My best info blog

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Susan Glaser

Plain Dealer Reporter

Is the nightmarish possibility of being laid off keeping you from taking the vacation of your dreams?

Several travel companies are hoping to allay your fears — and then wish you bon voyage.

Cruise retailer CruiseOne, with several locations in Northeast Ohio, recently added job-loss coverage to its basic travel insurance policy. If you get laid off, you can cancel the cruise with no penalty — provided you’ve purchased the insurance, the price of which varies by the cost of the cruise but starts at $35.

“You wouldn’t think something so simple could make such a difference,” said Becky Piper, who runs a CruiseOne franchise out of her Strongsville home. “My sales have skyrocketed.”

“Everyone is just so fearful,” she said. “They don’t want to make plans for six months from now if they think they might not have a job.”

To qualify for the policy, which is administered by Travel Guard, you must have been employed for a year. Information: cruiseone.com.

Ecruises.com, an online travel agency specializing in cruises, also offers job-loss protection through its basic travel insurance policy; and Ecruises is picking up the cost of the insurance.

Norwegian Cruise Line also recently added job-loss insurance to its travel insurance plan for sailings in May and beyond. Prices start at $29, depending on the fare. Information: ncl.com.

A bed-and-breakfast in Vermont is offering six free two-night getaways to people who have been unemployed for more than six months. Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, on the New Hampshire border near St. Johnsbury, will offer a two-night freebie, dubbed the Pink Slip Getaway Giveaway, each month in April through July and again in November and December. Send a letter or e-mail by Monday, June 1, explaining your story in a page or less: Box 55, Lower Waterford Road, Lower Waterford, VT 05848 or info@rabbithillinn. com.

Ohio’s two CoCo Key water parks, in Newark and Cincinnati, are offering a price break to workers who have been forced to take unpaid time off. For $119, a family of four can spend a night at either resort, which includes two full days of water-park passes. Information: cherryvalleylodge.com or sheraton.com/cincinnatinorth.

Source

Are you a UK resident? Do you want to buy some real estate? Do you need a huge amount immediately for that?

If yes, there is a solution for you. And the solution is real estate loans UK. Yes, if you are a UK citizen, real estate loans will help you financially in purchasing real estate.

A UK borrower can apply for real estate loans for various purposes. Real estate loans can be used for residential as well as commercial sectors including office, industry, retails, hotels and so on.

There is no doubt that purchasing real estate is a matter of huge amounts. Keeping this thing in mind, real estate loans allow UK borrowers to borrow a higher amount, ranging from ?500000 to a few million. The repayment period of these loans can go up to 25 years. Sometimes, lenders ask for some down payment that could be 20% of the total amount. But this percentage varies from lenders to lenders.

In this context, it is necessary to mention that in the UK real estate loans are available with two options; fixed rate option and adjustable rate option. In case of fixed rate option, a borrower has to pay a fixed amount during the loan term. Oppositely, the interest rate can be changed in adjustable rate option. Apart from that, borrowers also can avail these loans with balloon rate option.

Many a times, it is seen that some extra fees and charges are included with real estate loans, available in the UK. It could be closing cost, agent fees etc. So it is advisable to borrowers that while availing these loans, check what his borrowing cost is and what cost is being charged as extra fees.

In the UK, many traditional lenders, such as, banks, lending companies, financial organizations offer real estate loans. Online option can be a big help for borrowers in this regard, which is easier and less time consuming. In order to get these loans with favorable terms and condition, compare various loan quotes and by this, you can avail these loans at a better interest rate.

Now let’s have a look at the advantageous parts of real estate loans:

• Swift availability is an added advantage of these loans.

• With these loans, borrowers can purchase any type of real estate

• Since, these loans are long term loans, so borrowers can enjoy the benefit of a lower monthly payments

• These loans are available with various repayment options.

So, if you want to buy some real estate, do not think about cash. Real estate loans in the UK will help you economically in this regard.

By: Tim Kelly

We all distinguish that the way to a woman’s heart is through chocolate. And chocolate treats that you make yourself is sure to win her heart this Valentine’s Day. These three chocolate baking recipes are straightforward ones to make that hardly take any time at all. She will love the fact that you took the time to make something yourself. It always means more to get something that you have made for her than something you bought.

Chocolate Creams

1 unite (8 squares) semi-sweet chocolate squares

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

finely chopped pecans

In a small saucepan, melt the chocolate squares with the butter over low fervor. Take it off of the heat and add in the confectioners’ sugar, cream and vanilla. Chill in the refrigerator until it holds together when shaped (about 1 hour). Order into balls and roll them in the pecans. If you want to take a little more time to make your Valentine’s Day treat even more special, sculpt the dough into hearts and put red and pink sprinkles on them. Make sure to store them in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Pudding Consolidate

1 package chocolate cake mix

1 large package (6 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix

1 cup bedew dilute

1/4 cup oil

4 eggs

1 container chocolate frosting

pink and red sprinkles

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, water, oil, and eggs. With an electric mixer, beat the assortment for 2 minutes. Grease (take butter and smear it over the bottom and sides of the pan) and flour (put about 1/4 cup of flour in the pan after you’ve greased it and shake it around, covering the bottom and sides totally) a 9 x 13-inch pan. Pour the mixture into the pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until thicken tests done (put a toothpick in the center and when it comes out without anything on it, it’s done). Allow to cool for 30 minutes to an hour and then frost with the chocolate frosting. Confound the red and pink sprinkles evenly over the top of the cake for added Valentine’s Day decoration.

Fudge Cookies

2 cups creamy sugar

1/2 cup butter

1 square semi-sweet chocolate

1/2 cup milk

3 cups oatmeal

1/2 cup pecans

1/2 cup coconut

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together the sugar, butter, chocolate, and milk. Stir almost constantly. When m starts to boil around the edges, start to stir it constantly. Allow the mixture to boil for one minute. Unfasten the mixture from the heat and stir in the oatmeal, pecans and coconut. Drop the mixture by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets covered in waxed essay. For an added Valentine’s Day touch, put a candy heart on top of each one. Put in the refrigerator to set until hardened (overnight works best). Be certain to store them in the refrigerator.