet connection does not update the information and one is unable to take correct decisions related to the mutual funds. Different brokers charge different initial deposits to start working with the mutual funds investment. One should select a broker who charges a small deposit than a broker who charges a huge deposit. If one pays high fee or deposit to a broker then the amount one earns on the returns reduces. It is very important that one have good knowledge and understanding of mutual funds before investing money in them.
There have been cases of online scams by unreal brokers. Therefore one should be very careful in selecting a genuine broker and make sure to go through the different terms and conditions on the brokerâs website. One should be aware of the tax rules and regulations related to the returns earned on the mutual funds. One can always consult and take advice from financial experts related to investing money in mutual funds or any other types of investments. In order to have a better understanding of mutual funds one can study the performance of the stock market for the past few years. This will help one to understand the different aspects of mutual funds. &lt;a href="http://www.bankbazaar.com/guide/"&gt;Read More&gt;&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
<author>harshamaitra@gmail.com (harshamaitra)</author>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.journalscape.com/harshamaitra/2012-06-07-14:17/</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 7 Jun 2012 14:17:00 GMT</pubDate>
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