Entertainment is an important part of our lives. There’s virtually no one in this world who does not want to laugh or have fun among friends and family. Quality entertainment helps enliven the spirits and makes feel fresh and alive. The best entertainment suspends reality for a while and takes to a new place and leave behind all worries and troubles.So how much should you spend from your pocket for entertainment at your party or reception? In today’s world whatever we do, budget plays an important factor. Keeping this in mind, we should also plan for our budget when it comes to entertainment for a party or wedding reception.Always remember that the key towards entertainment is to get the maximum of enjoyment without spending huge amounts of money. Of course it depends on the type of entertainment option that you are choosing for. Going for a high profile party or some event in a five-star hotel will always and automatically cost you more than arranging for a small party at a friend’s place. Based on the type of event, you need to plan for the budget. Normally with a few hundred to thousand dollars you can easily organize an event with good amount of entertainment.Spending for an entertainment or event also depends on the number of people coming to attend it. For example, if your party has around 100 people, it may cost you $500-1500 to organize your party’s entertainment. The amount will increase if the number of guests increases to 500. The type of venue that you choose is also a major factor to ascertain your costs. Organizing a small party at your own home or a friend’s place will cost much less than a big venue or banquet hall.As music is an integral part of entertainment, most events and parties include some type of music performances. If your event is going to be more than 4-5 hours or you have a theme to the entertainment, you may have to shed some extra money. However, it will may make your party more exciting and enjoyable and be worth of the money that you are paying.Always keep in mind that paying extravagantly does not always make a great party. You have to spend prudently yet effectively.

The act of investing in, or spending money, time and effort on a business or some other things, in hope of making a profit, best defines investment. It could be Real Estate, Mutual Funds, Stocks, Foreign Exchange etc. Whatever it is, there are rules and guides to achieving success in investments, which, when adhered to, result in achieving much greater heights of success.Considering the huge amount of risks associated with most investments, it is of vital importance, to know the rules and guides first, irrespective of one’s financial status, before one could engage oneself in an investment of any kind whatsoever, in order not to be an object of pity, due to a mistake, of not going by the rules.According to experts, the Securities And Exchange Commission (SEC) of the United States, defines an individual as an Average Investor if the individual has $200,000 or more in annual income, $300,000 or more in annual income as a couple, or $1 Million or more in net worth. This established requirements by the SEC is to protect the average investor from some of the worst and most risky investments in the world. These investor requirements also protect the average investor from some of the best investments in the world, which is one major reason why, one has to be just more than an average investor.In as much as there are millions of desirous investors that fall below average investors, it would be unfair and discouraging, to always mention of Average and Rich Investors without the poor investors, each time matters of investments arise. After all, both started from the scratch. A gradual process that metamorphosed them into becoming what they are today. One does not have to worry himself, provided there’s life, there’s hope for the common man and lots of investment opportunities ahead. Hence, starting out in an investment with a minimal affordable capital, is highly recommended for the poor investor, and with prudence, little efforts, time, hope, faith and patience, desired goals would be achieved.The most important thing in investments is, one’s mindset. The mentally preparedness to cope with the great task associated with investments. Nothing good comes so easy in life! One has to ask oneself, a few important questions before embarking on a journey to investments. These questions are:1. Am I really determined to start out in an investment?2. What type of investment is suitable for me?3. How much capital do I have to start out in an investment?4. Should I invest solely or jointly?5. How much is my risk appetite?When one answers these questions correctly and still has desire to forge ahead in investing his money in an investment, then, he’s qualified for the next stage of success towards investment.The type of investment that suites one, is totally dependent on the already existing investment types- Real Estate, Mutual Funds, Stocks, Foreign Exchange etc., the amount of one’s capital, and one’s special interest in specific investment types. All this put together, constitutes a guide to enabling him know exactly the investment type that suites him.The amount of capital needed to start an investment depends on individuality, and the nature of the investment. Capital, shouldn’t be a major issue here, as there are investments- stocks, one can invest in with a couple of cents. Hence, capital is virtually irrelevant, when considering penny stocks. And should never be a discouragement from investing one’s money in an investment.Investing solely or jointly is totally one’s choice to make. Both investments exist. As a beginner, investing jointly is highly recommended. Considering the inherent risks in investments, which will always be shared, as it would, for the profit, amongst the investors according to individual’s amount invested, is ideally suitable for a good start. However, investing solely, is beneficial too. Even more beneficial, provided one has all it takes to stomach the risks in one-man investments. The investment profits from investing solely, will never be shared with anybody other than the sole investor, who takes it all. Hence, the decision is left for one to make, considering suitability and convenience.Though tremendous amount of risks are involved in most investments. The larger the capital invested, the larger the probable risks. Also, the larger the capital invested, the larger the probable investment profits depending on one’s approach to investment. It’s a matter of proportionality. The opportunity of becoming a Rich, Average, or Poor Investor lies directly at one’s door step. This is the final stage and guide towards a greater change in one’s financial status depending on one’s risk appetite. Hence, a bold step together with strict adherence to the rules and guides stipulated in this article, becoming a rich investor is guaranteed.

Health Care reform… “What does it do for me?” “Is it going to be free?” “Will there be waiting lines at doctor offices?” “What about rationing?” These are all legitimate questions and will be addressed over the next few weeks.Efforts to change the delivery system of health care in the U. S. goes back over 100 years. However, the most well known attempt at reform was as recent as 1994 during the Clinton administration. The overriding goal of reform debate has been to get all Americans insured and relieve the system of treating patients who had no insurance.Providers then would shift the cost (I.e. cost shifting) to those who could afford to pay out of pocket or who had insurance. Consequently, the well to do and insured Americans saw their costs of health care rise disproportionately over time along with the premiums for health insurance.Since the failure of the 1994 attempt at reform, the health care system introduced “Managed Care” plans. These plans offered discounts in premiums to steer insureds into certain blocks of providers. These plans had a number of different looks, but the most common in the West Texas area was PPO plans.Managed Care plans helped alleviate the cost shifting stress for a while, but failed to bring more uninsured folks into the system. Eventually, as the number of uninsureds rose, premiums were forced higher and higher until today where it is not unusual for a family premium to be more than a house payment.Most estimates say 47 million Americans are without health insurance today. The original goal of reform debate when it was seriously renewed in 2008, was to force that 47 million people into the cost sharing arena.By March 23, 2010, the result of reform provided only modest incentives for those 47 million to participate in cost sharing system. Rather, the result ended up as insurance reform.On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). On March 30, 2010, the President signed into the law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA), adding certain amendments to PPACA. Combined the two laws comprise health care reform.The end result of reform will not reduce costs. The primary focus intended to get those 47 million Americans in the system as participating financial contributors by forcing them to purchase health insurance or open the health insurance markets up to insure those with pre-existing health conditions.The incentives to get more people into the system include:-tax credits for businesses who offer and help pay for insurance
-penalties to individuals and families who do not buy insurance
-elimination of pre-existing health condition exclusions by health insurance carriers
-premium subsidy payments to individuals and families who could not afford insurance
-expansion of MedicaidThese mandates along with a host of other mandates will be phased in over the next seven years, with the majority required by January 1, 2014. It is on this date that subsidies, penalties, and adult pre-existing condition limitations begin. Other prominent provisions begin on that date as well:-State run “Health Insurance Exchanges” must be operating
-Policies may no longer include limitations on annual benefits
-Wellness programs begin
-Group plans will not be able to extend waiting periods for insurance eligibility beyond 90 days
-Employers must begin to “certify” coverage.Other mandates require insurance companies to install important provisions by September 23, 2010:-Dependent children, whether married or unmarried, student or non-student may remain as dependents until age 26
-Group health plans may not set lifetime maximum benefit amounts on “Essential Health Benefits”. The Dept of Health and Human Services will be determining what “Essential Health Benefits” are by September 23
-Children under age 19 who have a pre-existing condition must be “guaranteed issue”
-Insurance companies may not rescind health insurance policies except in limited cases of fraud or misrepresentation by an applicant
-A $250 payment will be made to Medicare Part D (prescription drug plan) beneficiaries as the first installment toward closing the “donut hole” by 2020.Health plans in effect on March 23, 2010, or collectively bargained plans will be exempt from certain requirements and will retain the “grandfathered” status until, as yet undefined, policy changes are made. The grandfathered plans must still abide by dependent children to age 26 and benefit limitation rules. However they will be exempt from other more significant requirements that will be addressed in later columns.Grandfathered health plan premiums will likely be less adversely affected than post-grandfathered plans which will have to conform to many mandates. Most experts believe health insurance on January 1, 2014, could be well over 75% higher than a similar policy today.Very small group plans may give way to individual plans of insurance because the structure of health care reform blurs the line of distinctions between the two.In the meantime prior to September 23, 2010, insurance companies will distribute updates to small group plan sponsors the following items:-Children can remain on parents’ coverage until age 26
-elimination of lifetime benefit caps
-35% tax credit for offering and paying all or a portion of group health planThe next article will focus on group insurance reforms with more detail about the effects on small
businesses.