Having stable finances is liberating in the sense that it equals well-managed and organized finances. Yet, the most enjoyable and happy occasion in a couple’s life is the extension of the family unit. Whether this is through pregnancy or adoption, the joy is all the same.

The trouble, however, begins when your finances are not in a suitable position to accommodate the needs of this new individual. A clear sign of this is debt. When your finances are causing you stress and unhappiness, then you know that you are not ready for the responsibility of added financial strain.

One of the most lucrative investments in the world today is forex investment. There are virtually no barriers to enter the forex market, and individuals with low investments can play for large returns. Much, of course, depends on how well the investors understand the forex market.

There was a time when investment in the forex markets was limited to banks and financial institutions because of large transaction sizes and stringent financial requirements. This has been changed by the arrival of online trading. Today, anyone can invest in the forex market, and make money.

The investor has many tools at hand when making decisions about which stocks to buy. One of the most useful of these is fundamental analysis – examining key ratios which show the worth of a stock and how a company is performing.

The goal of fundamental analysis is to determine how much money a company is making and what kind of earnings can be expected in the future. Although future earnings are always subject to interpretation, a good earning history creates confidence among investors. Stock prices increase and dividends may also be paid out.

Companies are required to report earnings on a regular basis and stock market analysts examine these figures to determine if a company is meeting its expected growth. If not, there is usually a downturn in the stock's price.

A mutual fund is a diverse holding of stocks that are managed on behalf of the investors that buy into the fund. A mutual fund allows an investor to take advantage of a diversified portfolio without having to invest a large sum of money.

What is the advantage of a diversified portfolio? It offers protection against rapid market losses of any one particular stock. If a portfolio is spread across 20 stocks, if any one of those stocks quickly loses value the effect is less than if the portfolio consisted of that one stock by itself.

Whereas stocks give investors part ownership of a company, bonds are loans made by investors to corporations or governments. Rather than benefiting from company profits the way that stock holders do, bond holders receive a fixed rate of return – a percentage of the bond's original offering price. The return is called the 'coupon rate'.

Bonds have a maturity date at which time the principal amount is returned.

Bonds can be issued for any period of time – some take up to 30 years to mature.

Bonds always carry the risk that the principal amount may not be paid back. Companies with higher credit worthiness are more likely to be safe investments but their coupon rate will be lower than companies with lower credit ratings.

Credit ratings are provided by firms such as Standard and Poor and Moody's Investor Service. Credit ratings range from a high AAA to a low D.

Personal finances go beyond the simplicity of thewages traded for labor. More and more people are waking up to the realization that more money can be made through investment. But what are investments and who should partake in this field of finance? Do they guarantee the growth of money and subsequently improvepersonal finance?

In this day and age, most banks offer individuals the opportunity to invest their money one way or the other. Many banks may even let you invest worldwide and in any currency. Some may offer an array of investment options, including other derivatives, commodities, precious metals, stocks and bonds from all over the world. Even investment funds, fiduciary deposits and so forth.

Anyone with money to invest can buy and sell stocks. Stock trading has its own specialized vocabulary but once you have the basics under your belt you can understand better how the market works. As with any investment, the more knowledge you have about stock trading the more successful you are likely to be.

Most stock trades are done through a broker – an intermediary who takes orders and executes them. Brokers can also offer advice about which stocks to trade and the condition of the market.
These 'full-service' brokers charge a relatively high commission. To cut costs, many people use discount brokers that charge significantly less. You don't get advice, but to some, that is an advantage

If you have a bad credit history or no credit history and want to establish your credit, consider applying for a secured credit card. Unsecured credit cards are not easily obtained for those with a blot on their credit rating or someone who hasn't established a credit history. Lenders are hesitant to take the chance on any person who doesn't have a flawless credit history.

A secured credit card looks identical to an unsecured credit card and usually offers the same security and charging privileges. The difference is that with a secured credit card you have to pay the credit card company a deposit of security that amounts to the same amount as your credit line. This assures the company that they will get their money back if you turn out to be a bad credit risk.

When it comes to lifestyle, many debates spark up. Many people have their own idea of what lifestyle really is. But it is clear that finance and lifestyle need to co-exist in some form.
In order for you to afford a certain lifestyle, you need to be in the right financial standing. If your lifestyle consists of buying the latest fashion, then it is clear that you have or should have a certain amount of money. If you don't have enough money to maintain thislifestyle, then you need to stop spending the money.

If you have a vision of what your ideal lifestyle should be, then it is time you made your finances fit that reality. No amount of dreaming will make things come true. There has to be some form of practicality also, as money can go and debt can rise.

You’ve been saving up money for this trip; your family is really looking forward to it. But when you did a final budget check, you found that you’re going to be short of cash. You won’t have any money for souvenirs. Here are some ideas for you to save money on your hotel:

· Get as small a room as you can handle. Don’t pay extra for a larger room just because the hotel didn’t have any smaller rooms left. Negotiate your rate down.

· See what discounts you might qualify for – maybe for being a senior citizen, in the military, your corporate discount, or even any partnerships with your credit cards.

· Ask for an extra mattress for your family. Often times, instead of making you get two rooms, hotels will provide with an extra rollout mattress for the little ones.

· Look online! You can browse through travel websites, sites where you bid for hotel rooms, discount hotel companies, as well as hotel’s home pages. There has to be a great deal in there somewhere.

· If you travel a lot, join your favorite hotel’s frequent guess program. That will get you free hotel nights in no time.