5 effective techniques for reducing jet charter prices
5 effective techniques for reducing jet charter prices

People or companies often charter jets to avoid the inconvenience of traveling in scheduled flights. Although the jet charter prices are higher than the regular flights, companies find it beneficial to rent the entire airplane than to spend on every employee’s airfare. Usually, it costs between $1,200 and $8,500 per flight if you opt for a jet chartered, and these rates vary according to the type of flight you have chosen and the distance you will be traveling. However, there are certain ways that can allow you to make your trip via jet charters more cost efficient. The following tips will ensure that your jet charter prices are slashed by at least a few hundred dollars.

  • Travel in a group
    The easiest way of cutting on jet charter prices is by traveling in a group. Since the cost of the jet charter remains the same irrespective of whether you are traveling alone or in a group, splitting the cost of the airplane with your travel buddies will ensure that you won’t be bearing the brunt of the entire trip.
  • Compare prices and book online
    You can avail reduced jet charter prices if you compare the prices of these jets and book it online. Various websites function as a marketplace where you can compare the prices of these private jets and choose the one that fits the bill. This process is quite pragmatic and yields favorable results since it is quite transparent.
  • Opt for a smaller aircraft
    Another effective way of availing budget-friendly jet charter prices is by downsizing the size of the aircraft you will be traveling in. Everyone loves to arrive in style, but doing so will burn a hole through your wallet. Instead, you can be realistic and opt for a smaller aircraft that suffices your demands and splurge when you reach your destination.
  • Book one way
    You can avail of reduced jet charter prices if you book a one-way jet charter. Since private jet charters often travel to meet their clients, they have empty leg seats for a part of the journey. In such cases, the jet charters are available at reduced prices. However, booking a one-way jet charter is feasible only when your trip is flexible, otherwise, the availability of empty flights can affect your schedule.
  • Invest in a membership program
    If you are a frequent flier, you can opt for the membership programs made available by private jet companies. All you have to do is pay a monthly or annual fee that the program demands; this will allow you to fly as often as you want without any additional charges being levied on you. This is a practical way of reducing jet charter prices if you travel regularly.
  • 10 tips to getting the best car lease deals

    Leasing a car seems lucrative because the monthly payout is lesser than when you finance your new car. Moreover, your down payment is less, and the leased vehicle is typically protected by a warranty from the manufacturer. These are just a few of the many benefits of car leasing. To make this alternative even more worthwhile, you need to consider some tips and tricks to secure the best car leasing deals that help you save some money.

    Here are the top 10 tips to get the best car leasing deals

    • Try to negotiate on aspects such as down payment, mileage limit, and the post lease expiry purchase price. Leasing works similar to getting a loan. So, the higher your down payment, the lesser financing charges you would need to bear.
    • Try to negotiate on the money factor. This is the number that most lessors use to calculate the cost of leasing, i.e., an interest that you have to bear per month.
    • If guaranteed auto protection does not come with your lease, buy it. It is an insurance protection plan that will protect you if the car faces an accident or is stolen.
    • To ensure that the monthly payout is as little as possible, try to opt for cars that do not depreciate at a rate higher than average. You can refer to the Consumer Reports’ owner-cost Ratings in the model pages for detailed information on depreciation.
    • Dig into the details about the ongoing purchase price of the vehicle, just as you would if you were to finance the same car. After locking in on a price, you should start looking for leasing deals. After all, leasing too is a type of financing.
    • Do not opt for leases that extend for a period beyond the factory warranty of the car. We recommend so because this warranty is the most lucrative aspect of car leasing.
    • Ask upfront about any mandatory conditions or fees after the term of the lease. For instance, there are a few car leasing agents who will ask you to return the car only with tires that look fairly new. Ensure that all the policies are clear and fair to you right from the start.
    • If you think that you might need additional car miles, buy them beforehand. Have a clause in the deal that states that you can get the money back for the unused miles. Any overage of mileage will attract an increased rate.
    • Ensure that the trade-in has been reduced from the capitalized cost of the leased vehicle, if applicable.
    • For those planning to buy the vehicle post the expiry of the lease, do ensure that the car is worth its purchase price. If yours is a sub-vented lease, the possibility of this is almost zero. In case the worth of the car is lower than its buyout price, you can always try negotiating with the leasing agent. If he/she doesn’t nudge, we recommend walking away from the purchase.

    To sum up, leasing is certainly not the ideal alternative for everyone. However, for customers who enjoy driving a new car every few years, this could be a great option. Do research and compare the different car leasing deals available in the market and negotiate as much as possible to save some money.

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  • 5 decorative bowls to improve your home décor

    Simple, functional bowls are usually used for storing items and serving dishes. However, now you can choose from a wide selection of unique decorative bowls that will be perfect for adding to your interiors. These bowls can be used as centerpieces. They can also be useful in brightening your décor, display, and storing various things.

    A few decorative bowls that can easily amp up your home interiors include:

    Blue Glass Decorative Bowl by Highland Dunes
    This luxurious glass bowl boasts a unique design that will definitely catch the eye of your house guests. Made of hand-blown glass, this unique decorative bowl can certainly prove to be a good addition to your home.

    Tipton Pearl Large Decorative Bowl by Highland Dunes
    This is a charming decorative bowl, hand-painted to perfection. The top surface at the back of this bowl is made of genuine glass. The bowl has been double-fired, so it has maximum resistance. However, make sure to avoid keeping it in an oven or microwave and only wash it by hand.

    Alabaster Decorative Bowl by Mariposa
    This alluring glass bowl is bound to make you take a second look due to its opulent matte colors swirling around it. Made of glass, this bowl can only be hand-washed.

    Turquoise Glass Decorative Bowl by OK Lighting
    Made of strong glass, this bowl makes for a luxurious centerpiece. It can be easily cleaned and maintained. This unique decorative bowl will serve the purpose of a showpiece while acting as a good storage option for small, essential items like your keys.

    Alsey Glass Decorative Bowl by Orren Ellis
    This stylish yellow and violet colored bowl is of premium quality and can be an excellent decorative piece. It is a result of ancient glass-blowing techniques and new contemporary designs. A distinguishing factor about this bowl is that no two bowls of this kind are exactly the same. Every bowl will show some variation in its color or size. While purchasing it, you will also notice that it is signed by glass master Michele Luzoro and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

    These bowls will grab your attention due to their unique designs and style. Moreover, they help display and store various items around your house. The size and shape of a bowl can help you determine its use.

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  • Tips to grow and maintain a container garden of perennial plants

    Perennial plants are a great alternative that cuts down the trouble of spending money on new plants once the old annual plants have died. Container gardening with perennial plants is becoming popular among gardeners.

    In this article we help you know more about perennial plants and how to grow them with ease.

    We are going to introduce container plants in your garden, this is for people who do not have much space and yet love gardening. Its also perfect for those who live in apartments.

    Things you need:

    Container
    Choosing a container is not perilous. Anything that holds the soil can become a container for your plant. Containers can be made of wood, metal, clay even plastic. Since each type of container has its advantages and disadvantages, you must check which container is perfect for which type of plant you plan to grow in it.

    Do remember that perennial plants have bigger roots and hence containers in bigger size is always a better option.

    Drainage is just as important as the container for the plants to not drown. Every container must have at least one drainage hole. If the container does not have a drainage hole, make one yourself by drilling a hole or seek professional help if you are not able to successfully make a hole at the bottom. The drainage hole must have a screen so the soil does not fall out of the container.

    Soil
    Choose the right potting soil for the plant and that sits well in the container. If you are planning on planting the plants that grow well in sand, you need to get the potting mix that supports that plant. You must get into the detailing of the soil you will be using for each plant for it to grow best. Check the pH level required.

    Plants
    Proper pairing of the plants is essential just like everything else. Some plants do not grow well with certain plants and some pairs are great for each other. You can understand this by learning about each plant in detail.

    Watering
    Learn about the watering that is required for each plant. Ideally, caring for perennial plants is not too much work but is important. Some nutrients that are present in the potting soil get washed out with regular watering, hence its important to add nutrient supplements by adding liquid fertilizer.

    When plants are maintained and groomed timely, they reward you with the best of fruits, flowers and leaves.

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  • Process of product management

    The discipline of product management (PM) has evolved into an increasingly popular one across businesses. Drawing on all three fields of marketing, design, and engineering, PM is essentially an interdisciplinary process that reaches across teams to design and plan in such a way that uninterruptedly brings better products to the market. Listed below are the important steps in the PM process:

    Market study and portfolio: Firstly, depending on in-depth market and business analysis, marketing executives pass on the information to the business development team. An official market study takes place and a portfolio is built as per the research.
    Appointment of product manager: Product managers play an integral role in any product-based companies. They are the ones who interact with clients and gather their requirements for the product to be made. The product manager is the single point of contact of the company with the client.
    Contract signing: A contract is signed between the development company and the client.
    Commencement of contract: Once the product manager brings all the requirements to the in-house team, the respective development and project teams are formed. Every engineering team will have a technical leader assigned and will be reporting to individual engineering managers. A project manager or project management office assigns a point of contact to the project who will be tracking the statuses and report the progress to the product manager.
    Beginning the work: An office project begins once the teams have formed and have divided the responsibilities accordingly. The product manager is constantly in touch with both the development teams and the customer to keep everyone on the same page in terms of expectations and requirements. An intermittent progress report is shared with the customer as to how the team is progressing with building the product. If the client is concerned about the tools being used in the process of building the product, they will specify it during the contracts negotiation. The security and copyright of the product will be two major criteria for any releases as they will hold customer or project details.
    Product clearing: Once the product is built, it would go through a rigorous process of clearing security requirements internally and then will be approved to release to the client or market in case of generic software.
    Logistics: For the ordering process, a logistics team, such as supply chains and shipping teams, are set up after the product is ready for an official release. Once after the product is released, there will be regular upgrades and patches planned in order to keep the product up-to-date from the security and functionality perspective.

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  • Getting a closer look at health insurance policy

    While many of us strive to put aside some small portion of our earnings into a savings account or investment of some kind, a portion of financial planning that we tend to neglect is an insurance policy. Often, it might seem like a waste of money to pay out a premium year on year towards something that you do not immediately see the benefit of. However, obtaining several life insurance quotes and deciding on a suitable life insurance policy is essential for many reasons.

    While life insurance is not about assigning a monetary value to someone’s life but life insurance planning can provide some degree of financial support to one’s family in the event of one’s sudden demise.

    It is important to understand that more than being an investment that yields tangible returns on investments, life insurance must be understood as a risk management tool and must be treated as such. There are several plans that combine life insurance with mutual fund investments but these may be considered as a separate entity.

    While the higher end life insurance premiums are surely expensive, you would find that opting even for a basic life insurance plan would not make a significant dent in your income, but would return considerably high death benefits to your beneficiaries. An added benefit to most life insurance policies is that they provide some degree of tax deductibility up to exempted levels.

    Also, while there are any number of options available to get a life insurance quote online, including no exam quotes, it is always better to meet your insurance agent in person, and request his or her guidance in walking you through the nitty gritty of the policy you wish to take so that you are fully aware of what the specific policy covers and what your family or beneficiaries are entitled to receiving. You can always compare different life insurance policies and also check for life insurance no medical exam policies.

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  • Estate planning – Does it matter?

    Estate planning is standout amongst the essential steps any individual can take to ensure that their property and health care wishes are respected, and that friends and family are accommodated in their nonattendance. Although it can be a complex and intimidating task, hiring an attorney or a tax advisor can make a huge difference. Nowadays estate planning is not limited to the elite class of the society; any grown up individual can have an estate plan. Estate planning firms pay attention to the special needs and concerns of their clients. If you follow a proper legal process, your assets can safely be passed on to your children and other family members of your choice.

    Making a will
    A proper estate plan begins with a will that provides instructions. It is a legal document that directs the decedent’s plans for burial and to whom he or she wishes to pass on the property and money. It is a legal procedure under the watch of a judge, which would allow the transfer of money and properties to the beneficiary’s account. This legal process is known as probate.

    Revocable living trusts
    A revocable living trust is another popular estate planning tool, which most people use to avoid the probate period. Living trusts are revocable as they can be subjected to changes in case of a change in circumstances. While legal processes like probate can be expensive and time-consuming as it is a court-supervised process, properties left through a revocable living trust can be directly passed on to the beneficiaries without probate. A revocable living trust can be more expensive than a will. However, unlike a will, it won’t have to die with the owner. A living trust allows you to reduce the chance of a court dispute over your estate, thereby keeping your document private after death.

    Best time to plan
    None of us really know when death may strike, so many people get caught off-guard and are under-prepared. So, instead of waiting for a proper time, plan your estate now! If you have made a plan, then you’ll be able to change it later. This is why estate planning is done, and trusts are preferred over wills.

    An estate planning is not always expensive
    In case you think that you won’t be able to afford a complex, expensive estate plan, then there are simple plans like life insurance, leaving an inheritance for children and health care decisions. An estate attorney is a trained professional in this field and will be there to guide you. You can also seek help from a good attorney in the legal processes and ensure that your rights are protected.

    Peace of mind
    Finally, the most important benefit of getting your estate plan done is complete peace of mind. When you know that you have a foolproof plan in place that will protect your family against all odds, it will give you a total satisfaction. This is one of the most thoughtful and selfless thing that you can do for people you care.

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  • Fitness Woes? Fitbit Charge 2 to the Rescue!

    Fitness has emerged as a passion that many people pursue on an everyday basis nowadays. From gyms literally mushrooming in all neighborhoods to wearables that help you track your fitness levels and movements during a span of 24 hours, there are a number of products and services that take care of your fitness goals. The Fitbit range of products is one such fitness oriented range which caters to your needs in this regard.

    The Fitbit Charge 2 has evolved from Fitbit, which is the original wrist-wear range that came with pre-installed fitness technology. You can actually carry this around on your wrist and ensure that you remain firmly rooted in fitness-inducing activities. Here are the many features of the Fitbit Charger 2.

    Apt for Busy People:
    • If you are an urbanite who insists that time is a commodity which is not very easily available, then you might also find yourself panting for breath if you ever have to take the stairs instead of an elevator. This indicates the lack of time for any kind of exercise. Yet, we all know that exercise we must, especially if we have desk jobs which leave us with little time to do so.
    • So, one of the best ways of exercising is to get yourself a tracker like the Fitbit which will remind you to move around to complete the number of steps that you would have programmed it for.

    The Heart of it all:
    • One of the most important things that exercise does for us is that it keeps our hearts in good working condition. How does it do so and why is this so important? The answer is simple. The heart needs to be in a fit condition to constantly and routinely pump blood to the lungs. Once the lungs receive this blood, they turn it into oxygen which is required by all organs of the body for proper functioning. When we exercise, the heart expands and contracts at a good rate, which helps in the better pumping of blood and routine flushing out of toxins because all the organs work in an appropriate manner.
    • Hence, with the Fitbit Charge 2, you are at a definite advantage because the heart rate is matched and the device sets the pace and number of steps that you need to take in a day for that optimal cardio result.

    All Day System:
    • The Fitbit Charge 2 is set with an all day tracker that starts with an alarm before it tracks your movements all day long.
    • You can spread your number of steps over a period of 24 hours, and put it into sleep mode when you want.
    • Also, the Fitbit Charge 2 will remind you routinely to move around when you have been in one position for too long so that you accomplish your pace and steps on time and your heart gets all the cardio that it needs.
    • It also comes with a helpful multi-sports mode for efficient and versatile tracking.

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  • Best types of bus tours for senior citizens

    Traveling by road is an experience that doesn’t come close to other forms of transport. It is often more economical as well. If you are looking to go around a place on a bus, there are many options that are available. There are several senior bus tours that have become very popular over the last few years.

    The upside of these senior bus tours is that they are designed for the comfort of senior citizens. They come with all the facilities needed for senior citizens to sit back and relax while the bus takes them to various destinations.

    There are innumerable destinations that these buses are headed to. Here are a list of popular tours and destinations:

    One-day tour
    If it is a single day tour that you are looking for, you would want it to cover all the popular sightseeing locations in the vicinity. For instance, if it is New York you are visiting, you don’t want to miss the Radio City Music Hall. You won’t have to deal with the hassle of traffic as the bus tours make sure that they get you to most of the best locations.

    Hop-on Hop-off
    These are senior bus tours that go around the city all day. You can find them in prime locations like Florida and ST Augustine. You can take your time at any location you are at and catch the next bus that will take you to the next destination. This way, you can make your way through the city while visiting your preferred places.

    Overnight tours
    These are senior bus tours that generally travel to destinations, which are at a considerable distance. They cover locations like Canadian and America parks and you can explore the country without worrying about transportation. These buses come with all the necessary facilities you need to travel overnight.

    Senior bus tours can take you to destinations ranging from the northern, southern, Midwestern to the western side. There is a connected network that makes traveling from place to place very easy. There are a lot of companies that offer tour packages with discounts. Each of the bus tours come with a different package. Therefore, it is best to do a thorough research before you opt for one that is most convenient for you.

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