Best Laptops Under $500

In these uncertain economic times, it can be difficult to purchase an expensive laptop.

Some people are saving their pennies, limiting other purchases, or choosing to new credit options to purchase a new laptop.

Interesting options, especially if you have bad credit:

• Friends
• Family
• Cash Advance

If all those options fail, you can look into getting a car title loan

In any case, it is important to find a solution that does not break the bank, yet still offers an array of useful features.

With so many choices on the market, it can be difficult to know which way to turn. Fortunately, many manufacturers are trying to stay ahead of the game by offering quality computers at discount prices.

The following list outlines the most affordable laptops.

Each computer retails at a reasonable price and delivers proven results. Whether you are searching for a computer for school, work, or pleasure, you can find a reliable and budget-friendly option.

Samsung Chromebook Series 3 - $249.99 

The Samsung Chromebook Series 3 is a quality device with an unbeatable price. Its slim and lightweight design makes it perfect for transporting and computing on the go. Although it weighs only 2.5 pounds, the design is sturdy and will withstand the test of time.

The computer does not have superb processing power, but it is perfect for users who need word processing and web surfing capabilities. For instance, if you are sitting in a coffee shop or at the library, it is easy to pull out this Chromebook and get to work.

Acer C7 Chromebook - $279.99 

The Acer C7 Chromebook offers many notable features and is affordable for consumers on a tight budget. The 4GB of RAM helps the machine operate at a zippy pace. It also offers a swappable 6-cell battery that provides longer battery life. If you are on the road and the battery is dying, simply insert the additional battery.

The C7 Chromebook has a full selection of ports and a user-friendly keyboard. The extremely affordable price makes this laptop an appealing option for everybody.

Dell Inspiron 17-3721 - $450.00

The main draw of the Dell Inspiron 17-3721 is its 17.3-inch screen. This massive screen is ideal for working on multiple tasks at once and watching movies or TV shows. There are many convenient features such as a numeric keypad, textured lid, and palm rest. Buyers who perform a large amount of word processing will appreciate a comfortable place to rest their hands and wrists.

This device is perfect for the general PC user. It is easy to navigate and works well in a home or school setting. It has many connectors, including an Ethernet port and a DVD burner.

Lenovo G580 $479.00

The Lenovo G580 gives users plenty of bang for their buck. It has a solid performance record and a nice price. However, you may have to handle with care because the frame is prone to quickly attracting fingerprints and smudging. The keyboard features rounded keys that are easy to strike, and the touchpad is responsive and textured. The textured effect promotes accuracy and comfort.

The G580’s 15.6-inch display has a high resolution that makes it pleasing to view a variety of content. The display produces vibrant colors and crisp text, and the device also features a removable battery.

Acer Aspire V5-571-6891 - $499.99 

The Acer Aspire V5-571-6891 features Windows 8 and is an affordable, yet uncompromising choice. The 15.6-inch display is generous and is coupled with a full keyboard and multi-touch trackpad.

With 6GB of memory, this laptop is perfect for storing large amounts of pictures or video. It weighs a little over five pounds, so it is much more portable than its competitors. The operating system is not lightning fast, but it is perfectly suitable for daily tasks.

4 Multi-million Dollar Businesses that Started from Small Loans

They say great things come from small beginnings, and businesses are no exception.

Check out four examples of different million dollar enterprises that started from a very small loan. 

Starting a small business can be a lot of hard work, but sometimes a little hard work, faith, patience, and risk-taking can really pay off in the long-run.

Subway

This popular restaurant franchise started in 1965 when 17 year-old Fred Deluca borrowed $1,000 from his friend Pete to open up his sandwich store. (note: $1,000 in 1965 equates to about $7,000 today)

He got all the tools and appliances he needed by putting out ads for used ones in the local paper, and he almost went broke when he needed a new $550 sink installed. 

After another $1,000 loan and a lot of hard work, Deluca opened up more stores year after year until it grew into the world-wide franchise we know today. 

The Body Shop

In 1977, Anita Roddick started The Body Shop with a $6,800 loan from a bank (note: that equates to about $26,000 today). She got the idea from a small naturally made skincare shop in California, and she bought the rights to the name and launched her store in the UK. 

With the help of her daughters, she made natural and unique skincare products from her home and sold them at her shop.

Her customers appreciated that she encouraged them to reuse bottles and bring them back to be refilled to be economical and environmentally conscious. 

When she switched to the franchise model, her business exploded worldwide, and she became appointed as Dame Anita Roddick in 2003 by Queen Elizabeth II for her achievements in Britain. She sold the company to L’ Oreal in 2006.

Whole Foods

This famous health food store started when college dropout John Mackey and his girlfriend Rene Lawson Hardy borrowed $45,000 from family and friends to start SaferWay (a spoof on Safeway). 

Back then, they got evicted from their apartment after their landlord became frustrated when they started storing food at home. The couple then decided to just live in the store – using a hose to take showers.

After Saferway merged with Clarkesville Natural Foods Store, it became known as Whole Foods, but that wasn't the end of their struggles. 

Soon after the merger, a flood wiped out most of the inventory and destroyed much of the store, so friends and investors came to the rescue to help clean up the mess and get the company back up and running. 

After much strife and patience, it expanded to a multitude of states. Now, it is one of the most popular health food stores in the world. 

Domino's Pizza

After a rough childhood of living in orphanages and foster homes, Tom and James Monaghan got a $500 bank loan and bought DomiNicks pizza in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1960. 

James sold his portion of the business back to his brother for a used Volkswagen Beetle shortly afterwards...perhaps one of the most regretful decisions of his life.

Tom renamed the business to Domino's Pizza and expanded it into a franchise. Originally, the dots on the Domino's logo were supposed to correspond to all the stores opened, but he abandoned the idea as the number of stores grew at such a rapid rate. 

The three dots currently on the logo represent how many stores the company had in 1969; Domino's is now the second largest pizza company in the U.S., second only to Pizza Hut.

Great Ways to Fund a Small Business

One of the most obvious ways to get extra money you do not have is taking out a bank loan.

However, there are ways to fund your small business without a bank loan!

Banks can provide loans based upon your income and credit, and it can be exactly what you need to afford rent, supplies, and employees to make your business really take off.

However, many people do not like the long approval process they have to go through to get one, and others simply cannot get a loan from a bank because their poor credit prevents them from qualifying at all.

What do you do when you have a brilliant business plan and cannot get a bank loan? You have many options!

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding websites like Crowdcube and Kickstarter give private individuals a chance to take charge and raise the money through their own marketing efforts.

This is perfect if you are one of those people who really likes to be in control of their finances and how their money is used to find their business. 

You also do not have to worry about causing rifts between family or friends over money, nor do you have to worry about interest rates on a loan.

Peer to Peer Loans

There are many sites online like Funding Circle or Zopa that allow people with a loan need to develop a personal relationship with private lenders online. 

The private lenders set the interest rate and terms for the loan, but they are often open to negotiations, especially if you develop a good relationship with them. Though some do check your credit, you can still get a loan with bad credit if you explain your situation and get lucky with a really sympathetic investor.

Community Development Programs

It is worth checking into your local community for help. Many have programs set in place to help young businesses flourish and can offer you loans or even grants to help your project move forward.

If you are in college, there may be college programs or contests to get money for your start-up. Two friends of mine won third place in their college business contest and won enough money to launch the company the following year!

Family and Friends

You may be lucky enough to have friends or family members who believe in your business dream and have some extra cash to burn. 

They can either loan you the money or give it to you freely as a gift. Because of their relationship with you, you might not have to worry about paying interest on the loan and have some flexibility as to when you pay it back.

Though, borrowing from people you know has disadvantages as well. 

Sometimes they might want a say in how you use the money, or a rift may occur in the relationship if the money isn't paid back on time.

Car Title Loan

You can fund a start-up business without a bank loan by getting a car title loan instead.

Car title lending is a type of asset-lending which allows you to use the title of your vehicle to secure a loan while still getting to drive the car as you pay back the loan. 

Auto title lenders base the amount they give out solely on car value – not credit. That way, you can get the money you need for your small business and even use the loan to build up good credit for the future!

The title lending industry is highly competitive, which is great because it keeps interest rates low and manageable. 

You can get three times as much money with a much lower interest rate through a car title loan than you can through a payday loan or pawn broker. Additionally, you can design a payment plan flexible to your business situation.

Interesting Facts About the Great Depression

The financial crisis of the 1930s is one of the most profound events in American history. 

With the economy in the gutter and many people simply struggling to survive, there was a feeling of hopelessness and despair throughout the population.

Lines for soup kitchens stretched around the block and shantytowns were haphazardly constructed out of cardboard boxes. 

Many Americans experienced the economic downturn in a state of shock and awe. One minute, they were dining at fine restaurants, and the next minute, they were scraping together pennies to buy a loaf of bread.

As the most powerful country in the world, many individuals believed that a crisis of this magnitude was not possible in the United States. 

However, as stock prices began to dramatically fall and the value of the dollar was weakened, people quickly learned that even the strongest nation could falter.

Many people have likened the country’s current economic blunders to themes found during the Great Depression. 

Although not as severe, common threads of misinformation, poor choices, and widespread panic can be found in both situations.

In order to gain a better understanding of this fascinating period in time, it is important to know some basic, yet interesting facts. Learning from the past can help current and future generations learn how to avoid a financial crisis of such magnitude.

What You Didn't Know About the Great Depression

October 29, 1929 was deemed “Black Thursday.” The market lost $14 billion on this day, making the loss for that week an unbelievable $30 billion. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 was one of the main causes of the Great Depression.

The Great Depression spanned many years, but it peaked between the years of 1932 and 1933.

President Herbert Hoover’s name became synonymous with this devastating period of history. Many people called soup “Hoover Stew,” and shantytowns were referred to as “Hoovervilles.”

The American family’s average income dropped from $2,300 to $1,500 per year between 1929 and 1932; representing a 40 percent decrease.

Weekly earnings dipped substantially during the 1930s. Manufacturing employees earned around $17 per week and doctors earned $61 per week.

The stock market did not return to pre-depression levels until 1954.

United States nickels were not minted in 1932 or 1933 due to an incredibly low circulation of money.

In order to avoid begging for money, many people tried to sell apples. At one point, there were as many as 6,000 apple sellers in New York City.

Bing Crosby’s song, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” was the most popular song of 1932. Its popularity was certainly a sign of the times.

The board game Monopoly, introduced in 1935, became an instant hit. Players could escape reality and become rich—if only in their imagination.

Due to the expenses associated with making buttons, zippers became widely used during this time.

Several iconic buildings were built as part of depression-era worker relief programs. Some examples include Rockefeller Center and the Empire State building in New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA.

5 Tips for Starting a Small Business

So, you have a killer idea for a small business start-up – great! Now what?

Starting a small business might be just what you need to earn money while doing something you love, plus you get the benefit of helping a business grow from the ground up. But, where do you start? Check out these 5 tips when starting your small business.

Ask for Help

You need money to make money. Do not be afraid to ask for loans when starting a small business. Some of the most successful million dollar businesses started from small loans from banks, family members, or

friends.

There are many ways to fund a small business without a bank loan like…

●     Borrow money from friends or family members

●     Take out a title loan

●     Start a Kick-starter campaign

When your business gets up on its feet, you can start seeking out investors to fund your entrepreneurial venture!

Research

Know your competition. It is important to research and check out other businesses that are doing something similar to what you are planning on doing.

Not only is it good to get ideas from their methods, you can pinpoint what these businesses are not doing. You will be able to design a better business by providing a service that is unique and functions better than that of your competition.

Know your target audience, which may be even more important than knowing your competition. By identifying who you are trying to cater your business to, you will be able to direct your planning and marketing efforts in the right direction from the very beginning. 

In your research, you may be able to discover a few perfect demographics or niches you never knew existed!

Set Realistic Goals

When starting a small business, it is important to carefully plan and set realistic goals for yourself. Setting goals will keep you organized and focused.

 

Let’s be honest – when we are really excited about a new idea, our minds dream and wander off track from time to time. To keep from getting ahead of ourselves, setting goals will keep the dreamers and innovators of the world on task.

Also, do NOT set unrealistic goals. That whole quote, “if you shoot for the moon, you will land among the stars” may not be the best advice to follow in the beginning. Instead, give yourself realistic mile markers to achieve so you make steady progress and feel good doing it!

Promote Yourself

The internet has made it extremely easy and cost effective for small business owners to promote their business online. As the world’s major source of information, the internet can be used by business owners to market their business to almost every demographic out there.

It is imperative to have a solid website. If you do not have an internet presence, you might as well be invisible to society.

A bad website is like wearing a giant dunce cap. If you have to spend money on marketing, make sure you have a credible user-friendly website.

Four Ways the Value of Your Car Decreases

Almost everyone knows that the value of a car decreases the moment it is driven off the dealer’s lot. Although this is a depressing thought, the reality is that almost every large asset will depreciate with time.

In a perfect world, a buyer would be able to sell their vehicle for the same amount as the purchase price. However, numerous factors make this an impossible practice.

Unlike a fine wine, an automobile does not grow sweeter with age.

In order to be a well-informed driver, it is important to understand the common ways in which the value of a car decreases.

1) Accidents

A car will immediately depreciate in value once it has been involved in an accident. Whether it is a fender bender or a head-on collision, an accident will certainly affect the overall price.

For instance, when buying a used car, many potential buyers will check the vehicle history report. If the report indicates that the car has been in an accident, a majority of people will not even consider it as an option.

Buyers want to see that the car is in proper working order. Although the accident-related damages may have been fully rectified, feelings of doubt or anxiety may continue to linger.

2) Poor Condition 

Paint chips, gouges, or fading can all decrease the value of your vehicle. The good news is that these are easy fixes that can be accomplished with a minimal amount of money.

Investing in a quality paint job is the best way to spruce up your vehicle and make it look its best.

In addition, a thorough cleaning of the car’s interior is helpful. Many buyers want to see a well-maintained cabin that is free of any obvious blemishes. Repairing holes or tears in the upholstery of the seat is an important step.

Finding ways to make the automobile look as presentable as possible is a great way to combat a depreciating price.

3) Old Car Model 

If your vehicle is older and has racked up a large amount of miles, the value will be negatively affected. The simple truth is that the more the car is driven, the less money it will be worth.

Ideally, buyers like to see a car that is only a few years old and has a low odometer reading. However, this is a difficult combination to achieve.

Many drivers need to use their car for a variety of different purposes and cannot avoid a hefty amount of miles. If this is the case, do not panic. The good news is that every individual is in the same position.

4) Car Color

It may seem hard to believe, but the color of a car can negatively impact its value. For example, a dark color such as black or navy in a warm climate state such as New Mexico is typically undesirable.

Similarly, a custom color such as bright yellow or lime green may be hard to sell. Only a select group of people will be attracted to this type of unique feature.

Therefore, a decrease in demand will ultimately lead to a lower resale value.