How Drinking Can be Good For You

Alcohol has often been addressed as the ‘Wet Devil’ and deemed dangerous for health. 

But little do people know that alcohol consumption can have some surprising health benefits as well. The following article will illustrate the benefits of drinking.

Wine

1. Recent research has proved that drinking red wine helps in sleeping properly. Red wine essentially helps in producing melatonin. It is an antioxidant that not only helps regulate the sleep cycle, but also prevents cancer and aging.

2. Resveratrol, an essential component in red wine, helps in building immunity against diseases and helps one live longer. Not only that, it also helps prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also known to reduce inflammation, lower LDL cholesterol and improve overall physical health.

3. A glass of red wine has enough resveratol and antioxidants to reduce the risk of heart ailments.

4. Red wine is known to reduce chances of lung cancer by 13%; prostate cancer by 50% and breast cancer in women by 12%.

5. The chances of catching a cold are reduced by 44% with the moderate daily consumption of red wine.

Beer

1. Beer aids in proper bone health with its high silicon contents. Studies have shown that daily consumption of beer helps develop good bone density.

2. Beer accounts for a 31% reduction in cardiovascular risks. Daily consumption helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels and keep the arteries clean.

3. A man drinking beer has 40% less chances of developing kidney stones than non-beer drinkers. It is presumed that the high water content in beer keeps the risk of kidney dehydration away and prevents stone formation.

4. The risk of developing diabetes with a moderate but regular consumption of beer is reduced by 25% mostly because beer increases insulin sensitivity and regulates blood sugar levels.

Vodka

1. It acts as a sleep inducer and helps in relaxing the mind and reducing stress levels.

2. It is the most effective household disinfectant and was often administered to clean wounds. Its antiseptic properties remove toxins from the skin and help kill germs.

3.The alcohol content in vodka is effective enough to take latent heat off the body when externally administered during fevers.

4. It aids in proper heart health, reducing harmful cholesterol levels, and reducing hypertension and keeping cardiovascular troubles at bay.

5. Regular but moderate consumption calms the brain and reduces the risk of dementia, neural troubles and Alzheimer’s.

6. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent and has proven results in curing osteoporosis and arthritis.

Alcohol consumption does have its health benefits, but these only reflect when the consumption is moderate. Over-consumption and drinking with no holds barred is capable of causing more harmthan good. So alcohol connoisseurs are advised to exercise caution.

Make the most of your down payment!

A dream that most of us nurture when living in a rented accommodation is purchasing our own house. When you cannot provide cash up front, a home loan is the next possible way of making the purchase.

Normally, lenders (banks, financial institutions) would require some amount to be paid upfront as a 'down payment' because normally banks do not offer a '100% loan'. A 'down payment' simply put is the difference between the purchase price of a property and the mortgage loan amount. It underlines the buyer's commitment to complete the deal and indicates the buyer's fidelity in making the loan payments.

The system of down payment exists because:

• It indicates the borrower's credit worthiness
• The amount of real investment a borrower has in their purchase, and their commitment to continue to make payments regularly are linked
• It acts as a sort of insurance for lenders, since borrowers know that if they default on their loan; they will not only lose the property but their down payment as well
• It ensures that the buyer (borrower) has some stake in maintaining the property
• It ensures that banks are protected from fall in interest rates since the amount that they lend is lower than the market value of the house. Therefore, if there is a fall, they can still recover the losses

Here are some important facts regarding down payments:

Amount of down payment: Normally, down payments range from 15% to 20% of the total value of the property. For e.g., If a property costs Rs. 20,00,000, and if the down payment required by the lender is 20%, then the down payment will be Rs. 4,00,000.

Limit of the down payment: There is no set upper limit to the amount you can pay as down payment — it all depends on how much cash you can manage to set aside. The more you are able to pay as down payment, the lesser the amount of loan taken from a bank, resulting in easier monthly payments or shorter loan tenure. Try to put down a sizable amount of down payment.

Age of the property affects down payments: The older the property, the more apprehensive banks are to finance them. This increases the amount of the down payment required. Look for properties, which are not very old in case you do not have the resources to pool in a more than 20% as down payment.

'Zero-down payment' loans are not necessarily helpful: Banks might offer you a 'zero -down-payment' loan based on good credit history. Typically, zero-down-payment loans are offered for smaller homes and are hard-to-get and hard-to-qualify. Moreover, 'zero down payments' mean that you are borrowing more, making your monthly installments higher and defaulting on even a single payment might initiate foreclosure proceedings against you.

Down payments do not include miscellaneous costs: Down payments normally do not include costs such as property taxes, registration charges, transfer charges and stamp duty costs. Most banks include these costs in the total loan amount.

In case you are wondering how you would arrange the down payment, here are some tips:

Plan early — The earlier you start planning to buy a house, the sooner you can come up with the down payment amount.

Save every month — Regular savings go a long way in building up a sizable down payment amount.

Borrow from parents/relatives - It's not unusual for parents or relatives to help with the down payment.

Apply for a personal loan —Based on your cash flows, you could apply for a personal loan for the down payment. However, considering the high interest you need to shell out, it's advisable to liquidate some of your assets that you own instead of opting for this.

Save from tax refund - Add your tax refunds to your fixed deposits in a bank.

Try pledging securities -Try to see whether pledging fixed deposits, insurance policies or shares are considered against making the down payment.

Look for straightforward solutions: Try asking for a raise or getting a higher paying job.

SKG

http://wikimapia.org/18296302/Mr-R-Gurumurthy-House-Lakshmi-iIlam-1981

Smart ways to retire in style

All of us at some point want to ‘die with our boots on’, but as we all know this may not happen, and  we might be required to hang our boots and call it a day. This  could be due to various reasons such as ill-health, lack of opportunities / stamina, inability to compete  etc., It is better to plan ahead and ensure that we stay financially stable and independent in our latter years, 

Retirement planning – The Need!

A recent survey indicated that 80% of the working Indians do not have a retirement plan. Planning for retirement has become important since longevity has increased, while the number of working years hasn’t. Although your employer, out of concern has planned for your pension by means of the contribution towards provident fund, it would relatively be a much smaller amount when you actually get the payouts, due to the discounting factor. 

The increasing rate of inflation makes it evident that things could only get dearer by the day, and it is the most important reason to plan well for the retired years. .  During the earning years, investors are game for risks, and to attain about a 15% average return may seem practical but as you approach retirement age, wealth preservation strategies are replaced by wealth  accumulation strategies. It is prudent to make your money work harder for you during the earning years.

What you see is not what you get!

Although, today you may be spending a modest Rs. 20,000/- per month on groceries, utilities, transport and all the other mandatory aspects, the picture could change drastically over the years. Deducing an appropriate corpus should involve a detailed study of various factors - Current Household budget (excluding temporary commitments, loan liabilities), Inflation rate (till retirement and post-retirement), Rate of return on the investment, life expectancy (average Indian lives till 85 Yrs), medical contingency and so on.  

Although all this analysis appears quite a task and the parameters could leave one’s head spinning, the whole thing can be understood with a simple example. 

Current Age    30 Yrs

Preferred Retirement    55 Yrs

Pension as of Today    Rs. 20,000 / month 

Corpus Required    Rs. 2 Crore

The corpus required is arrived with assumptions on life expectancy – 85 Yrs, Inflation – 6.5% and Rate of Return – 10% (post-tax). The requirement set should be realistic and hence one needs to do a reality check by visualizing what could be the plausible requirement at that point of time in future.

Investment avenues

A part of the corpus will be brought in by means of your Provident / Pension Fund (if any) and the balance can be planned by means a variety of options ranging from low-risk avenues – Fixed Deposits, Traditional Insurance plans, Income / Money Market funds, Fixed Maturity Plans etc., One can also invest partly in Equity oriented avenues – Balanced Funds, Diversified Equity Funds, Equity Linked Debentures, Unit Linked Insurance Plans, Capital Guaranteed plans etc.. However, approaching retirement years, one should limit direct exposure to equity.. It is suggested that one should not have more than 30% of exposure into equities at retirement.  A rental income yield post-retirement, is a good proposition, since it provides a regular income. 

The Reverse Mortgage concept is still in nascent stages in India, while it is a widely used instrument in the US, Canada and Australia, by the elderly to derive cashflows from their own house. In reverse mortgage, the retiree can pledge a property that they already own (with no existing loan on it). The bank in turn gives you a series of cash-flows for a fixed tenure. 

The homeowner's obligation to repay the loan is deferred until the owner dies; bank bears the risk that the outstanding will exceed the market value of property then and will not ask for the difference from the heirs.

Few parameters are to be kept in mind while choosing the avenues for retirement planning – 

•    Overall post – tax returns generated by portfolio should be higher than the average inflation rate, 

•    Choose plans which have lower fund management charge,; given that this is a long term goal, mutual funds may turn out to be expensive than other options available around. Hence, a balanced approach would do the trick and maintaining risk profile at ‘Moderate’ levels would be vital. 

•    Although Annuity plans are a preferred plan amongst investors, what one often overlooks is the fact that the payouts from a pension plan will be taxed. It makes more sense to opt for a plan which works to provide for annuity but would not attract taxes during payout.

Planning for contingency and medical (both self and family) becomes vital at an older age, hence if you are above the age of 35 years, voluntarily plan for your medical contingencies (despite your existing company cover), and consider plans which will cover you lifelong.

It is important to ensure that financial independence does not elude you post retirement.

Top 7 money saving motivations

No one says no to a bulkier bank account, so say a big “hello!” to our list of money saving motivations. In the current economic climate many of us are feeling the pinch, so here are seven handy ways to boost your bank account:

Money saving motivation 1: Create a spreadsheet

Instead of constantly trying to work things out in your head and making rough estimates on how much money you have left for the month, make things a whole lot easier by creating a spreadsheet.  At first glance, these can seem a little daunting but it’s really easy once you get used to it and there are many free spreadsheet websites online which work out all the sums for you. By having your outgoings on a list in front of you, you can identify what you’re saving on and what you perhaps need to cut back on.  

Money saving motivation 2: Avoid shopping when you’re feeling emotional... or hungry

You’re feeling a little down in the dumps but you need a new work shirt... bad idea. Turn around, get back inside the house, lock the doors, and ask someone to hide your keys right now – if you’re feeling emotional there’s a high chance you will end up splurging on stuff you don’t really need to give you a quick happiness boost. After spending five minutes looking for a shirt, you return with a few tins of paint to re-vamp the house, a new wardrobe of clothes, and a mop for the kitchen floor, but the new work shirt is nowhere to be seen. Whilst these spur-of-the-moment purchases may uplift your mood for an hour or two, the initial high will soon wear off and you’ll be left feeling worse as you realise you’re left with nothing more than a few bargains and an empty bank account. For a thriftier approach to shopping, go when you’re in a pretty good mood and – whatever you do – don’t shop for groceries when you’re hungry.

Money saving motivation tip 3: Surround yourself with exciting hobbies and positive people

Rather than spending money on takeaways and meals out to cheer you up after a long hard day, identify other things you like doing that will boost your mood instead of spending money. Arrange some fun things to do with family and friends around your house or take up a new hobby such as gardening or crafts. We often end up spending more when we’re bored, emotional, and/or lonely so plan a film night with your family or buy a few ingredients from the grocery store and try cooking something you’ve never made before. 

Money saving motivation 4: Save little and often

It’s a common mistake to think that you can’t start saving because you don’t have much money, but that’s like saying you won’t go on that one hour run because you don’t have the whole day off to exercise – it’s counterproductive and unrealistic. Experts advise that the best way to boost your bank balance is by taking the ‘little and often’ approach to saving. Rather than putting a lump sum of your month’s wages into a savings account and leaving very little to live off for the rest of the month, just put a small amount away as often as possible and the money will mount up without you even noticing it. The more you see your bank balance rising, the more you will want to keep adding to it. Go on, try it – it’s addictive.

Money saving motivations

Money saving motivation tip 5: Put some money aside for pleasure

It’s important to treat yourself occasionally to avoid getting frustrated and spending all your savings at once, so make sure you include a little “happy time” money in your budget to treat yourself every now and again. Do you want a new television for the living room? Save up for one. Fancy a small break somewhere nice? Save up for it. Once you’ve saved up for something and reached your target amount, you’ll feel much better than you would if you spent money that you didn’t really have in the first place.

Money saving motivation 6: Read a finance blog or make your own

Personal finance blogs are becoming an increasingly popular form of inspiration for many people; they can encourage you to save and adopt good financial habits in the process. It’s also really interesting to take a sneaky peak into the lives of other people and see what they enjoy the odd splurge on. If you’re feeling really brave, you could create your own finance blog to share your own tips and advice with others. This will not only help you to network with other people in the same financial mindset as you, but it will encourage you to save more so that you can feel extra proud of yourself when you share how well you’re doing with others.

Money saving motivation 7: Get support

If you’re really feeling the pinch and you need advice, don’t feel ashamed to seek support from others. You may feel like a little fish in a big pond when it comes to finances, so seek advice from a financial expert who will have a lot of experience dealing with problems like yours. Your financial adviser will come up with a realistic plan to help you sort out any money difficulties. 

Improve Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

Be it UPA, BJP or any other acronym at the Centre, petrol prices will again head northwards. We can only feel helpless in the face of recurring and economy-driven price fluctuations.  Seeking measures to improve fuel economy is the only way to combat rising fuel prices. Do not disregard these simple guidelines; each little step can really start adding up to significant savings to your budget.

Do Fuel Quality/Types/Additives Help Mileage?

Petrol pump attendants often try to convince you to go for 'Speed petrol' or 'X-tra Mile diesel'. But this need not necessarily help improve your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Always use the grade recommended for the vehicle by the manufacturer. Higher octane fuel may not only be a waste of money but may harm the vehicle, as well. However sticking to one brand of fuel is always good for the engine. Know more about Octane Ratings

Keep the Windows Closed

Driving with your windows open considerably reduces mileage, far more than keeping the AC on while driving along highways. So preferably keep the windows closed and the AC on if you want to keep cool. Of course the air-conditioning decreases fuel efficiency considerably, so use it judiciously.Windows down or A/C on — which is more fuel-efficient?

Refill in the morning/late evening

During these times petrol is densest. Keep in mind - fuel pumps measure volumes of petrol, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement". [viaHowToAdvice.com]

Check Tyre Pressure

Keeping the tyres well inflated is one of the simplest things you can do to help improve your car's fuel efficiency. You can improve the mileage by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tyres inflated properly, according to the DOE.

Lighten Your Load

Empty out your boot of unnecessary items. For every extra 45 kg you carry, your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2% in a typical vehicle.

S-L-O-W D-O-W-N

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Driving within the speed limit recommended by the manufacturer helps save fuel. Driving just 5mph over the speed limit can affect fuel economy by up to 23%. Likewise, quick acceleration consumes too much fuel; accelerate slowly and gradually.

Tune Your Engine

A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to 4%. So change your oil and follow your car manufacturer's recommendation on servicing.

Clean the Air Filters Regularly

Air filters keep impurities from damaging your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve fuel economy by as much as 10%.

Don't Be a Clutch-Driver

Never keep your foot on the clutch while driving. When you do this, pressure is being placed on your clutch, and it not only reduces mileage, but also wears out the clutch plate, replacing which is not cheap.

Keep the Car in Showroom Condition

It's always prudent to keep the car in the showroom condition. Remember that any modification to the car, such as broad tyres, diffusers etc., will adversely affect the mileage.

Got another tip?

I'm sure there are more tips that you have tried and found to be productive. Please share them with others, too.

What To Do If You Lose Your Wallet

Having your wallet get lost or stolen is certainly a distressing event. Following several precautions as a general rule in case of loss or theft can help to minimize the damages in case this unpleasant event happens to you. If you do lose your wallet, you should also take quick action so that you'll suffer fewer repercussions.

Cancel Your Credit Cards

To minimize thieves' opportunities to use your cards and rack up charges, you'll want to be particularly proactive when it comes to canceling your credit cards. Even though you may not be required to pay fraudulent charges that are made with your cards, you do have a responsibility to report the cards missing or stolen as soon as you realize that they're gone. Call the phone numbers for all of your credit card providers and report it to them. Remember to call the providers of your retail credit cards as well as your major credit card providers.

Report It to the Police

If you do find that fraudulent charges have been made on your card, you will definitely want to call the police immediately. Fraud is a criminal offense, and the police can take steps to intervene if someone is currently attempting to commit fraud with the use of your credit cards and personal information. Reporting the missing wallet to police is also wise in case your wallet happens to be turned in by an honest citizen. Be sure to get a copy of the police report as well. You may need the police file number when reporting the incident to other agencies.

Contact Your Bank and Insurance Companies

You definitely want to let any financial institutions and insurance companies you deal with know that your wallet's been stolen and that your personal information has been compromised. Your bank can note the incident on your account and help you to close any accounts that have been affected. You should monitor your bank accounts closely in the weeks and months that follow to ensure that your accounts are not being used without your knowledge. Also, you will need to change your PIN as soon as possible if the thief has somehow obtained it. Your insurance company may also provide some kind of protection against identity theft, so you should alert them to the incident as well.

Contact the Credit Bureaus

It is especially important to contact the credit bureaus if your credit information or your Social Security card was in your wallet, because you don't want to be the victim of identity theft. Thieves can use this information to obtain new credit cards in your name, thus damaging your credit rating in the process. The primary credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and Transunion) can place restrictions on your credit record so that if anyone attempts to apply for credit using your information, the creditor will have to contact you first to verify that it is you who is making the application.

Replace Your Identification

Since most people tend to keep their driver's license, health insurance information and a variety of other forms of identification in their wallets, you'll need to obtain new copies of all these documents. Report the loss of your driver's license to the Department of Motor Vehicles and obtain a new card. If you have any other forms of identification that were present in your wallet you'll need to obtain new copies of these documents as well. Government documents typically require you to go through a formal application process where you will have to provide proof of identity. The type of identity required depends upon the type of document you'll be replacing, so you should check with your state's guidelines on this. For this reason, it's a good idea not to carry all forms of identification in your wallet at the same time.

Take Stock of the Contents

Write a list of everything that was in your wallet. You probably have a number of store loyalty cards, membership cards and rewards cards. You can contact these card providers and ask them to issue new cards or membership numbers so that whoever has your wallet can't use them. Keep in mind that some cards may operate similarly to a credit card - such as a library card. Someone who obtains your wallet illegally can use your library card to borrow items from the library under your name, which you'll later be responsible for.

Before You Ever Leave Home

There are a number of things you should do before you ever leave home in order to ensure that if your wallet is lost or stolen that the process will be much less of an inconvenience. First and foremost, remove all unnecessary identification and store it in a safe place. Don't carry your Social Security card with you. This card makes it far too easy for dishonest people to take advantage of you. Also, remove any store credit cards that you rarely use. This way you won't have to report as many missing cards. You should also make detailed lists of the items you typically carry in your wallet, including card numbers and phone numbers to call should your card go missing. Making photocopies of cards and identification can make quick work of this process. Just bear in mind that you'll need to store copies of this information somewhere secure as well.

The Bottom Line

Being the victim of theft, any kind of theft, is stressful. Be smart about what you carry around in your wallet so that you can avoid unnecessary stresses. You should also keep your records at home complete and up-to-date so that you won't have to search all over the house for the documents and information you need to make all your reports and to obtain replacement copies of your lost identification. Keep in mind that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The more you do to prevent theft, the less likely it is to occur. Carry your wallet in a safe place - a pocket or inside a purse that's not easily reached into. Close any zippers and buttons to ensure that your belongings are as well concealed as possible. It only takes a few extra moments to put things away carefully, and those few seconds of time could save you hours of heartache and inconvenience in the long run.

The other way to make good money

With increasing income, investments other than equity, fixed income and gold are gaining popularity, especially with high net worth individuals. The reason they look at alternative and exotic investments is diversification and increasing returns. While alternative investments also have the potential for substantial capital appreciation, often in excess of traditional investments, they have a larger probability of collapsing too, increasing the risk. However, some alternatives, such as commodities can hedge your portfolio in a market crisis.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

While almost anything that has tangible value can qualify for an alternative investment, a couple of ideas have become very popular among investors in the last 10 years.
Private equity funds are one of the most popular alternatives in India, with hundreds of domestic and foreign funds available to the Indian investor. PE funds are essentially a pooled vehicle for investing in unlisted emerging companies that have substantial growth potential, as opposed to mutual funds that invested in listed and more mature companies. PE funds take large stakes in their companies and often play an operational role and bear higher risk than equity mutual funds. Because of the additional risk, they should provide substantial additional return, 25-30 per cent a year, where listed equities return 15-20 per cent. Among financial assets, hedge funds—alternative strategies that use instruments such as commodities, currencies and equity derivatives to generate returns uncorrelated to the market—are also now finding favour in India. Film funds are also another unique asset class—pooled vehicles investing in selected film projects—and a number have already been launched and gained investor traction.

Among physical assets, wine is an asset that has been recognised as an asset class of its own, with the London International Viners Exchange setting up a benchmark for wine that tracks the top 100 wines. Wine, either bought as individual bottles and stored in cellars, or in the form of wine funds managed by a professional (available in the US and UK), has typically returned 10-15 per cent annually over the years, comparable to the performance of global equities. The return of course has varied greatly by fund and bottle vintage. A broader asset class of collectibles, such as stamps and coins, has also found favour with investors. Coin investing—picking up rare coins from around the world that have unique aesthetic value and will appreciate—is popular as investors look at coins in gold, silver, and other precious metals. Stamp collecting—collecting postage stamps that will appreciate over a 15-plus year period, has a 100-plus year history as a collectible asset class, with well-known strategies for stamp investing. Art—whether collected in individual form as unique paintings or sculptures, or in a pooled vehicle as a fund—has also caught on with investors, although the launch of the first art fund in India (Osian's fund by Neville Tuli) had left investors with a bitter taste.

THE RISKS OF ALTERNATIVES

Exotic investing is high on risk. For one, most physical and financial alternative asset classes are illiquid. It is virtually impossible to get your funds if (a) you suddenly need the money, or (b) there is a market crisis and the investment is not performing in the interim. Pooled vehicles have experienced this first hand; Osian's art fund eventually shut down for this reason.

Holding costs are also a challenge for physical assets. Wine, stamps, coins and art when bought in an individual capacity (rather than a fund structure) do not live in demat and fund form, and your inventories can quickly build up. Storage costs are non-trivial, and storage quality is very important. The right storage can make all the price difference for two wine bottles after a 15-year period.
Valuations and the lack of transparency in them is also a difficult issue with exotics. Unlike equities and commodities that have tradable prices, wine bottles, sculptures and two year old tech companies don't list on the NSE and, typically, bias gets in the way of their valuation. Moreover, there are no known benchmark like the Nifty to measure performance.
Finally, what influences the prices of these products is ultimately out of our hands. The coin market, for instance, can be drastically affected by the government's coinage policies—stopping putting silver in coinage or changing mintage policies—which we may have 
no idea about!

REGULATION OR THE LACK OF IT

One of the biggest challenges with alternatives is the lack of regulation around the asset class. Financial investments such as private equity funds, for instance, are regulated under the Sebi Venture Capital Regulations or the Portfolio Manager Regulations, as are some hedge fund-like products, but reporting standards are hazy at best.

The proposed Sebi Alternative Investment Fund regulations is likely to correct many of the problems and create clear structures for PE/VC/Hedge Fund investing.

The situation for physical asset classes is even more complex. Like Osian's now-defunct art fund, wine funds and stamp funds, too, are completely unregulated. Besides the problem with both financial assets, such as PE funds, and physical assets, such as wine, the underlying asset (not the fund) is also not regulated. In these, you are really investing on faith!

SHOULD YOU INVEST?

With all the risks and rewards known, should you invest in exotics? As usual, it depends your investment sophistication. If you have not covered basic asset classes such as equities, debt and commodities, it is too early to start thinking alternatives. However, if you have got the basics in place, you should start, with a couple of caveats in mind.

The most important is start small. Only invest what is purely excess risk capital that can be tied up at least for 5-plus years (don't expect multibaggers in two years) and with which you can take serious risks. Finally, alternatives should be no more than 5-10 per cent of your total portfolio.

INVESTMENT PLANS

As with a traditional investment, it is important to have a strategy and do the right due diligence.

Focus on quality. Wine, art, stamps and unlisted companies are already so exotic that, within this pool, one should focus on quality. Invest in a few quality assets, particularly if you are buying in the physical form as a large numbers of assets add to storage costs and pare returns. Stay clued into the investment market. With physical assets, find the right storage options.

Buy from reputed dealers, agents and distributors. With financial assets, ask the private banker for all the due diligence and with a physical product, do a check on ethics, past history and track record. Beware of large upfront fees, and check the prices and commissions. If it seems too high or too low, there is probably an issue. Portals for wines, stamps and collectibles can give you an idea of prices.

When choosing a fund, look at its track record, particularly during tough times. Check how carefully 
performance is calculated and ask for audited numbers; see if the fund has returned money back to investors on time. With private equity, check the exit track record of the manager because mark-to-market return means little. Check on fund size, and invest in funds that have the right size for an asset class. Assets of `1,000 crore may be too much for a venture fund, while `1 crore too little for a film fund.

Alternatives are definitely a worthwhile space to pursue, when done in the right quantity and with the right approach.

5 beauty bummers an how to beat them

BRITTLE, DISCOLOURED NAILS

WHAT CAUSES IT: We often think that leaving on nail polish too long can lead to yellow nails, which are also easily breakable. While that is true, the biggest culprit that causes yellow brittle nails is a fungal infection. "Nail discolouration could be due to fungal infections, trauma, calcium deficiency and other hereditary nail disorders. In most cases, discoloured nails are a result of infections with common fungi that can be found in the air, dust and soil. Chronic medical conditions like diabetes can also affect the appearance of nails," says Dr Simal Soin, dermatologist, Three Graces, New Delhi. "Brittle nails or nails that are prone to breaking show vitamin and mineral deficiency. It can also be due to a long-term habit of nail biting," adds Dr Indu Tolani, dermatologist, Clinic Dermatec, New Delhi .

TACKLE IT: Proper hygiene is very important to fight against fungal nails. It is also recommended not to apply polish to nails suspected of infection. In case of severe problems it is better to consult a doctor rather than stick to home remedies. Dr Soin advices that if nails get brittle as well as discoloured, see a doctor for prescription medicines. Agrees Tolani, who suggests that you need to treat the infection first. "Oral calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements and oral antifungal medications can be prescribed. Locally nail lacquers are used to improve fungal infections," adds Soin.

QUICK FIX: If you have brittle nails that are prone to breakage, then you can camouflage this by opting for artificial gel. UK-based nail and hair expert Pammy Kaul suggests that gel-based artificial nails are the best solution for women with nails that refuse to grow. "The gel nails are easy to apply and you have the option of deciding on your nail length. They are also gentle on the nails. In fact we have found that people with nail-biting problems actually forget to bite their nails once they start wearing gel-based nails." To strengthen the

nail bed of brittle nails, Tolani suggests that you apply coconut oil every night on your nails. During the day, keep the nails shiny and strong by massaging

in Vaseline.

DRY, DARK KNEES AND ELBOWS

WHAT CAUSES IT: The skin around the knees and elbows is thicker by comparison, and tends to have more pigment than the rest of our body. But constant rubbing and dry skin conditions can actually make the areas darker, drier and harder as time passes. "Many women also get dark pigmentation around their neck, along with their knees and elbows, which is caused by sun exposure, and sometimes it can be due to an allergic reaction to the hair colour that you use. For many, it can also be due to atopic dermatitis, where you will notice thickening and scaling of the skin," explains Tolani.

TACKLE IT: If your dark knees, elbows and neck are due to dryness, try this: use a good body scrub and spend a little extra time during your shower sloughing off the dead skin layer. Do not rub too hard. Pat the area dry and apply rich body butter. Another useful home remedy: mix lemon juice with olive oil and fine sugar granules, apply on the dark, dry areas, rub gently and wash off with tepid water. This works both to lighten the area and moisturise it. When heading out in the sun, you can apply whitening body lotion to ensure that your skin is protected from the sun and extra pigment production.

FIX IT: Tolani says that it is not always possible to completely wipe away pigmentation, but you can lighten it with whitening peels. Always consult a dermatologist if you are planning any treatment. In case of atopic dermatitis, your dermatologist will be able to prescribe the right treatment depending on the stage of your condition.

PATCHY SKIN, UNEVEN PIGMENTATION

WHAT CAUSES IT: Uneven melanin deposition under the skin leads to patchy skin or pigmentation. Pigmentation can appear on your face in two different forms-big patches or as small brown spots. In most cases, the sun is the biggest culprit. Photo damage to the skin leads to melanin getting concentrated in one area. Pigmentation, especially the patchy kinds, is caused by hormonal imbalance. During pregnancy, many women get dark patches on their face and body due to increased hormone levels. In most cases, this kind of pigmentation subsides once the baby is born. However if the pigmentation persists even after delivery, it is important to check with a doctor. 

TACKLE IT: First and foremost you have to protect your skin from the sun, and then use products that have melanin inhibitors so that your skin can get even toned, advises Dr Belliappa BR, consultant dermatologist Apollo Hospital, Bengaluru. You have to protect your skin from the harmful rays as your first line of defence. You can use skin brightening creams which have sunscreen and melanin blockers. While the cosmetic products show results to a certain extent, for real effectiveness, try medicated anti-pigment lotions and creams as they have a higher ingredient potency. 

FIX IT: Besides using concealers and camouflage make-up, check with your doctor for the actual cause of pigmentation on your face. Belliappa says that laser treatments are a good option to wipe away patchy skin. He also suggests going for lightening peels which can help you deal with pigmentation to quite an extent. In case the pigmentation is very strong, check with your dermatologist for prescription pills.

HAIRY FACE, CHEST, NECK AND BACK

WHAT CAUSES IT: Hirsutism or excessive hair on your face, chest, neck and back is often caused by hormonal imbalance. Informs Soin, "Strong and excessive hair growth on the chest, back and neck could be indicative of a medical condition called idiopathic hirsutism. The excessive hair growth can also occur due to polycystic ovarian disease." 

TACKLE IT: The easiest way to tackle excessive hairiness, especially on your face, is to go for regular threading sessions. It can be a painful affair. If your hair quality is thin then you can also bleach the area. However Tolani suggests opting for laser hair removal for long-term results.

FIX IT: It is advisable that you seek the help of a doctor if the growth is dense or you notice a gradual increase in hair density. "In the case of idiopathic hirsutism, the treatment must aim to stop or at least slow down the formation of new terminal hair growth. Generally, the treatment procedure includes three steps, androgen suppression if it involves androgen excess problem; peripheral androgen blockade; and mechanical or cosmetic removal and destruction of unwanted hair," advises Soin.

CELLULITE OR ORANGE PEEL

WHAT CAUSES IT: Cellulite has very little to do with being thin or fat. Cellulite is the orange peel appearance of the skin on the thighs which has to do with hormonal, hereditary and postpartum causes.

TACKLE IT: The best plan to minimise the appearance of cellulite and stop its proliferation is to strengthen the fibres of the connective tissue so that no more fat can permeate into the dermis," says Soin. Some positive changes in lifestyle like a diet comprising salads and fruits over fried snacks, and keeping oneself well hydrated may also help to manage cellulite. "Regular exercises that help drain toxins from the body is also important in dealing with cellulite," adds Tolani.

FIX IT: While you cannot ever banish cellulite from your body, you can try cellulite treatments such as mesocellulite, LPG, Triactive laser and thermage. Both Soin and Tolani stress on the point that the anti-cellulite treatments should be done by a trained person-the treatment can help reduce cellulite by about 20 per cent. Both the doctors also say that creams selling the anti-cellulite dream do not work because they cannot penetrate deep under the skin. "Because of its structure under our skin, cellulite can recur after treatment, and in most cases never go away," explains Soin. So stay informed and make the right beauty choices.

How To Remove Pimples Fast

Whether you choose to call it acne, zits, pimples or spots, know that you're not alone. Over 80% of teenagers will experience an outbreak of pimples at some point, which means science and reason have worked overtime to devise ways to treat them as quickly as possible (the demand is certainly right up there). Before we begin looking at how best to deal with them, a few must-know facts are in order. Below the surface of our skin, the sebaceous glands produce sebum in order to lubricate our skin and keep it moist. Sometimes they can become overactive and block the pores of our skin and cause -- you know it -- pimples. It is important to realize that while not every treatment may work, and outbreaks can re-occur and become persistent in certain individuals, they are neither dangerous nor contagious.Removing pimples fast, therefore, becomes a question of aesthetics (which is also undoubtedly important) rather than a health concern. Our Plan Of Action

There are many ways to treat acne, from home remedy tricks to commercial products. We'll deal with them all briefly and work our way to long-term solutions to keep them off. Home Remedies

Salt water method - Take a bucket or container and fill it with warm water. Once it's almost full you're going to add a copious amount of salt to it. When I say copious, I mean a lot. Keep going until it's really salty, then add a little more simply because you can't go wrong. Dip a cotton ball into the solution for a minute or so and then apply it gently to the pimple in question and hold it there for several minutes (patience is the key). When you remove it you may be surprised to find that it may have discolored somewhat, great! But we're not done yet. Now dip two more cotton balls and flatten the spot by pressing firmly from either side of it. Garlic - Garlic contains natural antibiotic properties that can take care of zits. Rub a clove of garlic on the spot in question several times a day, avoid doing this on date-night for obvious reasons! Cucumber - Covering the spot in question with grated cucumber for fifteen minutes can be used to treat and prevent pimples. Especially good at removing post-zit removal marks on the skin. Lemon and orange peel paste - Break down lemon and orange peels and mix it with water, flour and honey to make a viscous paste which can be applied to any part of the body which houses pimples. Commercial Remedies

This article isn't about advocating any commercial solution over another, I may mention one or two names in passing, but my focus will be on active ingredients rather than brand names. Benzoyl peroxide - Is a substance which directly attacks the bacteria that causes the breakout (propionibacteria acnes). Proactiv® - A very popular treatment that involves three distinct steps (you can read more about their pimple removal steps here). Laser Treatment - If speed and severity are key, laser treatment can level the playing field after a week or so. I only really recommend this if it's a bad outbreak since it can be horribly expensive as well as mildly annoying. Sulphur Based - Commercial products based on sulphur products try and catalyze removal of dead skin, thereby freeing the clogged up pores. Not a rapid solution, but a natural one. Acupuncture - If taking medicine of any kind isn't really your thing, acupuncture has reported some success over the course of a handful of session. Antibiotics - Some people may be prescibed oral antibiotics such as Tetracycline in order to combat acne. I have some personal reservations about this -- but they are personal. Types Of Pimple

Know thy enemy. There are various kinds of pimples, learn to tell them apart! Whiteheads - Flesh colored and minute. Blackheads - Often confused with dirt. Cysts - Painful and contain pus. Papules - Pink solid and round. Nodules - Akin to papules but bigger. Pustules - Visibly contain pus on top, red below.