Friendly Fired

This article considers the idea of peer support for people experiencing compulsory or voluntary redundancy. It includes a case study of a successful redundancy support group.

A redundancy support group is for colleagues who have been made redundant from an organisation at roughly the same time, although there is some fluidity in that some people may join and others leave over the lifespan of the group.

Many of the difficulties people face having been made redundant are practical and emotional. Peer support helps individuals to overcome both. The practical, in terms of supporting each other through the change with advice or ideas, the emotional by helping people through the loneliness, loss of confidence or motivation and, in some cases, anger. Emotional departure does not always happen at the same time as physical departure and the time lag can be difficult to cope with, causing a sense of isolation and possibly strong feelings of need for affiliation as well as rejection. Being able to maintain the connection with the company through other leavers can ease the transition.

Peer pressure helps individuals to move forward - it is quite common for people to lose their desire to get things done when there is nobody around to encourage them, or who rely on the outcome. At work we are often motivated by our desire not to let down colleagues or to appear unreliable. Peer support provides for this function.

The group can be made up of people in a range of ways. It may be open to any employees of an organisation that have been made redundant or are facing redundancy, people from a particular functional area within the company, or based on level of seniority. While some of the advantages of mutual understanding are lost if a group comprises people from different organisations, this situation still has the potential to foster a valuable experience for the members.

The pros and cons of each model are:

All Employees

Advantages * Few people leaving * Small, tight knit organisation

Disadvantages * People with different needs and issues may not be able to help each other well

Cut Back Credit Repair Solution

If you want to get out of debt, you need to cut back and start saving money. If you think you are going to get out of debt going on spending binges then you had better think again. Too many debtors believe once they are in debt it does not matter anyway so why not get what you want out of life.

The fact is you are taking advantage of your self in the process of taking advantage of others. If you do not have the money and scraping for every penny you can get your hands on, this is one thing, but if you have extra cash and your bills are due, what are you doing?

If you do not have the money to pay your bills then you are probably a low-income census. This means that you are eligible for commodities, income, items, and so much more.

You might want to start with your local Social Services and apply for Food Stamps, commodities, and income, including medial coverage until you get back on your feet again.

Do not go in the door believing this is your way through life, since Welfare is only a temporarily resource available to the low-income families. If you found yourself in a predicament and can't see a way out you might want to seek advice.

Find someone that you can trust to guide you through the process of credit repair, otherwise you might want to ask someone with a Debt Counselor qualified to assist you. Any Religious Organization or at least most Organizations that specialize in debt management or credit repair are the best sources to consult with.

If you can find a way to cut back on your situation all the better, since most businesses, companies, individuals, and so on will tell you "oh we know a way," do not go for that, go for you!

You got in the debt; it will take you to get out. When it comes to relying on others to help you out, you might as well hang up the phone because no one is at home. Life is too short to go through the remaining revolution without a hint of confidence. When you feel that confidence building inside your next step should be obvious.

Credit Repair

When you think no one cares, pick up the phone and dial yourself. You do care, and the fact is you care more than the creditors or collection agencies that are bugging you every day to pay or try to pay your debts. You are the source to getting out of your situation. Credit is an obstacle and if you want to run you are about to get yourself into a situation that you do not really need.

However, if you want to take the time and learn, earn, and ACCEPT, then you are on the road to recovery. If you are in debt over your head, do not run, rather stand up and fight for whom you are.

Now that we are on the road to credit repair I want to let, you know that the Internet and many other resources are confusion. Therefore, if you are in a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy obligated each month to pay more than you make...YOU do have the option of FILING Bankruptcy 13. DO not let anyone misled you!

The fact is if you are paying more than you can afford to bankruptcy seven courts, you can get a bankruptcy 13 in motion. Chapter 7 means you have to repay your creditors while Chapter 13 means all your debts are wiped out. Notice...

You will have a Chapter 13 on your credit report, but it does not mean that you cannot get credit. In October, the laws are changing so if you are in a position where you see no other resolve, now is the time to get out.

The economy, society and government make it difficult for all of us, so why not find a resolve when you can. If you do not see bankruptcy in focus find a way to cut back on your bills, groceries, home necessities, toiletry, insurance, and personal needs, and so on.

How to Save Money When Purchasing a Hearing Aid

Purchasing a hearing aid can be a difficult and unbudgeted expense. There are a number of things to consider to reduce the cost when purchasing a hearing aid. After all, most people don't really want to buy hearing aids, but they need to buy them because they cannot hear adequately without them. This page will provide you with the information and knowledge you need in order to save you money on a hearing aid.

The first thing to consider when buying a hearing aid is the average price of these products. It is hard to estimate the fees involved without knowing the severity of your hearing loss or certain features you may require. A reasonable price for a brand-name, digital hearing aid is anywhere from $1,700 to $2,800. If you think this is too much, there are ways to reduce this cost and ensure that you are paying the lowest price possible for your hearing aid.

A potential way to save money on your hearing aid is to check whether or not your insurance covers any part of the cost of these products. If your insurance policy covers even a small amount of the cost of your hearing aid, you are going to want to take full advantage of this. A number of insurance companies state they "cover hearing aids." Don't be fooled, this can sometimes mean it covers a certain amount (usually around $500) and it is your responsibility to pay the rest. Check your insurance policy before deciding on a hearing aid. Nonetheless, every little bit that you can save will make a difference.

Another thing to consider, when purchasing your hearing aid, is to check for support from local organizations. Check and see if you qualify for Veteran's Administration Benefits. If you performed military services and you can prove that your hearing loss is directly connected to these services, you may qualify for VA. If you are unemployed because your hearing loss is preventing you from getting a job, check with your State's Vocational Rehabilitation Department. This company may provide you the hearing aid you need in order to find employment. Civic organizations such as Lions International may also provide you with support to purchase a hearing aid. Check with any of these organizations (even if you're not sure if you qualify) because there's a good chance they may reduce the cost of your hearing aid. One of the most important factors in choosing a hearing aid is the warranty. The warranty will ensure that your hearing aid remains in good condition; otherwise, the manufacturer will repair or replace it for free. Purchasing a hearing aid without a warranty is like purchasing a car without insurance. Without a warranty, if your hearing aid breaks it is your responsibility to replace it and pay for a whole new hearing aid. Most hearing aids are covered for at least one year and up-to a maximum of two years. Many manufacturers offer extended warranties at a certain cost. It is important to read through and fully understand what the warranty or extended warranty offers and exactly what parts of the hearing aid are covered under the warranty.

How to Generate Leads on the Internet

In the last decade, the Internet has become a major commercial force. Not only do online sellers like Amazon.com have huge sale numbers, but nearly all successful businesses must utilize the Internet in order to stay competitive in the modern market. There are many ways that the Internet is used to generate leads. The most obvious way that a company uses the Internet to generate leads is by creating a website. Other Internet lead generation methods include taking advantage of search engines and doing co-registration.

The best way for a business to use the Internet for lead generation is to create and maintain a good website. This is true for several reasons. First, an attractive website will lure visitors in to find out more about the company. If the website is well designed and easy to navigate, visitors will have no trouble finding what they are looking for. It is important to have substantive information on the site as well. It is important to have answers to every question a casual visitor will have about the company and its products. It may also be advisable to have an online store portion of the website as well. This will help capitalize on the lead generation of the website by allowing visitors to purchase products directly from the Internet.

Another Internet lead generation technique is to correctly take advantage of search engines. The first few companies that appear when certain keywords are entered have a huge advantage over businesses appearing lower in the search results. In order to appear early in the search results, businesses must be sure to have web content that repeats important keywords often. For example, a skateboard shop should have words like "skateboard" and "wheels" and other related words appear several times on the website. It is also a good idea to include the names of particular brands as well.

Co-registration is a fairly new concept. This is when someone signs up for a particular service and is offered the chance to sign up for others at the same time. One example is registering to view a newspaper's website. At the end of the registration, the registrant could be asked to check a box if the want the newspaper delivered to their home. This capitalizes on people who are already aware of the product.

Modern businesses need to harness the Internet's power if they expect to be successful. Internet lead generation is a great way to improve business and find new customers.

Supplemental Health Insurance

Work-related stress is on the rise and according to Statistics Canada, the repercussions are numerous. Increasingly, individuals are finding that their job demands more of them- more hours, more flexibility, and more qualifications. The end result of such demands is more stress, and people are having a hard time coping with it.

Many individuals respond to workplace stress by working more. Attaining a sense of security in your job or receiving the praise that you deserve often requires that you exert more energy in order to differentiate yourself from the rest. Consequently, longer hours at work leaves less time for family and social responsibilities, thus adding to the list of stressful factors. For some, it may begin to feel like a vicious cycle that they are powerless to stop.

Enduring the difficulties of workplace stress can be more destructive than we may think. According to Statistics Canada, people suffering from high stress tend to develop chronic conditions such as arthritis and back problems. People�s minds and bodies do have a breaking point. As a result, thousands of Canadian workers are seeking help from specialized doctors and other non-conventional medical practitioners whose fees can become a financial burden.

Provincial health plans vary according to one�s province of residence, and not all plans are equal when it comes to coverage. Spending time talking to a trained psychologist can be beneficial, but can cost $120 and up for one 45-minute session. Unfortunately, regardless of the emotional benefit, a psychologist�s services are not covered by the Canadian government health plan. Many Canadians are avoiding these costs and easing their level of stress by purchasing supplemental health insurance to cover these extra services. Psychiatrists, physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, Osteopath, Naturopath, Chiropractors, podiatrist and other types of therapists all have coverage in many supplemental health insurance plans.

Plans vary and can be customized to fit individual needs. For example, the extended health care benefits of Flexcare would include coverage for the fees of a psychologist or an approved social worker. The benefits would cover an $80 maximum for your first visit and a $65 maximum for subsequent visits, with a limit of 10 visits per anniversary year.

An unhealthy work environment, competition and extraordinary long hours at work are worrisome factors that rarely go away on their own. In order to alleviate workplace stress, some people will consult a naturopath or visit a massage therapist whose costly charges can be covered by supplemental health insurance. The purchase of supplemental health insurance provides individuals with a variety of options, a sense of ease and a decrease in overall stress.

Consumers, start your engines. There is still time to get a

With interest rates still at historical lows, buying a new car is an attractive option. Even though the Feds have raised the interest rates several times over the past eighteen months, they are still lower than they were in the 90s and are certainly at a favorable rate for great financing. Someone with good to excellent credit who is looking to purchase a new vehicle should do so now, before the rates go higher.

The sale of cars in the U.S. remains very strong, despite an overall decline in many sectors of the national economy. Even the red hot real estate market has started to trend downward, but the sale of automobiles continues to speed on. With the threat of more rate hikes, the cost of the recent hurricane disasters, rising unemployment and inflation, the continuing high car sales are an important gauge of consumer confidence. However, recent indicators show that that confidence is falling, making the last quarter of 2005 the time to purchase a new vehicle, before the beginning of a new year and a very uncertain future.

Along with the low interest rates is a new buyer incentive program, which has been seen all over the television this Summer. Certain car manufacturers have been offering their "employee discounts" to the general consumer. In other words, the discounted price paid by an employee of the car company has been passed on to the general public. This has been very successful, resulting in an upswing in car sales so substantial that the offers have been extended. These are American companies offering this type of saving. Foreign cars, Japanese in particular, traditionally sell well without incentive programs.

The end of the year is typically a good time to buy a new car anyway. From September on, dealerships are trying to clear off their lots to get ready for a new shipment. This, along with the current low rates and incentives, makes this time a great one for buying. Business for car dealerships tends to slow down around the holidays, making for extra consumer leverage in getting the perfect deal.

Travel Insurance - Do I Really Need To Buy Cover For A Holiday

Last week my wife and I booked a seven day holiday in Tobermory on the wonderful Isle of Mull. All that grand scenery with brightly painted houses clustered around the harbour. Hands up who knows Tobermory as Balamory!

You could have knocked me down with a feather when the travel agent assumed that I wanted travel insurance for an additional �27.50. Not on your Nellie the Lock Ness monster, I thought. I can spot a rip off when I see one! Who needs insurance for a trip to another destination in Britain? The NHS is free and in an emergency, my daughter could drive up and take us home.

Later in the comfortable setting of my lounge I got to thinking .......

Holiday disasters don't only happen abroad. So I made a list of the risks:

One of us could be taken ill before we depart and we'd be forced to cancel. As the ferries and the hotel were non-cancellable, we'd lose everything we'd paid.

My parents are getting on. God forbid, but I'd have to cancel the holiday if something happened to them just before we're due to go.

My wife or I might be called up for jury service.

There may be a major delay at the ferry. Besides the inconvenience, we have to arrange an overnight stay in Oban.

Someone might steal our luggage

I've just bought an all singing and dancing camera especially for the trip. I might lose it.

If either of us were hospitalised we wouldn't want to be stuck on Mull. We'd want to be transferred to our local hospital in Cheshire.

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Then it struck me that my Home & Contents insurance would probably cover me for loss of luggage or my camera if I was travelling in the UK. I dug out the policy. Lucky I checked. I was only insured for "personal possessions" if the items were listed and as I'd only bought my camera last week I hadn't got round to getting it documented on my policy as a valuable item.

Another point struck me. If I made a holiday related claim on my Home & Contents policy I'd lose my no claims discount. That didn't appeal one little bit. I've a ten years claim free record on my H&C policy and it still cost me �305 a year. I jotted down a note to self - when that policy comes up for renewal, check out the Internet to see if I could get it any cheaper.

By now �27.50 for a travel policy was beginning to look worthwhile.

But you'll realise I'm a bit of an old skin flint - at least my wife says so! I know, get online and check out whether the travel agents' policy at �27.50 was competitive.

Not all the sites I visited could offer me single holiday insurance within the UK but within ten minutes I'd found what I wanted - a travel policy and a saving of over �10!

Time to read the small print to make sure I truly had the cover I needed. Great, all the risks I had jotted down were covered. They'd even pay me �30 if my ferry was delayed for up to 12 hours and then give me the option to cancel my trip and get a refund.

Now check out the exclusions - what wouldn't they pay for? I wasn't covered if my holiday was for less than two nights or if my holiday destination was less than 25 miles from home. I also had to pay the first �30 of any claim. All seemed fair to me.

The decision was made. Key in my credit card details and CLICK I was insured. Peace of mind restored!

About the author: Michael writes for Brokers Online who offer most UK financial services including t ravel insurance Travel Insurance Topics