Diamonds are forever. We’ve all heard that statement before about these precious gems but now they are starting to be perceived in a much different manner: Growing wealth.

When most people think of investments, they usually think of the usual assets such as real estate, stocks, bonds and even gold. But for the first time, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) was debuted by PureFunds that focuses solely on diamonds and gemstones.

More diamond based funds are currently in the works, and it was only a matter of time. In October of last year, the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) marked a 12 percent year on year increase making a record high of 182.6 points.

These are definitely strong indicators of the value of investing in diamonds and gemstones with the trend likely to continue. However, as with all investments there, are risks involved. The following are three things that you should know before considering a diamond investment.

1. Educate yourself about the basics

Not all diamonds are created equal. Prices vary based on a number of factors including quality, color and cut. Before investing, there are certain requirements that need to be met first. The first is being aware of resale liquidity and having your investment confirmed by a specialist.

Establishing relationships with a diamond specialist will also help to give you access to dealer prices and will keep you involved in the entire process.

2. Invest in certain types of diamonds

It’s important to make investments that make the most sense for you.  Having a budget and doing some research can help you decide how much money you would like to invest, and where you would to invest it.  Never go into investing without a plan or without being knowledgeable about what you’re investing in.

Initial investments can start with those as recommended by the Rapaport Group: 1.01 to 1.49 carats, D-H color, IF-VS2 clarity and with Excellent cuts. These are simply guidelines as your investment objectives will vary.

3. Keep yourself protected

All diamond investments need to be thoroughly inspected for its quality and to ensure that you are getting what you are paying for. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is an authority for grading gems and includes detailed reports of all characteristics of the diamond including its color, clarity, cut and carat weight.

It’s important that your diamonds are always graded by the GIA. These measures ensure the quality of your investment. If you are serious about diversifying your investments with diamonds, be prepared to do your due diligence. You should always be 100% certain of what you are investing in.

Chuck Stevens is an avid blogger always looking to share his experiences and recommendations. He has been a financial advisor for over 10 years. You can follow him on Twitter @chuckstevens12.

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The fast cash online lenders or the payday lenders come in as soul savers if you are low on cash. The name has been derived from the procedure which is followed with regards to the loan processing. That is, the fast cash lenders do not check with your credit rating. That quickens the lending process and it becomes easier for you to obtain a loan, even if you have bad credit, you can obtain a loan unlike the ordinary ones. The ordinary loans require you to have good credit and a good credit score.

What are the fast cash loans?

The fast cash loans are also known as the no credit check loans and in some cases as the payday loans. That is mainly because these Bad Credit Personal Loans Up to $5000 Now Available | PRLog do not require you to have good credit. The lenders do not make any credit check when you apply for the same. In case of especially the payday loans, you are required to pay back the amount borrowed after the next payday.

These loans come in handy if you fall short of cash in the middle of a month. There are no specifications on the purpose for which you can use the loans. You can use it for any purpose and as per your requirement. However, the amounts available under these loans are not too large to cover all of your expenses at the same time. In that case, you may have to take out more than one loan, so as to manage all of the expenses.

How are these helpful?

How are the fast cash loans helpful? That is mainly because these are available without credit check. As a result, you can benefit in two main ways, and two types of people can benefit from the same. One category is that of the people who have bad credit and cannot obtain loan in the general way. The other category is that of the people who are in instant need of money. So, the fast cash loans can be obtained in case you have bad credit or if you are in an emergency.

For example, suppose that you had applied for a loan which would be used as payments against home improvement. However, you application was denied and the cause is bad credit. In such a situation, you can get loans or a bad credit loan. Another example is that of an emergency. Suppose that you require quite a large amount for a medical condition within a couple of days. In such a situation, obtaining a personal loan is going to take time but the processing of a fast cash loan is going to prove to be faster.

However, there are some facts which you should be aware of before obtaining a payday loan. One is, as the lenders are not aware of your credit rating, the interest rate charged is quite high. Second is, the loan amount available is not too large. Third, in case of missed payments or default, the interest rates can outgrow your expectations. Therefore, you should never apply for more than what is required and try to pay down the debt within the stipulated time. Click here for more information.

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When retailers want to increase online sales, they will sometimes pay a commission to other websites which direct potential customers to their cyber store through a link. However, you can take advantage of this reward by using cashback websites.

Rather than keeping all of the profit, these sites give some of the proceeds to you, meaning you can save huge sums on digital purchases. Therefore, you should check whether you can click through to a company on a cashback site before going direct.

How can you save money?

Normally, you will receive a certain commission on each transaction you make. For example, you can currently receive 3.03 per cent cashback from the Debenhams website by using the link provided on Topcashback.co.uk.

However, you will sometimes be able to take advantage of lump sums. These are often provided if you sign up to a subscription service. npower is currently offering up to £100 cashback to new customers who sign up through Quidco.com.

Receive cashback on the essentials

You can get money back every time you spend on essentials, such as groceries, by becoming a member of a cashback website. Most supermarkets offer £5 to £10 to customers who order their first online shop.

However, you can also take advantage of cheaper groceries by going to your local store. Quidco’s ClickSnap has a range of different offers, such as 40 pence cashback on eggs, which you can claim by sending in a picture of your receipt.

Save money on financial products

If you’re on a debt management plan, it’s likely that you are looking to apply for a new bank account or switch your home insurance provider. Cashback websites can support these types of money-saving exploits further by allowing you to claim commission when you sign up.

However, make sure that the financial product is right for you before applying, and always calculate the overall cost so you can compare properly. Sometimes, it might work out cheaper to go with a company that offers a smaller cashback reward.

Get your hands on gadgets for less

Cashback websites often have fantastic deals on the latest gadgets, meaning that you can treat yourself or buy gifts for others for less. Since these items tend to be expensive, even a small commission can amount to big savings.

Special deals are often available on new mobile phone contracts – Tesco is currently offering up to £50.50 back on the Apple iPhone 5 through Topcashback. However, you can receive rewards on almost any item or service, from photograph prints to flat-screen televisions.

Enjoying days out on a budget

Research from Family Action shows that 44 per cent of British parents cannot afford to throw their child a birthday party. However, a larger proportion might be able to celebrate the special occasion without breaking the bank by taking advantage of cashback websites.

As a mum or dad, it might fill you with dread when your little one asks to go to the theme park or the cinema for their birthday, but just a few clicks on your computer could mean that the dent in your bank balance is less noticeable.

Families who visited attractions during the recent Easter holidays saved £35,000 on tickets through Quidco, so no matter what the event, accessing these websites before planning a day out can be extremely beneficial.

No purchase offers

You could profit from your cashback exploits, as long as you’re careful to read all of the associated terms and conditions. Getting cashback doesn’t always mean an initial outlay – sometimes making money is as simple as clicking a link.

On Topcashback, you can earn £1.51 for a car insurance quote application, secure 70 pence for filling in a survey, or receive £15.15 for signing up for a free LOVEFiLM trial. Look under the ‘Free Cashback’ section of the website for more deals.

If you download the Quidco mobile phone application, you can earn a few pence just for ‘checking in’ at nearby retailers using the GPS system. This money can soon stack up if you’re strolling down the high street.

Are cashback websites right for you?

Cashback websites are normally free to use, and they offer you discounts or commission on everything from loaves of bread and electricity bills to airline tickets and car tyres. It could therefore help you to save money in a wide range of areas.

However, you should always be cautious. You should still shop around, since you might not always get the biggest savings from a cashback site, and decide which deal is the best for you by calculating overall costs of a product or service.

Stef has worked through a debt solution plan with the help of Debt Free Direct, she now writes articles on money saving tips and advice to help people avoid getting into debt; or save money to pay off their existing debt.

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It is an interesting question really; do you think that you could do it? Putting a price on love is impossible, the perfect relationship is priceless. However, how much does it cost to be in a relationship?

There are many people that will have never have thought about this before. They will; not have considered that a relationship will cost any money at all, but in fact research has been done to show that it can cost a lot. Rate Supermarket looked at the cost of dates, holidays, engagement and wedding over a two year period and calculated that on average the total would be over $43,000.

This may seem like a lot of money and you may wonder whether it is actually worth it, with trying to keep another person happy and no guarantee that will end happily. However, kidding aside, it just shows how important it is to put away money from a young age. If you have to pay this out just for two years of a relationship, imagine what life will cost once there are children to support and a home to pay for. It is therefore worth thinking about getting some savings together really early.

If you want to be able to afford a mortgage or even just rent a really nice property, then you will need significantly more money than this. Therefore you will need to start saving up.

It can be difficult saving. Especially if you do not know what sort of future is ahead of you. However, there is a secure feeling in knowing that you have some money put away. Whether you will use it on a relationship or other things in the future does not really matter. Just knowing that it is there can really give you a good feeling. It can give peace of mind and then if you do have a bill or emergency where you need money. It will be there to help you. When you do start a relationship, then you can treat your partner to some really nice things or you can continue to save and get some things in the future. Obviously what you do with it, is up to you but unless you have it in the first place, you will not need to be making this decision.

Financial planning can sound like something that pensioners need to do, but actually the earlier we can get in to good spending and saving habits, the better. We will be much better off in the future if we can get used to be financially clever when we are younger and knowing the best way to handle our money. Then we will know how to use it to our best advantage when we are older and will be more likely to have more of it, when it comes to having to pay for the important things in life such as mortgages, weddings and children. It can seem a daunting prospect but learning financial lessons young can save a lot of hassle when you are older.

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Travelling by sea has evolved from being a means of getting from one land mass to another to become vehicles of leisure and travelling. Buying a boat is expensive and can take you a long time before you save enough. There are many financing options that can provide you with boat finance but you need to consider some things before picking on a lender who will give you a loan at the best rates and terms.

Do Some Research

Before you go for boat finance, you need to know how much money you will need. To do this, you need to know how much the boat you desire costs and how much you have saved so far. You can easily go online and research about the different types of boats and the asking price. Decide whether you want a new boat or a second hand one.

Many public and private companies out there will extend loans to at an interest. Each institution has its own rates and repayment terms that you need to find out and compare. Having an idea of what each lender provides is important because you will get to enjoy the best deal. The interest you pay on the initial amount will depend with the period of the loan, type of boat you are planning to buy, your credit status, collateral and more.

Nowadays financing institutions provide 24-hour customer support. If you feel that you need more information on a given product, you can access the helpline at any time of day and night, making it convenient for you. Ask the representative to give you more information about the advantages and disadvantages of various packages and whether the loan rate is static or it changes with time.

Come Up With an Estimate

Using the online loan finance repayment calculator, you can come up with the total amount of money you need to pay back. This is determined by the amount borrowed, the repayment period and the rate of interest. Calculation is easy because it can be done online at the click of a button.

Know Your Financial Status

The most important thing you need to keep in mind when looking for boat finance is your financial status. The lending organization will look into your repayment history to find out whether they can trust you with their cash. Having a source of income or a stable job gives you an upper hand. Take out a loan that will meet your requirements as well as allow you to repay the loan and interest without draining your earnings.

From this discussion, it is now clear that applying for boat finance needs to be done with careful preparation in order to get the best deal. Make sure you get a company that is trustworthy and has a good reputation.

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