There are few things more precious in this world than being able to see. If you wear glasses, or you use contact lenses, you may have been offered vision insurance or benefits as part of your employment package. While vision insurance may seem like a perk worth having, there are potential drawbacks. As the infographic below shows, not all insurance policies represent the best value for money.
If you’re an employee, and you wear glasses or contact lenses, you’ll probably be thrilled that vision insurance is part of your employee benefits. The trouble is that policies that are offered to employers often make it difficult for employees to source affordable glasses. This is largely due to the fact that insurers provide access to in-network stores, which are often more expensive than out of network providers. If you shop online, for example, you could save up to 50% on prices for similar or superior products. The range of free frames and lenses may also be limited, and therefore, unsuitable for individuals who need better quality glasses due to their prescription. There is also a risk of losing out on benefits if you don’t use them before a specified deadline.
For those who do have vision insurance as part of their employee package, it’s advisable to set a reminder to make sure you use your benefits and to consider the option of buying out of network to save money and access a wider range of products and services. Employers may also wish to think about switching flexible benefits to Health Savings Accounts. This prevents business owners from paying for benefits that will expire.
That’s a bold claim, but by studying these diagrams and reading their meaning you main gain some new ideas or distinctions which may influence your choices, which will change your outcome and ultimately change you life.
Diagram 1 considers the possibility that Passion alone is not enough. We can be passionate about art or music or being a sportsperson but if we lack the competence to make it as a professional in these areas then we need to consider other options.
A football mad teenager with a competence in Maths could become a data analyst for a sports team. Or someone with a passion for music but a talent for tech could end up as a producer.
The third sphere to consider is whether there is a demand for your skill and talent. Is that sufficient to become a full time career? A passion and talent for poetry may not be sufficient to make a successful career, but can still be a fulfilling hobby and creative outlet.
Think about what you love, what you are good at (or willing to develop) and then see how that can also earn a good living.
Diagram two. This one came courtesy of Vishen Lakhiani, founder of MindValley. On one axis is Happiness in the Now from low to high, and on the other is Vision for the Future, again from low to high. So if you were to score yourself out of 10, how happy are you in this moment and what is your strength of vision for the future?
If you find yourself in the bottom left hand box, with a low score for each, you’re in what he calls the negative spiral. So you’re unhappy now, you don’t have much of a vision for the future, you’re just going to stay stuck and feel pretty down about things.
If you’re finding yourself quite happy now, but again, with no vision for the future, I’ve coloured that one pink because of rose tinted glasses. You might think everything’s okay, but unfortunately things external to us can change, which is going to affect how we feel. So that might be loss of a partner, it might be illness, it might be losing your job or a global pandemic. So, being happy now but with no vision for the future while it might feel ok short term is not necessarily a safe place to be.
So, what about a strong vision for the future but not very happy in the moment? Well, that way leads to stress and anxiety. You set goals, you have visions, you’re ambitious for the future, but you’re discontent in the moment. And that negativity you experience now is not going to help in fulfilling that vision for the future. So what it means is you suffer from stress and anxiety in the present time. Which is why expressing gratitude is such an important aspect of many self development teachings.
So where would we like to be? We’d like to be happy now, grateful and accepting of our situation, but also have a very strong vision of the future to pull us forward. And that Vishen calls bending reality. Other people call it the flow. This is where you’re able to draw the people, the circumstances, the resources you need to you. You are happy in the moment and even happier when the reality comes to fruition to change your life.
And finally, diagram number three. This one comes from Rich Dad, Poor Dad author, Robert Kiyosaki. He looked at different ways in which people earn money. So to begin with, in the top left, we’ve got the employee. That’s people who spend their time at work and they’re swapping their time for money. Their conditions and their pay is largely controlled by somebody else.
Then, bottom left, we’ve got those that are self-employed. They run their own business, they work for themselves. And that covers a whole spectrum. That could include trades people or it could be self-employed sports stars earning a lot of money. Regardless in this category they’re still effectively swapping their time for money even though they’re their own boss.
Over the other side, in the top right we’ve got the business owner. That’s different from being self-employed because they’re leveraging other people’s time, other people’s skill, other people’s resources to run a business. And that business may exist with or without them. So they’re in a stronger financial position as they are not restricted to swapping their time for money.
But ultimately, the investor in the fourth quadrant is where the wealth gets made. Here these people are not limited to owning one business. They may have stakes in multiple businesses. They may invest in property or real estate. They may have stock market investments. They may have other investments, which all bring them money from different sources.
So there you have it, three of my favourite diagrams, which can change your life by making a big impact on how you feel about money and your choices about being successful in life.
When it comes to your work, you may find that there are different things that you need to prioritize. Not only things like getting it done on time, but actually enjoying it and making sure that you’re getting what you want out of it too. One of those things is compensation. It’s always so important that you are paid what you want. Let’s take a look at what you need to know here.
Setting Earning Goals
To start with, you’re going to want to make sure that you are setting earnings goals for yourself. Because if you want to earn more, you need to be proactive about it. Setting the intention helps first, and then you can take action to make it happen.
Diversification
The next thing that you’ll want to be aware of, is how to diversify your income. Sure, there’s a lot that you can do grow your current income, but it’s also smarter to gain a range of different incomes if you can. Starting a side hustle or looking to get passive income is often a good idea here, along with investing.
Understanding Equality
But then also, it’s important for you to understand income equality. There’s definitely a lot to say about fair earnings – and not just between the sexes, but across the economy as a whole. And so, it’s for this reason that you may want to get to know all about economic equality around the globe, to put where you’re at into perspective. Take a look at the infographic below to find out more.
Tax has long been one of the most frustrating aspects of finances for normal people, with this ancient form of bill dating back thousands of years. Of course, there isn’t much wrong with this sort of payment, and countries simply wouldn’t be able to exist without it, but this doesn’t make it any easier for people to take it seriously. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the challenges which can arise when you don’t pay proper attention to your taxes. It doesn’t matter if you work for yourself or have a job with a big company; you should always be on top of this side of your finances.
Overpayments
Making overpayments on your tax is one of the best mistakes you can make with it, as this won’t result in any nasty surprises. Instead, you’re likely to be able to get the money you’ve overpaid back. Some countries will do this automatically, giving you a lump sum once they’ve figured out how much you need to pay. In other cases, though, you may have to file for a refund, and this will mean that you will have had to do some accounting beforehand. Tax return accountants can be used to help with this, giving you the chance to avoid any errors in your initial payment.
Underpayments
It’s far more common that people will pay too little towards their taxes, with the amount they pay failing to reflect the money they’ve earned. While this is easy enough to do, it’s not worth the hassle, as you will often receive a bill from your government which has to be covered very quickly. If you’ve underpaid by a large margin, this can be a fortune, and will be very hard for most people to cover. You can avoid this by using special accounting software throughout the year, or by taking on the support of a company like HFM Tax to make sure that you don’t get anything wrong.
Failing To Pay
Finally, as the last area on this list, it’s time to think about the most severe circumstances you could find yourself in with your taxes; you haven’t paid anything. This can be a horrible spot to be in, with many governments charging large fines when people don’t take the time to file their taxes properly. Of course, if this goes on for many years and you actively avoid paying your taxes, you could find yourself in much more serious trouble. People have been put in prison for this sort of crime, and this is highly likely if many years go by and you don’t have the money to make up for the tax you owe.
With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of dealing with your taxes. A lot of people struggle with this, finding it difficult to feel comfortable when it comes to tax season. Of course, though, there are plenty of tools and resources out there to help you, and the support of a professional company isn’t too hard to find.
Miami often referred
to as the Magic City, is one that’s rather challenging to describe quickly.
It’s an amazingly dynamic city that is always growing and redefining its
position in American business and culture. Even better, there’s always
something going on and something to do.
For those who are considering moving to Miami, getting to know some of the specific benefits can be helpful. Keep in mind though, appealing aspects of this city go beyond what’s included on this list.
Miami Beach Coast, Florida (Photo by Hoberman Collection/UIG via Getty Images)
The Housing Options
Miami is a diverse
place to live. As such, the housing options are extremely vast. A person can
find all types of residential properties to purchase for their family or to
invest in.
For those interested
in investing in Miami real estate, there are countless options available. They
should alsovisit
NRIA.net to learn more.
Regardless of what
someone moving to the area is looking for, they will find that Miami is a city
that delivers. It may take some time to find that perfect property, but the
time and effort are going to be worth it.
The Weather
The average
temperature inMiami is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. For those who
are used to colder winters, this is likely extremely appealing.
People living in this
city can enjoy all types of outdoor activities, all year long. The need for a
jacket is minimal, even during the winter months.
This is one of the
factors that has made this city such a popular tourist destination. In fact,
more than15.8 million people visit this city each year.
If someone is searching
for a place to move that’s warm and comfortable outside all year round, they
can’t go wrong by choosing Miami. The weather in this city definitely delivers.
Job and Business Opportunities
The city of Miami is
one that has never stopped growing. Thanks to the vibrancy of this city, Miami
is a huge hub for all types of different businesses.
In fact, five
companies that are currently on the Fortune 500 list have built their
headquarters in the metropolitan area of the city. Many others have a branch
here.
The business impact
of this city is something that can be felt across the globe. It’s a natural
bridge to Latin America and other locations. While real estate and finance are
especially big in this area, Miami is also welcoming to other types of businesses.
Lifestyle
The New York minute
is just 30 seconds; however, those who live in Miami have all the time they
could ever need. Business deals are often made at the golf course or on the
beach.
Even when walking
around downtown, there’s no one who seems stressed or hectic. While this is
true, the speed of life isn’t so slow that nothing’s ever done. Despite the
reputation that this city has gained in past years, Miami is actually a very
family-oriented city thanks to the culture, and people of all ages live here.
Making a Move to Miami
If a person or family
is considering a move to South Florida, they should carefully consider the
benefits offered by Miami. In the long run, they are going to be able to become
a part of a growing and vibrant community and enjoy things such as the beach, sun,
and surf, whenever they want.
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