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How can Stress lead to Addiction?

ABC Staff
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How can Stress lead to Addiction?

Addiction is a disease that affects millions of Americans a year. In 2017, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) placed the number of Americans suffering from a Substance Abuse Disorder at 19.7 million. This epidemic costs the U.S. taxpayer 223.5 billion dollars a year in lost productivity, enforcement efforts, and medical costs (CDC, 2019).

The National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence defines addiction as a compulsive increased intake of substances after an initial contact/s characterized by an inability to stop or cope without said substances.

Given the unspoken prevalence of drug use in our communities and the growing instability in the world, it is easy to understand why the number of cases of drug use is growing constantly. The stress created by the pandemic alone has led to increased cases of mental illness worldwide and this is symptomatic of the stress of the lockdowns and a stagnant economy.

What is stress?

Stress is our body’s natural response to outside pressure. This pressure can be physical or psychological stress. We all experience it and, in certain situations, it can be useful and can push you to do things that you thought were beyond your limits.

That being said, stress can be subdivided into two types:

Acute stress: we experience this all the time. This is our response to more mundane, daily events that seem to pop up in our day, such as a surprise project, traffic, deadlines, social events e.t.c.

However, managing acute stress is crucial, as it can prevent it from escalating into more serious forms. For instance, some individuals find that IV therapy in Austin helps them relax and recover more quickly after particularly stressful days.

Chronic stress: this manifests as a repeated response to a stimulus over time. Most often, it occurs as a result of a traumatic or negative event, such as a loss of a job or loved one, divorce, abuse, deteriorating mental health e.t.c. The effects and duration of these are much more intense and long-term.

Chronic stress seems to be the main culprit when it comes to drug addiction. These are often triggered by very traumatic events and in most cases, even global events, like a war or pandemic can exacerbate this.

How does it affect addiction?

Stress is harmful. A lack of effective coping mechanisms could be the main culprit for this. When a person does not have a stable perspective or good coping mechanisms to deal with the stressful circumstances in their life, they turn to drugs as a way of coping. Persistent chronic stress also inhibits a person’s ability to regulate and identify risky behavior that could lead to drug use.

PsycologyToday and the National Institute of Health both indicate that early traumatic experiences in childhood can be linked to both increased chronic stress and a higher risk for addiction later in life.

What steps can you take to minimize stress to minimize addiction?

By far the biggest step one can take towards minimizing stress is identifying it and being able to understand to what level you can affect it. Getting help from others, self-care, Cognitive Behavior Therapy are also great options to minimize stress.

If a person is suffering from Substance Abuse Disorder as well, getting professional help would make a world of a difference. Additionally, many drug rehab Austin offers individualized programs that offer tried and tested coping mechanisms.

This is also true of many sober living homes. These are communities that are centered around providing long-term sustainable solutions to staying sober for those who suffer from Substance Abuse Disorder. They offer recovering patients a chance to network, find mentors and spend time looking at behavioral and psychological reasons stress causes them to return to their addictions. Many sober living Austin homes also provide an aftercare program, which follows up with recovering patients for months after they finish their program

References

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/features/excessive-drinking.html

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201705/stress-and-addiction

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2732004/

Introducing The Royal Ballet School’s Primary Steps Programme

ABC Staff
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Introducing The Royal Ballet School’s Primary Steps Programme

The Royal Ballet School is widely known for offering opportunities for young people to train in classical ballet at its studios in London. But the School also extends its dance training provisions across the UK through its Primary Steps programme, which encourages younger children to pursue their passion for ballet. Most importantly, the programme provides primary school children of all backgrounds with dance opportunities that otherwise might not become available to them, opening doors to further ballet training.

The Primary Steps programme offers ballet classes for children aged 7-11 (years 3-6) in 28 participating schools across Blackpool, Bury St Edmunds, Dagenham, Mansfield, and Swindon. The Department for Education and other generous supporters fund the national programme, making it possible for thousands of children to enjoy ballet training.

Children can partake in the Primary Steps programme either through its autumn workshops or through its after-school classes.

Autumn Workshops

During each academic year’s autumn term, year 3 teachers from the Primary Steps programme’s participating school attend a continuing professional development (CPD) day at The Royal Ballet School, and their students take five creative ballet workshops led by specialist teachers. These workshops can contribute to Arts Award Discover through student participation and documentation of their progress.

Each school then receives a further five creative ballet workshops for all year 3 students, CPD resources to support dance classes, and an interactive demonstration of ballet training from the School’s Upper School (aged 16+) and Junior Associate (aged 10-11) students.

After-School Classes

The Royal Ballet School also works with national dance agencies, a host secondary school, and several primary and junior schools to offer after-school classes throughout the UK. A classical ballet specialist runs a weekly class in each location, accompanied by a professional musician. For a small weekly fee, children receive:

·       A dance uniform and shoes.

·       Weekly creative classes taught by a Royal Ballet School teacher.

·       Opportunities to see Royal Ballet School students in training and watch professional dancers perform.

·       Visits to local and regional dance providers.

·       Opportunities to perform locally and at The Royal Ballet School.

Similarly to the autumn workshops, the after-school classes can contribute towards Arts Award Explore.

Further Opportunities for Young Dancers

Children can take Primary Steps classes until they reach age 11, at which point The Royal Ballet School signposts graduating students towards local and national vocational and pre-vocational dance opportunities. Last year, two of the Primary Steps programme’s students gained places on the Royal Ballet School’s Mid Associates programme. Other Primary Steps graduates are studying vocationally at Centres for Advanced Training at Moorland International Ballet Academy and Elmhurst Ballet School and pre-vocationally at Swindon Dance, DanceEast, The Place, The Lowry, and Dance4.

COVID-19 and the Primary Steps Programme

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, The Royal Ballet School transitioned from its in-person Primary Steps classes to online sessions, offering virtual workshops themed around ‘The Nutcracker’. The School also created weekly e-newsletters, which featured inspiring dance videos, activities set by the Primary Steps team, and contributions from the children themselves. Although in-person sessions have now re-opened, the newsletter has proven so popular that the Primary Steps team is continuing to produce  a termly newsletter.

Usually, Primary Steps students celebrate their achievements at a Royal Ballet School graduation ceremony when they finish the four-year programme. Sadly, this hasn’t been possible under the COVID-19 lockdowns. Instead, the Primary Steps team has created a yearbook for its graduating students, filled with class photos and inspiring messages from their teachers.

New Primary Steps Partner School in Blackpool

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the Primary Steps programme expanded in Blackpool last spring, welcoming Boundary Primary School to The Royal Ballet School’s list of participating schools. Boundary Primary School has enjoyed its first year of offering classical ballet training.

Blackpool’s Primary Steps ballet community saw further success last year when two students received places at Preston Youth Dance Company, which offers dance opportunities to young dancers in Preston, Blackpool, and the surrounding areas. Sarah Hall, Preston Youth Dance Company’s director, has worked with Primary Steps children on many occasions.

Learn more about the Primary Steps Programme.

About The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School’s Primary Steps programme connects children and their families to local dance infrastructure and opportunities so that children throughout the UK get the chance to practise classical ballet. The programme opens doors for many children to undertake long-term ballet training and even secure places at the School itself.

Children can apply for places at The Royal Ballet School through an audition process, which doesn’t take personal circumstances or academic ability into account. As a result, 84% of students receive financial support to attend the School. Successful candidates embark on an eight-year course, starting at age 11, that blends classical ballet training with a thorough academic curriculum. Students also receive comprehensive physical and psychological support through the School’s Healthy Dancer Programme.

Many of those who train with the School go on to perform for The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other globally acclaimed dance companies. The Royal Ballet School has shaped some of the world’s best-known ballet dancers and choreographers, from Darcey Bussell, Margot Fonteyn, and David Wall to Francesca Hayward, Edward Watson, and Christopher Wheeldon.

International Exchange Rates – a brief introduction on how the process works

ABC Staff
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International Exchange Rates – a brief introduction on how the process works

The internal dynamics of the International Exchange market can appear mysterious to the newcomers. As you are aware that different currencies have distinct values, fluctuations occur based on economic considerations. But why do they change their behavior? And why do positive economic developments sometimes help the currency, while they have the reverse effect other times?

There are a few essential points to consider. For example, when the market opens for business, and what are the ways that corporations and individual traders can benefit from it. Here you will find a basic understanding of how the International exchange market works, how to avoid losing money due to exchange rate fluctuations, and how to send money online with low exchange rates.

International exchange rates to send money online

The international exchange market is the world’s largest marketplace for currency trading. It’s decentralized, which means it doesn’t run from a single location as stock exchanges do. The Forex market is accessed by anyone who buys or sells a certain currency.

Of course, Expats aren’t the only ones that require currency exchange. International trade requires the daily expenditure of billions of dollars in foreign currencies by both large and small firms. Banks, too, operate on a global scale, transacting massive sums of money daily.

As a result of these factors, the international exchange market is the largest globally, with daily trades above $5 trillion. The fluctuating exchange rates benefit forex traders. These traders buy a currency they believe will rise in value shortly and then sell it at higher prices when it is worth more.

When does it work?

The exchange market is unique as it is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The Forex market is not time-bound in the same way that a stock exchange is. It works according to its local office hours. It is closed on weekends, although it is open every day during the week.

It does not rule out the possibility of a weekend currency exchange for an average person. The brokers who perform the deal for you, on the other hand, will only do it during regular business hours. As a result, prices do not change until the market reopens.

International Exchange Rates: Flexible & Fixed

A flexible or fixed rate are the two basic methods for determining currency pricing. The open market determines flexible rates based on supply and demand in global currency exchanges. As a result, if there is a great demand for money, its value will rise. If demand is low, the value of that currency will fall.

The government, through its central bank, sets afixed rate. The rate is determined by comparing it to another major foreign currency. The government will buy and sell its currency against the money tied to preserve its exchange rate.

ACE Money Transfer –  Well Known for its Low Exchange Rates

Overseas Pakistanis can use a single window to make rapid and simple transfers to Pakistan. ACE offers exceptional exchange rates compared to big banks and other prominent money transfer service providers.

Send money to Pakistan online through a debit/credit card or directly to any bank account with rapid remittance delivery using various payment options. Pakistanis can send money straight into the recipient’s bank account in Pakistan using their favorite ACE Money Transfer’s remittance services, which offer the best exchange rates and transaction fees in the industry.

What Is A Variable Closed Mortgage? Is It The Right Mortgage For You

ABC Staff
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What Is A Variable Closed Mortgage? Is It The Right Mortgage For You

Today the market is full of lenders and private banks offering the best rates on mortgages. But the reality on the ground differs. So if you’re a first-time homebuyer, you have to be extra vigilant to choose the best mortgage.

Beyond assessing your needs and budgets, familiarizing yourself with Canada’s popular types of mortgages is also important. The moment you step into a lender’s office, you’ll need to make choices between things like a fixed/variable rate closed mortgage or fixed/variable rate open mortgage.

Variable closed mortgages can be preferable over others due to low-interest rates. But is it the right mortgage for you? Well, it depends upon several factors and individual choices. Therefore, we’ve discussed every aspect of a Variable closed mortgage in the succeeding paragraph to make things simple.

To know more about closed vs. open mortgages beyond this article, click here.

What Is An Open Mortgage?

An open mortgage offers flexibility in prepaying the outstanding amount in a lump sum or increasing mortgage repayments. Borrowers have the freedom to close or transfer the mortgage before the term ends without paying penalties.

However, the interest rates on open mortgages are much higher than on closed mortgages. Furthermore, an open mortgage is available for short durations such as six months or one year.

Main advantage: Payment flexibility

Main disadvantage: Higher rate of interest and cost of borrowing.

What Is A Closed Mortgage?

On the flip side, you can’t pay a closed mortgage before the end of the term without paying the penalty. Commonly termed as prepayment charges, it is levied on the following occasions:

  • Prepaying more than the allowed amount
  • Breaking mortgage contract
  • Switching the mortgage to another lender before the end of your term
  • Paying off the entire outstanding amount before the end of your term

Main advantage: Lower interest rates, lower cost of borrowing.

Main disadvantage: No flexibility, penalty for refinancing, or breaking the mortgage before maturity.

The need to compare an open mortgage vs. a closed mortgage only arises if you plan to end the contract early. In Canada, closed mortgages are preferred because they offer lower interest rates than open mortgages with similar terms. However, the terms of the mortgage are restrictive.

What Is A Fixed-Rate Mortgage?

In a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate remains unchanged throughout the loan period. Also, the total monthly/weekly payments remain the same. Interest rate and principal vary monthly. Interest rates are higher in the case of fixed-rate mortgages.

Main advantage: Protection from the sudden increase in mortgage rates due to market uncertainties.

Main disadvantage: Higher interest rate than a variable-rate mortgage. Qualifying for a loan becomes difficult when the interest rates are high.

What Is A Variable Rate Mortgage?

Variable-rate mortgage rates vary according to rates set by specific benchmarks such as the lenders’ prime rate or rates set by the Bank of Canada.

Most times, Variable-rate mortgages have a fixed period for which the initial rate remains the same. Further, the interest rate varies as per pre-arranged frequency.

Main advantage: Cheaper than a fixed-rate mortgage. If interest rates fall, so will the mortgage payment.

Main disadvantage: Uncertainty of increasing interest rate, payments fluctuate often.

What Is A Variable Closed Mortgage?

As the name suggests, it is a type of closed mortgage with variable-rate. It offers lower interest rates compared to other loans with the same term. But before choosing a variable closed mortgage, you should know a few things.

First, being a variable rate loan, the interest follows your lender’s prime rate, which is heavily dependent on the current market trends. Similarly, if the interest rates fall, your mortgage rates also fall.

Second, despite the variable, it is still a closed mortgage. It means all rules of a closed mortgage are applicable, such as prepayment penalties for prepaying the mortgage amount before the end of the term.

However, the main advantage of choosing a variable-rate closed mortgage is lower prepayment penalties. This is because the prepayment penalty is calculated based on three months’ interest.

On the other hand, fixed closed mortgages can bring penalties equivalent to a higher of three months’ interest or an “interest rate differential”.If you want a fixed rate of interest throughout the whole term, you can choose a fixed-rate closed mortgage.

Is Variable Closed Mortgage The Right Choice For You?

The answer lies in the risk tolerance factor and prospects of a borrower. A variable closed mortgage is the right choice for you, if:

  • You are searching for low mortgage rates. A closed mortgage with variables is a win-win opportunity for a borrower who wants to save on interest rates.
  • You plan to terminate the contract by paying off the entire outstanding amount early or selling the property. Prepayment penalties can be lower in this type of mortgage loan.

A variable closed mortgage is not the right choice for you, if:

  • You want the flexibility of an open mortgage which is the freedom to pay via lump sum or increase prepayments.
  • You want a fixed monthly/weekly repayment amount. It is more beneficial for people who want to protect themselves from market uncertainties and have monthly budget allocations.
  • Your income is about to increase.
  • You want to sell the property.

Even after stepping into a lenders office, ask some questions to get clear insights:

  • What is the interest rate?
  • What happens if you fail to make a mortgage payment?
  • What are the options to repay the mortgage amount?
  • What are the prepayment penalties for breaking the contract?
  • Are you offering any prepayment privileges?
  • What are the monthly payments?

Endnote

Overall, closed mortgages with variable rates offer some of the best rates while limiting the prepayment penalties to some extent. However, the major setback remains the uncertainty of increased prime mortgage rates.

When considering selecting a mortgage as a critical part of the home-buying process, it is advisable to compare the rates and lenders carefully. In addition, you have the option to use an online mortgage calculator or prepayment penalty calculator to make informed decisions.

And ultimately, borrowers’ risk appetite, prospects, needs, and budgets remain the determining factor.

Best Local Conveyancer Finder – What’s Happening In 2022?

Sam Allcock
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Best Local Conveyancer Finder – What’s Happening In 2022?

Best Local Conveyancing Comparison

If you are moving house, buying or selling UK property then you will initially decide that you want to find your best local conveyancer to manage your property transaction. This sounds easy at first. Your Estate Agent may recommended their Solicitor. Check out if their recommended Solicitor is approved by your Mortgage Lender. Ask your estate Agent what referral they are getting if you use their best local conveyancing Solicitor.

Do you really need to find a best local Conveyancer or will someone do that is miles away. The good news is that all Solicitors and Conveyancers are regulated and must carry out their services following strict protocol. In addition if you choose a lender approved Solicitor then that again helps you to make an informed decision on who to trust.

Where Can You Compare Your Best Local And National Solicitor Pricing?

You can go in the internet and use a comparison website to help you compare your best local with other national Solicitors. When teaching you will notice that there are two types of conveyancing comparison websites. Some ask for your personal details upfront and others allow you to browse quotes without the need to enter your contact details.

If your budgeting then find the website that lets you browse. Try the Homebuyer conveyancing comparison website. You can compare best local and nationwide Conveyancing Solicitors. Each quote is fully itemised and clearly displays your applicable legal fees and disbursement costs.

For all buyers this website provide purchase conveyancing quotes that includes a search pledge.

Benefits Of The Search Pledge

The search pledge is your safety net should your transaction fail through no fault of your own. Another set of property searches are provided for your replacement property for Free up to a value of £300. Forward thinking saves you money.

Instruct A Lender Approved Conveyancer

When using the Homebuyer Conveyancing website you can filter your conveyancing results, choose your legal expert from the best local using your postcode or cheapest price. The main filter is by Mortgage Lender that you propose to use should your property deal get to exchange of contracts.

During the Pandemic the idea of focusing on best local cheapest Solicitor as a search term changed and Homeowners accepted that Solicitors could be based in other parts of the Country and that they could still provide a best value service.

Solicitors and Conveyancers based in low cost of living areas should have lower overheads leading to charging lower legal fees. Hence a cheaper conveyancing quote.

You maybe lucky where you find best local cheap deals because you are based in a low cost of living area.

Homebuyer Conveyancing provides transparent conveyancing quotes for all types of property transactions. They use a savvy search pack and within that they include a search pledge and chancel insurance. You can quickly search using this proven conveyancer finder service from a national panel of lender approved Solicitors.

To find that all important Property Solicitor :-

  1. Compare conveyancing quotes online
  2. When ready take a quote away and schedule a call back
  3. If you instruct the Solicitor will send out a Client Care Pack
  4. On receipt complete and sign the paperwork and return promptly
  5. The solicitor will start the conveyance by carrying out ID checks on you

6)   Focus on key milestones and get to exchange of contracts as fast as is possible

7)   Need a Surveyor then choose one that can do the Survey within 7 days

8)   The survey will highlight what property repairs are required.

9)   Plan who does the highlighted repairs.

Discuss with your Mortgage Broker the repairs. The lender may hold a retention on the property until proof that the repairs have been carried out satisfactorily.

For more information visit the Homebuyer Conveyancing secure website (No personal details required to view quotes online)

5 Talent Agencies That Help Black Women Find a Job

ABC Staff
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5 Talent Agencies That Help Black Women Find a Job

The labor market is becoming more demanding. That’s why we often find ourselves in need of professional help related to job applications and interviews. The situation is even harder for black women, statistics say. They often experience a higher percentage of unemployment compared to women of other races.

The problem behind this phenomenon is unclear. American companies have declared their anti-discrimination policies. They do everything to prove that they select candidates based on their professional qualities. Yet, employment rates for Black women and women of other races are still incomparable.

Why is it so that black women are outperformed by all other minorities then? Probably they are less aware of tactics to apply in the job search or are not properly involved in networking. 

Talent development organizations try to resolve this problem. Most of them were created by women who faced similar problems hoping to grant better access to the workplace to members of their community. And we should say this strategy indeed helps. Also, there is a major help from the best resume writing services that black women can use to get a dream job. 

Here are several talent agencies that help black women find a job:

Skillhub

We’ll start with a company offering resume and LinkedIn writing services to people who get poor feedback on their existing resumes. Before you start sending out your applications, invest in your career by crafting a bot-beating resume. Skillhub specialists know how to do it.

Do not forget that your online presence also matters. That would mean that eliminating any information that can compromise you online is a great step to landing a job. Believe it or not, if you google your name and find Facebook pictures of you partying with your friends, that’s not something you’d like a hiring manager to see first.

Even more importantly, you need to create a great LinkedIn profile for others to notice. At the very least, that will allow you to keep track of catchy LinkedIn headlines and job opportunities. In addition, LinkedIn profile writing services help you create a professional profile for recruiters to locate and send offers to.

People of Color Careers

People of Color Careers was created by Sharon Smith-Akinsanya in 2018 to help Black professionals in Minnesota in their job search. The platform has been successfully growing since that day. Today, it is a top hiring network for professionals that helps connect employers with the right candidates.

Basically, what the organization does is help with applications and job consultations and locate great job opportunities based on the analysis of candidates’ information. The place promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and expects employers to do so as well.

Mintech Agency

Karen Williams founded Mintech knowing that the traditional way of finding and hiring candidates does not work for people of color. This organization came out as a solution to the problem. Based in Nashville, it has become a startup for women and minority recruiting.

The goal of this company is to provide people with the opportunity to land new, interesting jobs that meet their qualification level and compensation expectations. Black professionals should have an opportunity to advance their careers just like any other specialist does.

Mintech has earned a reputation as a networking platform for well-established professionals. Yet, it also helps with a career launch after graduation or long career gaps. There is no easy way when it comes to work, but it definitely gets better when one finds help.

Offor

Ify Walker of Nigerian origin established this company to provide leaders with access to executive roles. Female CEOs are still outnumbered by male CEOs. When it comes to Black CEOs, both male and female, they are outnumbered by all other races several times.

This misrepresentation leads to serious distortions. Not only does it create a perception that a Black girl cannot become a chief executive but also makes Black professionals think less of their worthiness.

Offor reshapes job search for Blacks, aligning the candidate’s skill set with targeted jobs. It gets done to give them confidence and to prove that they can get an interview and actually ace it.

HireBlack

What started as a flash mob has grown into a platform successfully advocating for employment opportunities for Black women. Today, HireBlack is dedicated to tackling systemic obstacles at getting employed. Now when the market is getting more competitive, talented women who started this movement look for ways to provide support to the overlooked and underpaid ones.

HireBlack is quite successful in its mission. They’ve been able to draw attention to the problem and unite companies in their efforts to resolve it. For example, they have been able to coordinate over 300 resumes to top companies, thus helping dozens of qualified Black women to land well-paid jobs.

HireBlack is not limited to Black women – it is especially effective in driving positive change for females. Intended to fight false assumptions about the role of Black women at home and about their educational level, HireBlack helped many talents grow by empowering them to stand up for themselves.

Takeaway

Unfortunately, all these efforts do not resolve the problem of employment for Black women. There is still a huge percentage of unemployed women among Black communities. Moreover, it’s been growing for the previous two years because of the pandemic.

However, the fact that these organizations exist sets a perfect example of how women can unite to lobby their ideas and help each other. It all gets surprisingly easy when people realize their power and know that they are not alone.

Therefore, if you find it hard to design your employment strategy or if you lack resources to start a job hunt, ask around for such platforms. It’s always better to have someone to rely on when things get difficult.

Could Buying a Royal Title Make Business Sense?

ABC Staff
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Could Buying a Royal Title Make Business Sense?

The business world is often seen as a cutthroat place where it can be challenging to establish yourself and build up a credible business reputation. But could having a royal title help smooth your path to better business success?

Getting yourself noticed and your voice heard above the crowd of other business people trying to grab the attention of new clients is a challenging task. But would it be easier to impress clients, negotiate deals and gain access to the inner circles of business network meetings if you carried a royal title that sets you apart from the crowd?

There is no denying that VIPs from the international business world enjoy the extra perks that come with their jobs, such as access to private clubs and exclusive memberships of Golf and country clubs, which can also provide many opportunities to do business.

Breaking into these circles could be made easier if you were a Lord or Lady, so buying a royal title could be your key to being invited into this society and making your job a lot more enjoyable.

Making Yourself More Memorable 

The one problem modern business people face these days is making themselves more memorable in a sea of grey corporate business suits. 

To enable you to rise above your peers and get the attention of your target audience, you need to have something unique that your fellow business associates do not have. It is often said that only those with a strong and individual business persona go on to build a successful career.

If part of your personal branding included a royal title, it would be something interesting that would set you apart from the crowd. It would certainly make an interesting talking point or ice breaker at business network meetings!

Grabbing the attention of potential new business partners or impressing your boss to get that promotion just enough to convince them you are the right person to do business with or to take the role on offer could even be made easier if you bought one of the various royal titles for sale.

What’s in a Name?

New businesses spend a fortune on having their business name, logo and branding created to make them memorable. Why not use the same creative approach to enhance your own personal brand to help you become more successful?

You could work side by side with any number of Tom, Dick or Harriets, but have you ever noticed that those with an unusual or quirky name are always the ones that get noticed in your office? It just shows you that having a different name can be really memorable.

If you don’t have a particularly memorable name, then why not buy one? Purchasing a royal title will undoubtedly make your business cards pop. Having Lord or Lady, or Duke or Dutchess printed on your business cards will certainly help them be retained by potential new business partners and contacts at network meetings.

Upgrade Your Status 

Adding an impressive royal title to your name can be easier than you think. There are title companies online that offer royal titles from Europe and other countries that you can adopt to elevate your business status and help you stand out from the crowd.

It is not a new idea to purchase a royal title. Even back in the 11th Century, William the Conqueror was selling royal titles to his favourite followers. Since then, noble families have been buying and selling titles, especially when needing to raise money for their own causes or political advantages.

What could this mean to you, you may ask? Well, adding a title to your name could mean more invitations to exclusive business groups, better positions within your company, entrance to societies that you only dreamed about, and rubbing shoulders with the elite at events.

Having a royal title can impress potential new business clients, open doors for you, and make it easier for you to be introduced to influential people at meetings.

Enhancing Your Business Profile

Enhancing your business profile with a royal title can be a great way to get you noticed. You can still buy a royal title today, but these don’t come with the hefty price tag that includes acres of land and a crumbling manor house. 

You can purchase a royal title that can add a level of prestige and esteem to your name that can help to enhance your career while helping a good cause in the process.

Many of these royal titles are offered as part of programs and land trusts acting to preserve land, buildings, communities and traditional customs in the land or province where the titles are held. 

By buying a royal title, not only could you be enhancing your business profile and getting ahead in the corporate world, you can help support their cause and enable them to continue to preserve and rejuvenate ancient lands and traditions.

Top Tips for Your First Property Development Project

ABC Staff
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Top Tips for Your First Property Development Project

Many people dream of “flipping houses” for a living, having been inspired by television shows such as Grand Designs and celebrity developers like Sara Beeny. Property development, whether done on a small or large scale, can be an exciting and lucrative career. 

The under-supply of housing in the UK is frequently discussed in parliament. It is estimated that around 345,000 new homes per year are needed to meet the demand in England alone. So, there is plenty of room for new developers to enter the market. 

But how do you get started in property development? And what should you do to give yourself the best chance of success?

  1. Do Your Research

The lure of an escape from the nine to five and being your own boss is a big temptation for many people. But even if you have cash to burn, don’t rush into your first property development project. Not all developments make money, and the key to turning a profit is to do your research before committing to anything.

First, research the role. What skills and experience does a developer need? If you’re missing any of these, can you afford to take on help, or do you know someone more experienced who could act as your mentor or partner with you? Developers need to wear many hats — finance manager, marketing manager, project manager and more. Going solo may seem like a great way to keep costs down when you get started, but it could result in expensive mistakes and delays.

Next, research the local market and decide what kind of developments you want to focus on — residential? Commercial? Do you want to cater for families or provide deluxe accommodation for professionals? What is happening in the local property market? Are there any up and coming areas where you can buy property affordably and cash in as prices rise?

On most property development projects, the margins are tight and to turn a worthwhile profit, you need to select the right opportunity and manage it efficiently. All of which requires extensive research. 

  1. Write a Business Plan

Don’t skip the planning stage in your eagerness to get started. The foundation of any successful business is a solid plan for the short, medium and long term. Your plan should set out your goals, the type of projects you will focus on and a property development finance strategy.

This can be a daunting task for someone just starting out, but there are lots of free business plan templates online, and engaging the services of a professional financial planner can be a savvy investment. 

  1. Invest Time in Networking and Building Partnerships

The most successful property developers rely on an extensive network of professionals to complete their projects on time and to the required quality standards. Investing time in networking and building partnerships with experts you can rely on will pay off in the long run. You can’t do everything on your own. You need a reliable team around you.

While there are no specific qualifications required for becoming a developer, certain skills and traits are essential, including communicating, negotiating and networking. Start building a list of contacts from day one if you want your business to go the distance. Consider all aspects of your business. You may need tradespeople to complete building work, marketers to sell your properties, financial advisors to keep your budget on track and service providers who can offer your customers added value, for example, house part-exchange specialists.

There are plenty of opportunities to meet property professionals online and in person. 

  1. Keep Your Eye on the Market

The research stage doesn’t stop once you have a business plan in place and start work on your first project. The property market moves fast, and if the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that life can be unpredictable! Any changes in government, the economy, employment rates and the cost of living are likely to have a knock-on effect on house sales and prices. The best developers carefully monitor the property market regularly. Only by doing so can they make sure that they are choosing projects with the best chances of success, buying supplies at the right price and setting a realistic budget for their developments. You should also hone in on your target market — are there any new developments planned that could affect the cost of buying property and its sale price? Is buyer demand for a particular area growing, and can you get in quick to capitalise on this potential? Subscribe to industry email newsletters and engage in discussion on Linkedin to make sure that you’re the first to hear about changes in the market that could — positively or negatively — impact your business.

If you’re planning to set up as a developer in 2022, take the time to thoroughly research and plan your business before diving in. Building a reliable network of contacts and keeping your eye on the market will set you on the path to property development success.

How to Switch a Personal Instagram Profile to an Effective Business Account

ABC Staff
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0
How to Switch a Personal Instagram Profile to an Effective Business Account

With more than 1 billion active users every single day, Instagram is no doubt one of the biggest and most popular social media platforms right now.

This means that if your business is not on Instagram just yet, this is the time to be.

And if you have an existing personal Instagram profile, make sure that you convert into a business account as soon as possible.

But, before you switch your personal profile to a business account, you need to remember that doing so will make your account public. It is not possible for your account to be a business account and a private account at the same time. After all, it doesn’t make sense to have a private business account, right?

The moment you change to an Instagram business account, the account will exactly be the same and the only difference is that you will get access to certain tools and analytics that are not available on personal accounts.

Here are the steps you need to follow to change your private account to an Instagram business account:

  1. Go to your personal account. Tap on the three lines found at the upper right hand corner.
  2. Choose Settings located at the top portion.
  3. Select Account -> Switch to Professional Account.
  4. You can simply swipe through the next four screens explaining the advantages of a Professional Instagram Account.
  5. You can decide on the category that your business belongs to. You can type to search for the specific category that will best suit your business.
  6. Tap on Done then confirm that you like to switch to Professional Instagram Account.
  7. You will be directed to a screen that will give you the option between Business and Creator. You should choose Business because Creator accounts are meant for public figures and Instagram influencers, which means that it doesn’t provide the tools that business accounts do.
  8. You can now proceed to putting the contact details for your account. The email address that you will use will be linked to the email button on the profile so make sure that you check this one regularly. You can add your business address and phone number. You don’t need to add this information if you don’t have a physical business location that clients or customers would visit or if you don’t like to receive calls. But, it is still required to add at least a valid email address.
  9. The final step is to link or set up your Facebook business page. You can do this by naming your Instagram page but you will finish setting the page up on Facebook. It is an important requirement since Instagram is under the ownership of Facebook. It can actually benefit you a lot if your business is on the two platforms since Facebook will also have your Instagram feed displayed on your Facebook page. Your Instagram posts will also be published automatically to Facebook helping you save time.

Once you have connected and named your Facebook page, you are done! Your personal account on Instagram is now your official business account where you can use sponsored posts, ads, and analytics so you can take your Instagram game to a higher level!

Selling your home stress-free – top tips

ABC Staff
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Selling your home stress-free – top tips

If you’re a homeowner, you might be thinking about taking advantage of property sales hotspots that keep cropping up throughout the UK, where prices are rising and demand for houses and flats remains high. But deciding to sell your property can potentially be very stressful.

There are many varied factors to consider, including how much to seek as an asking price for your property, knowing the steps to follow to get your home sale-ready, having to deal with the possibility that you might get an offer and it will fall through at the last minute, and more. Not to mention the various costs that can occur through many steps of selling, which can further add to the feeling by some homeowners that the entire process is rather overwhelming.

All of these situations and other typical issues that can arise when selling a home can make the process complicated and riddled with stress, which in turn could negatively affect you mentally and physically. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way, because there are some simple tips and tricks that you can follow in order to make the sale of your home as stress-free as possible.

  • Get your home in its best possible condition before selling

The way that your home looks can make or break whether you receive any offers from buyers, and if nobody is showing any interest in your flat or house then this can be very stressful. Yet they might like the size and shape of the property but be turned off by its condition, and this can happen with minor problems such as an overgrown garden to major issues such as dry rot.

To prevent this from happening and ease the sale process, you should invest money and time to fix any problems that you can. If the outside of your home has broken roof tiles, chipped paint or anything else that could be considered an eyesore, you should repair it so that the exterior of your property makes a great first impression on buyers. Similarly, if there are visual flaws inside then you’ll also want to address those before people see them when they are on viewings.

  • Be honest with yourself about your home’s asking price

You might have very ambitious ideas about how much your house or flat is worth, and this can sometimes cause stress if you pick an asking price that far exceeds what you’ll reasonably be able to get. If you set the price too high, then you might not get any interest from buyers. And if you set it too low then you could only break even or possibly even lose money on the sale.

Ask around estate agents, fast cash property buyers and home auctioneers for free quotes about how much they think your home is worth and look at the average value across the various prices you’re quoted. Use that to help guide a reasonable asking price for your property that balances profit with achievability in order to avoid any hassle with this aspect of selling.

  • Develop a budget that covers all aspects of the sale

The asking price that you want to set for your home is just one of the many different monetary figures that you’ll have to consider when selling the property. Sometimes people get stressed out about moving because they feel like they are being surprised with new fees and other expenses every week, which build up and can sometimes feel overwhelming.

But it’s simple to avoid this kind of situation with some advance planning, by preparing a budget for the sale of your home regardless of which method of selling you would like to use. For example, if you want to sell using an auctioneer or an estate agent then ask specific companies upfront to disclose all of their fees, including commission and any other charges. This will let you develop an honest budget that covers all possible expenses for selling your house or flat.

And also account for post-sale expenses when crafting your budget, such as the cost of hiring a removal company to transport your belongings from your existing property to your next home. This is something that a few homeowners forget to plan for in their moving budget, and it can creating a stressful end to a move even after the joy of successfully selling a property.

  • Prepare for surprises including sales falling through

Selling your home can be an unpredictable experience, particularly if you choose to find a buyer through an estate agent or trying your luck with a property auction. Selling via an estate agent can take many months or possibly even more than a year before you receive a serious offer. And selling through an auctioneer is a gamble because you never know if your home will receive any bids, or just one bid at the minimum reserve price — the lowest value at which you’re willing to sell your home, even if means that you won’t make much profit.

You can reduce your stress by accepting a certain amount of uncertainty when selling your home. A further element to consider in advance is the fact that some property sales fall through, particularly those done through estate agents. If you choose this method of selling and get an offer, consider it far from certain until contracts are signed and exchanged. Buyers are allowed to walk away up and until that point, and you have to accept that this might happen. By knowing the potential is there for a sale to collapse, it won’t be as stressful if it does happen.

And other possible surprises can happen during the time you’re waiting to receive a serious offer. It’s entirely possible, although unwelcome, that there could be an accident at your property that damages part of it and you’ll need to spend money and invest time in fixing whatever issue arises. The best way to prevent such an incident becoming highly stressful is to set aside some money if possible that you can use to urgently fix any such problems if they occur.

  • Consider selling your property to a fast cash buyer

One option you have for removing stress from the home selling process is to contact a fast property cash buyer. These companies are able to give homeowners a streamlined, no-stress and hassle-free way to get straightforward, speedy and competitive offers for selling their houses and flats.

They can consider buying almost any type, shape and size of home – unlike some estate agents or auctioneers who might not know the best way to sell certain properties, for example those with structural problems or other complications. If you are selling a house with solar panels, LDN Properties have a specialist knowledge in this area, as well as property with many other types of problem.

A further stress relief of selling this way is that the reputable fast buyers never charge any fees when buying properties. That means you get to keep the full proceeds of whatever price they offer for purchasing your home, without having to worry about commission or other fees.

  • Start packing early once you’ve secured a buyer

You might think that you can relax once you have a buyer who has signed and exchanged contracts and paid you the sale proceeds, but that’s not the case. Many homeowners forget to start packing up their belongings for the move to their property until too close to the move-out date, which means they have to start packing everything in a stressful hurry.

To avoid this outcome, make sure that you clearly know the date on which you are expected to vacate your current home and on which you can move your belongings in to your next property. As soon as those dates are confirmed you should start to pack up everything in your existing house so that you or a hired removal company can take it all out quickly on the moving out day. This will help to ensure that the last step of the sale process also goes smoothly.

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