Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image by kmakice via Flickr

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:

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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.

Image via CrunchBase

Pushpins coupons are a great idea. Clipping and sorting through reams of paper coupons can be time consuming and dull. The money you save using paper coupons is rarely worth the time you have to invest to find and use the coupons. Pushpins allows users to download a free iPhone app that they can use to scan items at the store. If there is a coupon available for that item, the savings is automatically transferred to the customer's store value card and will be applied at the register. Unfortunately, Pushpins is not as polished as it could be.

Image via Wikipedia

If you are contemplating the possibility of taking a more active role in your personal investments, then one of the most important steps you can immediately take is not trying to decide where to place your capital, what stocks to buy, or what currencies to short; instead, the most important step to immediately take is to sit down and write out a business plan.

How to Choose Your Investments Wisely

If you are like most people, you are confused as to how to invest your money, and which vehicles are best. Tax-Free savings accounts? Mutual funds? Stocks?  Bonds? Index Funds? Commodities? The list seems endless, and the risks are different for each one.  Sometimes getting an adviser is counter-productive, as they have their own interests in mind, and will recommend only the companies they get a commission from.