Probably one of the last things on your mind when you re trying to choose an outdoor swing set is whether the swings should hang on chains or on ropes. Such choices are often left to the asthetics of the lawn, or to whatever the particular swingset you happen to like, happens to have. But the question is, in fact, rather more important than you might think. Both options have considerable advantages and disadvantages, and it s worth keeping them in mind as you shop for the perfect swingset.

Rope swings are undoubtedly the most attractive of the two, and they have the advantage of being fairly easy on the hands. But ropes can be damaged by weather conditions, and they have to be replaced regularly–at least once a year–in order to ensure that the swingset continues to be safe. Some ropes have been treated to make them weather proof ask your salesman if the ropes have recieved this treatment. On the one hand, it might sound like a good idea, since ropes will have to be replaced less often, and will be stronger throughout their lifetime, but in fact, those ropes have been treated with chemicals, and while they re probably safe in the short term, it s unlikely that any long term studies have been done on their effects to children who use them regularly. If your child is at all likely to play on a swingset for long periods of time, and to keep doing it for several years, treated ropes are probably *not* the way to go.

At first glance, chains would seem to be the more dangerous and less pleasant of the options after all, who hasn t had their hand pinched when they were swinging as a child? But in fact, all chains are not created equal. In general, there are two sizes of chains one is the small one that you see on most home swingsets, and the other is the thick, stout, smooth chain which you see on swingsets at most parks. The first one is stronger and more durable than rope, but a child s hand can get pinched in it rather easily. It s not fatal or anything, but it does hurt like crazy. Get pinched frequently enough, and it s enough to make you go off the idea of swingsets as a form of recreation.

By far the best of the three choices is the commercial chain such as you find on swingsets at parks. The bad news is, it can be difficult to find these for non-commercial, home use the good news is, it s getting easier, as more and more parents realize that these are the most effective and safest form of suspension for swingsets anywhere.

For vital information on all things concerned with outdoor toys visit

The 401(k) is a retirement plan implemented and provided to employees by their employer as a means to save for their retirement. Not only do many employers contribute to the employees 401(k) along with employee contributions (this is known as matching), but the contributions are pre-tax contributions; in other words the deduction is taken prior to calculating the state and federal taxes due on the wages. This helps not only the employee, but also the employer.

There are several variations of the 401(k) and depending upon your employer’s status as a small business, and their ability to fund a 401(k), you may operate under a SIMPLE 401(k), a traditional 401(k), or The Safe Harbor 401(k). All the plans vary as to their contribution limits, the employers required matching contributions, and the level of administration and IRS reporting that must be factored into the plan upkeep. Let’s take a look at each of the plans, and discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

The SIMPLE 401(k) is best suited for small businesses that have a reliable earnings stream. In other words, their cash flow and earnings level are fairly steady and reliable, and they want to establish an easily controlled method for providing for retirement funding. Quite often, many of the family members will participate in the 401(k) as a way to fund their own retirement, and offset some of the taxable income from the family business. The disadvantage in operating this type of retirement account lies in the fact that contributions made on behalf of the employee by the employer are not optional, and some form of contribution must be made each year.

The traditional 401(k) is the most often avoided plan by small to medium sized businesses, simply because of the massive reporting requirements, and the compliance testing that must be done each year. The administrative costs for the traditional 401(k) for a company of about 10 employees costs around $2000 per year to administer, and that doesn’t include the setup costs or the costs of loan features. In addition to the optional features costs, there is the cost of offering many investment choices. Most of the 401(k) plans for small businesses that were surveyed had a much better rate of participation as well as lowered plan costs when only a few options were offered, instead of 10 or more.

The compliance testing that must be done with the traditional 401(k) are quite complex, and require much involvement by the accounting or payroll department of the business. Today, many small businesses outsource their payroll function, and include the 401(k) plan administration as one of the outsourced functions also. The greatest advantage to the small business is that the business is not required to contribute to the plan, unless there is a significant imbalance in the contributions of the highly compensated employees versus the lesser paid employees.

The Safe Harbor 401(k) is a spin-off of the traditional plan, except for the fact that there aren’t all the compliance requirements and testing that must be completed each year. The Safe Harbor plan is best suited for the small business that has a steady revenue stream, and that is able to make a required contribution each year to the employee fund. The employer must make a 3% contribution to all employees who qualify for retirement funding, regardless of whether the employee makes a contribution; also, the employer contribution level for non-highly compensated employees must not differ more than 2% from the highly compensated employee contribution rate. In this manner, the employer is required to provide the same benefits for all employees, without all the compliance testing of the traditional plan. The Safe Harbor 401(k) is simple to set up, and can be accomplished within 30 days of the new year, and is simple to administer. The disadvantage to this plan is the required contribution rates, and if the business does not have a steady cash or revenue flow, it is not a recommended plan.

After examining the different plan options available for small to medium companies, there should be at least one that fits within any small businesses scope of operations. Providing retirement funding for small business family members, as well as all other employees is one of the greatest benefits a company can offer current and prospective employees.

Dassana Jayalath is the author of WebSuperTips newsletter. Download Free eCourse : websupertips.com Newbie’s Guide To Profitable Internet Home Business

Sunny, summer days are here. Looking for easy kid summer activity ideas? How about taking the sun itself and plan a fun summer activity for kids? The sun is our closest star and very important to us. The sun gives us light, warmth, energy and life.

I recommend the book, Sun, Our Nearest Star by Franklyn Mansfield Branley to read with school age children. The book explains why the sun is so important to us in a colorful and lively format. If you have Internet access, check out the dynamicsun.gsfc.nasa.gov/activities.html NASA Dynamic Sun web site.

Before we had clocks and watches, people used sundials to tell time. Make a simple sundial with heavy cardboard. Cut out an 18″ square of cardboard. To make the gnomon (the upward part of the sundial), cut out an 8″ square of cardboard. Cut out a ½” notch from one corner. Fold up the two sides ½” to make the flap. Fold the square in half to create a triangle shape. Tape the flaps of the gnomon to the center of one side of the large cardboard square.

To calibrate the dial, you ll need to orient the upward point of the gnomon to the south (use a compass). Observe the sundial every hour and mark a line on the cardboard at the edge of the shadow cast by the gnomon. Write down the hour next to the line. On the next sunny day, you can use the sundial to check the time instead of a clock! Make sure you keep the sundial in the same location each day.

Another fun activity is to make sun prints. You ll need dark colored construction paper and distinctive shaped objects such as keys, small toys, or cut out letters or shapes from black paper. Place them randomly on the colored paper and leave out in the sun all day. At the end of the day, the colored paper will have faded except for the areas covered by the objects. Finish by creating a sunny greeting card to give to someone special!

Try cooking with solar power! Make plum jerky with the use of the summer sun s heat. You ll need 2 pounds of fresh plums and ¼ cup of light corn syrup. Slice the plums thinly discard pits and place in large saucepan. Add the corn syrup and bring to a boil for 3 minutes. Pour this mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside to cool. Cover cookie sheets with clear plastic wrap and pour the strained puree to ¼” thickness. Let dry in the sunlight (can take up to 2 days in the sun). The plum jerky is done when it pulls off the plastic wrap easily. Kids love this healthy, homemade jerky!

Some other summer activity ideas for kids include playing “shadow” games such as tag or charades, create a baker s clay sun to hang in the home, and brew sun tea. And at the end of the day, go out and watch a beautiful sunset together!

As a mother, grandmother, and child development professional, Nancy Johnson, shares over 20 years experience working with children and planning activities on her website, Creative-Child-Activity-Notebook.com. Check it out for more school age creative-child-activity-notebook.com/ child activity ideas including learning, holiday, party, nature, and creative-child-activity-notebook.com/child-summer-activity.html summer child activity themed ideas.

Normally if you have a bad credit, it is quite difficult to get approval for a credit card. However, you can procure a credit card for people with bad credit in the United States. These credit cards are the unsecured credit cards, especially designed to help people like you, who have bad credit. With a record of bad credit history, you may not be able to secure an average credit card. An unsecured credit card would usually offer you a lower credit limit, and a higher rate of interest, but with a really bad credit history, you may still be unable to procure one.

Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit People

Many companies can help you out of your desperate situation by offering you unsecured credit card for bad credit people in the United States. They take out ads guaranteeing to approve your application for a credit card, even if you have a very bad credit. This is all fine, but you may save yourself a whole lot of grief by first reading between the lines, and going for the company that offers the best terms.

Do not accept the first offer that comes your way, just because you are desperate. This could land you in a bigger soup than you were in, to begin with. Check with a few companies offering you unsecured credit cards for bad credit. Go through their fees and charges, and other terms of agreement. Ensure that you do not land up paying more than you thought you would. Check out the kind of fees they charge. Reputed companies offering unsecured credit cards would probably charge an annual fee, and little else.

Check out the track record of the companies offering you unsecured credit cards with bad credit.

Unsecured Credit Card – A Sound Option

After sifting through all the confusion that the ads from the credit card companies create, obtaining an unsecured credit card with bad credit may be quite a sound option. Terms, such as, ‘non-prepaid credit cards for bad credit,’ and ‘guaranteed credit card approval’ are just promotional strategies, and you need to look beyond the hype.

Some companies may offer you unsecured credit card with bad credit in United States that come with a higher credit limit, but it may be a ‘shopping’ card – which you can use to purchase from a particular vendor, or a catalogue, only. It does not matter as long as you are able to shop for your needs, and that too with a higher credit.

Ensure you make timely payments on your unsecured card to enable you to improve upon your credit rating.

Click here to apply for

If you are or have been bankrupt you can still get a loan. Some lenders and other finance professionals, or your neighbors, friends, family and well-meaning but misinformed people would have you think that the minute you file that bankruptcy you’ll never have a car or a home in your name again.

That is just not the case. There are firms that actually specialize in giving loans to the bankrupt and those with other bad credit issues.

It may be that those who are bankrupt will have to wait until the bankruptcy case is dismissed or the creditors are paid to get a loan for a vehicle or residential property, but thats not always the case. A lot depends on what type of bankruptcy you filed.

If when you are bankrupt you filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy before you can get a loan you will have to wait two years. With a Chapter 13 bankruptcy the criteria, generally, for acceptance of a loan when having been bankrupt is that the creditors have been paid.

Since the type of bankruptcy determines how quickly and under what circumstances you can get a loan after you are bankrupt its important to know the various types of bankruptcy. Here are the basics.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is filed as a protection of your personal belongings and lets you start on the road to financial recovery while paying your creditors back systematically. If you have a loan or two or three when you go bankrupt you can still pay them back, on a schedule that you can afford. You don’t have to default.

To apply for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy youll need to gather your list of the people and firms to whom you owe money – your creditors. Youll need to present to the bankruptcy attorney a list of your assets and liabilities, and the property that will be – you hope – exempt from collection.

You’ll need to prove your income and your expenses, and a statement of what you intend to do about the debts that are secured. Your property, including any that is part of a secured loan when you go bankrupt, will be turned over to a trustee.

You, or your attorney, meet with the creditors, your list of exempt items is discussed and you tell the others how you will pay them back. They have 30 days to disagree. The creditors then have 90 days to talk with the court about you and your bills.

The reasons that the criteria for getting a loan when you’ve been bankrupt differs between a Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 is that in a Chapter 13 you keep your vehicle, your home and your other possessions.

It is possible that a potential lender, when considering you for a loan, could look askance at this type of bankrupt situation. You, unlike a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, chose not to give up your property to pay off your debts.

If the post bankrupt loan you’re seeking is for a home or vehicle it could be that the new potential lender will recall that in the last bankruptcy the lender who had your home as collateral didnt get it back when you failed to pay.

James Copper is a No Credit Check Loans Broker for Any Loans – any-loans.co.uk/no-credit-check-loans.shtml any-loans.co.uk/no-credit-check-loans.shtml

The word Essay is defined as “a literary composition on any subject.” Properly speaking, it is a written composition giving expression to one s own personal ideas or opinions on same topic. It should be good to remember that the word essay means, literally, an attempt. The essays you write at school are trial exercises or “attempts” to express your thoughts in good English.
Now, what are the points we should keep in mind for writing a good essay?

1) Unity-An essay must be a unity, developing one theme with a definite purpose. The subject must be clearly defined in the mind and kept in view throughout. Nothing that is not relevant to it should be admitted to the essay.

2) Order-The essay should follow a certain ordered line of thought and come to a definite conclusion. It should not consist of haphazard reflections put down anyhow. There should be not only unity of subject but also unity of treatment. Hence there is the necessity for thinking out a line of thought before beginning to write.

3) Style-the style of an essay should be dignified and literary. Slang, colloquial terms needed to be avoided in an essay. At the same time it is a mistake to make an essay an attempt of any fancy writing. The language and sentence construction should be simple, direct and natural.
The secret of clear writing is definitely clear thinking.

4) The Personal Touch-An essay should reveal the personal feelings and opinions of the writer. It should have its individuality in it. Strictly speaking, an essay is a written composition giving expression to one s personal ideas or opinions on a subject. If this personal touch is lost, the essay would appear to be colorless and devoid of any individuality.

To sum up, an essay must be a unity, treating in an orderly manner of one subject it should be concisely written and not too long, and the style should be simple, direct and clear and it should have individuality, or reflect the personal touch of the writer.

Three features necessary in a good essay are-1) suitable subject matter,2) proper arrangement and 3) adequate power of expression. Point 3 is applicable to most forms of writing like writing short stories, reviews, and reports.

Ishani Dutta is an educator who specializes in providing online tuition packages for Mathematics and English. For similar tips on different topics like pre-algebra, co-ordinate geometry, essay writing,english grammar, mailto: mailto:info@learningexpress.biz info@learningexpress.biz or go to: learningexpress.biz learningexpress.biz for online help

For many consumers the credit card has gone from being an item to use in times of an emergency or when cash is a little low at the end of the month to a form of payment that is used routinely for items that would normally have been paid for with cash. Unfortunately, the convenience that a credit card brings with it also allows an individual to rack up an enormous amount of debt without really knowing and at interest rates that are normally quite high. That’s where a low interest rate credit card can come in handy.

Most low interest rate credit cards are designed to be used by people that use their credit card regularly but don’t always make a large enough payment to pay off the monthly balance on the credit card. This leftover balance can create a rather large finance charge at the end of the month on a regular credit card with a higher interest rate. However, this isn’t the case with a credit card that applies a lower finance charge based on a cheaper interest rate.

When searching online for the best low interest rate credit cards don’t make the assumption that all credit cards are created equal. The fact is unless you spend a little bit of time researching to find the best credit card deal you may not end up with as low of an interest rate as you had initially planned. Just like any other purchase it is always wise to do some comparison-shopping even if it is only for a low interest rate credit card.

The best card should be one that offers both a low interest rate on purchases as well as cash advances. Many cards will offer better rates on material items that you purchase but heaven forbid if you make a withdrawal or obtain a cash advance using your credit card because in most cases the annual percentage rate or APR can sometimes be as much as 10 or 11 percentage points higher then the regular purchase rate.

A word of caution when comparing low interest rate credit card deals and offers. Always make sure to read the fine print. Some cards may only offer the lower interest for 6 months or for an initial balance transfer. What initially seemed like the best low interest rate credit card can suddenly turn out to be a credit card nightmare if you’re sitting on a large balance at the end of that introductory time period. In some extreme circumstances you may find that if you have $1000 or less on your credit card it qualifies for an APR of 11% but if the amount is $1001 or more then the charged interest rate could be as high as 14% in some cases as high as 16%.

As you can quickly see a low interest rate credit card can be very helpful but only if it truly meets your financial needs based on your spending and paying patterns. When searching for the best credit card that offers low interest rates be prudent and take a few extra minutes to make sure the credit card does what it actually claims.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of

Bratz have been a massive phenomenon in the toy industry for years. Now, with the upcoming Bratz movie, the brand is set to become, if possible, even more widely recognized.

However, there has been a debate for some time over the suitability of Bratz as a toy for young children. The argument has raged across the world, and has left parents and care-givers with an extremely difficult choice to make. Do they allow Bratz into their households or do they risk incurring their children s wrath by denying them the toy that everyone has .

MGA Entertainment will tell you that their dolls are aimed at the 8-12 year old market. Experience shows, however, that children of a much younger age, often only four or five years old are attracted to the brand.

Marketing Experts talk of a phenomenon, which they call Kids Getting Older Younger. They seem to believe that firstly this is a fact of the modern world, secondly it s not a problem and thirdly that they are merely reflecting this in their brands rather than in many ways being responsible for the trend. Regardless of blame, our children are more sophisticated than ever before. Even so, does the Bratz brand promote values that any parent would be happy for a twelve year old to experience, let alone a child of four?

From the outset, a word that you ll hear used time and time again in the marketing of Bratz is Sassy . Leaving aside, for a moment, that this is the toy industry s favorite euphemism for sexy , what does the dictionary tell us about the word sassy ? Impudent, improperly forward or bold, rude and disrespectful. Any child psychologist will tell you that doll play is an extremely important part of a child learning appropriate behavior for real life. Are these really the values we want to teach our children?

The blatant commercialism of Bratz also causes many parents to baulk. Children are taught by Bratz that the most important things in a girl s life are appearance, make-up, clothes, boys and dating. This encourages them to skip the important developmental stages of middle childhood and travel straight to the pre-occupations of an adolescent world, creating a new generation of good little consumers along the way.

Of course, it s not all bad. Bratz are the first fashion dolls to sell in any numbers that move away from the white and blonde clich of Cindy and Barbie, supplying dolls with a mixture of ethnicities. They also have slightly more realistic figures than their predecessors. Friendship is one value which is positive and is ever present in descriptions of the dolls.

However probably the biggest criticism made by parents of Bratz is their clothing. In the past, Bratz dolls have appeared in miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and feather boas. Of course, children will inevitably wish to copy. Whilst discussing this issue of the sexualization of young children, the American Psychological Association were heavily critical of Bratz. They stated that evidence showed that this kind of sexualization had a negative impact on a girl s self-confidence, body image, self-esteem, sexual development and mental health.

Of course, MGA Entertainment will tell you that it s up to the individual parent to decide if Bratz dolls are suitable for their kids. However, so called Children s Marketing Gurus have been teaching a different philosophy for a long time. They tell the toy companies quite simply not to worry about whether or not parents like their products. Just pitch at the kids, and let the nagging factor do the rest.

Whatever you decide to do as a parent, it s a tough choice. Good luck!

Duncan Conner is Managing Director of Bus Stop Toy Shop. Possibly the smallest toy shop in the world in the small Scottish town of Largs. He s also a big kid himself. Visit the Bus Stop Toy Shop website at:

busstoptoyshop.com busstoptoyshop.com

I have been here and done this far too often. You come in and tell me, “Ward, I just had to have the 50” big screen TV with the bit stereo”. Isn’t it funny how your partner does not see it that way? She figured a nice new $1,000 dress would be a better idea. It is like watching two super powers go at it. Only instead of a struggle to build the most bombs they struggle to see who gets their wants met first.

The results are the same, mutually assured destruction, or MAD. A world gone mad, it is true the only reason our economy works is because we spend everything we got and a little bit more. It is the reason for much of the suffering personally and in relationships. I have worked with singles, couples, and business owners to get their spending and debt habits into a healthier position.

Here are the highlights that can apply to all of us. When I was a child my mother told me she always had a secret account she kept for her mad money. I asked her what that was all about, and she told me that grown ups sometimes need to buy stuff just for the sake of having it. There was no real reason to it, it just was something that had to be done. I now think this is caused by careful marketing and sales pitches.

My mother would sneak some of her paycheck into this account. Now that I am an adult and talk to lots of people about their spending habits I would generally agree that for a lot of people they have a need to just spend money on some “trinket”. They can’t explain it any better than my mother could.

There are books that talk about breaking your pay check into percentages and having different accounts some for the mad money, bills, retirement, debt reduction, education, and whatever else you can think of. I used this technique for several years and quite liked it. My big problem was I did not spend any money except for just food and bills. I was convinced by a mentor to start spending some mad money and money on entertainment. It was a good idea, I enjoy working a lot more now that I know I will have some fun from it.

You see a lot of it depends on what your financial situation is now. If you have dug yourself into a hole of debt then the mad money account is going to be very small. The pay the bill account is going to be much larger. You need to have a balanced financial picture, when one side of your financial ledger is out of whack you need to correct it. Once your are in a more balanced financial picture you can start to increase your mad money account.

A balanced financial picture can look like this. You have enough money to survive for three months if you stopped earning money today. Most people keep this in a short term deposit, that way it does earn some money or you can use a secure line of credit on your house. Next, you have zero monthly credit card debt. I mean every month you pay all your credit cards debts off. Next, you have some money being set aside for retirement, holidays and mad money. Then the rest depending on your age is for school, daily bills and whatever else is in your life.

Whatever you need to do about your debt, do it! If you don’t get yourself to the position where you can have some mad money it can end up affecting your health and relationships. Be smart to be wealthy.

Did you find those tips on winthedebtgame.com debt elimination useful? You can learn a lot more about how winthedebtgame.com debt elimination can help you winthedebtgame.com reduce debt here.

Are high interests on debt consolidation loans driving you insane? If your answer is ‘YES’, then low cost debt consolidation loans are meant for you. As the name suggests, these loans can enable you to consolidate your debts and pay-off your repayments at a low cost.

Low cost debt consolidation loans are an easy way out to battle with multiple debts. You can pay-off these debts without any trouble. The principle behind debt consolidation is simple. It basically aims to make your various unpaid debts manageable.

Debt consolidation in essence implies the amalgamation of a gamut of debts under one single debt. Consolidation of diverse debts makes it easier for you to tackle your financial strain with ease. With debt consolidation loans, you can take control of your financial circumstances. The lenders negotiate with your previous creditors’ on your behalf. This in turn, eases your responsibility towards a number of creditors, making you now answerable only to one creditor.

Low cost debt consolidation loans can minimize not only the cost on the previous loans but also reduce the size of your monthly repayment. It can easily mould to your budget. It only leaves you to worry about single affordable monthly repayments at a low cost.

With debt consolidation you not only consolidate your debts but also eliminate your worries and concerns regarding loan repayments. It can also evade the issue of any missed payments or defaults as repayments are made on time.

It is recommended that you should indulge in an extensive research before you strike upon appropriate low debt consolidation loans. You can also navigate through various loan quotes that are provided by various financial institutions. This would facilitate you to enrich your knowledge about debt consolidation and to make the right choice. Before getting on with debt consolidation, it would be wise to be thorough with the terms and conditions of the concerned financial institutions. This would be beneficial to avoid any future confusion pertaining the repayment terms etc.

Even a tainted credit history can not forbid you to avail the benefits of debt consolidation loans. You can gain an assortment of benefits including chances to fetch better loan options in the future.

The whirlpool of debts can land you in financial crisis. Don’t be a victim of circumstances. Rejuvenate your finances with low cost debt consolidation loans.

Alex Jonnes is associated with Easy Debt Consolidations. He is Masters in Business Administration and writes on various finance related topics. To find Debt management, personal bad credit debt consolidation,