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Personal finance means to optimize the use of your money so it gives you profit. It includes saving and utilizing your finances in an appropriate manner. Carrying out personal finance is not a difficult task. It involves planning and strategic approach. Personal finance does not require any age, gender or qualification. You can do it even when you are very old or you can either save your money when you are a college going student. There are a number of ways through which you can effectively carry out a plan for your personal finance. Retirement planning is just one example of personal finance.

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There are a lot of people who would point out that 401(k) funds should never be used for anything other than for your old age and your retirement, but there will always be potential business owners and entrepreneurs out there who cannot think of anything they want more in life than to get their business up and running or fund their one truly great business idea. In short, if you want to embark on a seat of your pants business venture and don’t care about your retirement then it is possible, if ill-advised,  to use 401(k) funds to start your business.

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Have you noticed that some people seem to be incredibly successful at saving and others seem to struggle to save at all? There are ways everyone can be a more successful saver.

There are no hard and fast rules, as everyone has different financial circumstances and different requirements from their savings, however there are some basic principles that can be applied to everybody.

Knowledge is key. Where do you currently hold savings accounts and are they paying the best return? How much do you owe? What interest rates are you currently paying? What is your financial goal?

These are all basic questions to ask yourself and from there, you can make changes that will put you on the path to your savings dream.

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Exxon Mobile Corp (XOM) has maintained its value as the overall markets have turned bearish over the past couple of weeks. The oil/natural gas exploration and development company remains near its 52-week as analyst continue to anticipate strong earnings in the coming quarters. Currently the company is valued at $395 billion and offers a dividend of 1.88 or a 2.3% yield.

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What makes one person more capable of making wise informed financial decisions, more than another person? Maturity? Experience? Intelligence? Education? Most likely, it's a combination of experience and common sense. There's no lesson quite as meaningful as the one we learn from a bad first-hand experience so, very often, the best advice will come from someone who's been burnt financially in the past!

It might seem that it's wise to never ever borrow and just live within our means throughout our whole lives. While there's certainly something to be said for that, debt is not always a bad thing. It's not necessarily wise to suggest to a young person or a potential mortgage-holder that they simply resist the urge to borrow. Effective debt-management often makes a great deal more sense than a total lack of debts in the first place. After all, one of the main criteria that banks use when assessing an applicant's suitability for a loan is credit rating i.e. the applicant's history of borrowing and, more importantly, history of repaying.

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The formula for growing your bank account is actually very simple. Either you bring in more money, or you spend less money. So what is the most successful approach? As in many other parts of life, moderation is the key. You will have greater success with your financial goals if you do a little bit of both decreased spending and increased earning. Focusing on one or the other instead of both can create too much stress for too little outcome.

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The National Center for Health Statistics positively reports that life expectancy for our elderly population has increased to an average span of 80 years old. The reaction to these statistics have been mixed, with some looking optimistically ahead while others are dreading what these longer years of retirement mean for their finances.

Your quality of life today can help determine the kind of lifestyle you will lead upon retirement. Financial websites like TotallyMoney.com explain that while many of us are busily preparing for the more immediate future, those who start planning their retirements early on are those who will live more fulfilling post-retirement days. Experts further explain that as retirement becomes one of the most critical phases in one's life, ensuring that you have enough assets to maintain a quality living standard is a must.

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Have you got a great idea for a start-up, but are wondering how to get it off the ground? You’re not alone - this is a problem that many (if not most) businesses will have to face eventually, either to temporarily patch up cashflow issues or to accelerate growth. Funding a start-up with no financials can be a little tricky (especially now) but it’s still possible – here are some options:

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It has been a long slow slog back from the brink of disaster, but General Motors seems to finally be back on track. In fact, they have already paid back all the money they borrowed from the United States government in 2008 in order to avoid bankruptcy. Sales of their big trucks and SUVs have rebounded, even as gasoline prices continue to climb and their new small car market share, led by the new Chevrolet Volt, a gas-electric hybrid vehicle only just released this year, they are poised to reclaim the title of the world largest automobile maker back from Toyota.

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With the recent financial turmoil that has hurt even the most stable enterprises, small business are having difficulty acquiring the credit they need to push their company forward. In light of today's uncertain times, many conventional lending institutions have grown hesitant to the idea of lending to small business enterprises. It is in this scenario that purchase order financing becomes a necessary tool to help successful companies fulfill their goals and grow.