Investing in Foreign Real Estate: What Are the Perks?

So, you're beating your brains out trying to think of a new investment to make. Let me help you. But first off, congratulations! Thinking of a good investment means you have somehow reaped the fruit of your hard work, and you would like to put your hard-earned money in something worthy. Now, let's see what you already have. You're making big money from your first business venture, and your stock investment is doing great as well. And your next plan? You're currently torn between investing in foreign real estate and buying a local real property. Which move is better? Actually, you can do well in both. But don't you think it's time to invest overseas? Are you aware of its perks?

What's In It for You?

• You can enjoy the beauty of having a second home.

Don't you want to have a second home in a foreign land? That would be cool! You have the money, and investing in a home abroad can give you your money's worth. It is especially beneficial if you love to travel. How beautiful it is to stay in a place which you can call yours in the midst of enjoying a beautiful travel experience! Chilling in your own place is more rewarding than staying in an expensive hotel.

• You can gain various cultural experiences.

You don't just go abroad for picture-taking, shopping, and enjoying fun activities. You get to know different cultures as well. Investing in properties abroad requires knowledge about your preferred areas - the people, the way of life, everything. Whether they are residential, commercial, or industrial properties, you have to be in the know of all the details that surround them. You have to experience them as well. And hey, these are priceless experiences. You get to enjoy life in different ways!

• You can earn income from overseas.

Planning to have a rental property? That's great! Generating income from foreign investments enables you to enjoy the benefits of currency diversity. It is advantageous for you because you're not dependent on a single economy. You don't just earn in your local currency, and that means your money has different values and can be bigger as compared to your earnings when all you have are local investments.

• Properties abroad can greatly help you save on taxes.

Did you know that traveling to visit your foreign investments is a tax deductible activity? Yes, it is! Each trip you make for the purpose of managing your investments can help you big time in reducing your tax bills.

These and a lot more perks of investing in real estate abroad can truly help you get your money's worth. Making investments is a bold move to make. It's a risk. For this, being all nervous and skeptical is a given. But with enough knowledge, courage, and will to succeed, you'll surely arrive at a wise decision. Meanwhile, investing overseas allows you to enjoy things that are beyond financial success. It gives you the chance to gain more experiences and knowledge about various related and nonrelated things - culture, business, tax, and diversity in different aspects of the word. Just make sure you know what you're doing, and you'll never go wrong.

Super Rugby Round Up - Week One

Those brave enough to bet against the favourite would have made a healthy profit this weekend. In a unique opening to super rugby 2015, six of the seven matches were won away from home and three of those games, by the rank outsider.

The competition began with the Rebels defeat of last year's finalists and seven times champions, the Crusaders, in Christchurch. Although beaten in the set piece, the Rebels defence was exemplary and they made fewer errors than the opposition. As usual, the Crusaders were slow out of the box, tended to rush things, kicked poorly and were short of ideas. For the winners, McMahon was exceptional.

The Brumbies restored normality at home vs the Reds, who looked completely disorganized. The referee did not help them but they were poor all round. The Brumbies looked solid and the backline was particularly dominant, with Kuridrani and the under-rated Coleman to the fore.

Without several All Blacks, the Chiefs began quickly and established a good lead early. They faded later and their continuing tendency to lose the ball in contact needs to be addressed. Sonny Bill Williams made an immediate impact, the backs were good in the first half and the McKenzie brothers showed up well. If the Blues play to their potential though, the Stormers will have their hands full this weekend.

Lions vs Hurricanes was a strange match, which the visitors did well to win but the result could easily have been different. Too many turnovers and a lack of finishing cost the Lions dearly and the Hurricanes made the most of limited opportunities. The result will hurt but there was much that had promise in this Lions performance. 

Predictably, the Bulls resorted to type but without the scrum muscle to back it up, they floundered against a motivated Stormers team and suffered a rare defeat at Loftus. They were largely outplayed by a team which fully deserved its victory.

Each year the cash strapped Cheetahs lose top players to other South African franchises and in their match at Durban they lost Bok lock, de Jager early in the game. However, they always battle away manfully and while their forwards held their own, they were lit up at the back by Pretorius and le Roux. They appeared sharper and more focused and despite a nervy finish, left Durban with a full bag of points. The Sharks were simply disappointing.

Last but not least, the gutsy Force, who have never won the first game of a super rugby season and who were without talismanic captain, Hodgson for the first eight weeks of the competition, fronted up magnificently against the star studded champions. Even the loss of their international prop, Pek Cowan did nothing to blunt their efforts. The Waratahs looked as if they thought all they had to do was turn up and that arrogance was their undoing. Despite set piece dominance, they were slow to react and appeared unmotivated. Next weekend should prove interesting.

Translating Nick Cummins

It's funny, how the majority of us can become enthralled by people who throw, run with, catch or kick a ball. Leather or pigskin, it doesn't matter. We love it.

We marvel at the athleticism, the freakish skills, an ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and vice versa. We love it when it goes right and we love it just as much when it goes wrong because then we become that exalted oracle of all that is good and true, otherwise known as the armchair critic.

We love the on field entertainment. But every now and then an elite sports person comes along who can be as entertaining just by opening their mouth and saying a few words. One of those people is an Australian rugby player called Nick Cummins.

To know Nick Cummins is to love him. But the hard part is the getting to know him especially if you don't come from Australia. Nick Cummins speaks English but not as you know it. To follow what he is saying requires an understanding of the peculiar, eccentricities of Australian English. If you don't have a grasp then you won't know what the hell he is talking about.

Let me just lay a couple of Nick Cummins-isms on you so you'll get what I mean.

Nick Cummins has a nickname. He is known as the Honey Badger. He was being interviewed after a rugby match and was asked how he came by the nickname and this is what he said:

"One of the stories that inspires me is that it is documented that a honey badger killed a lion in a one-on-one. What happened was that he clawed the canastas off the big fella. He just went one-two on the ball bag and the big fella has walked around the corner and fell over... that to me is outstanding."

If you read that paragraph two or three times you might get what he is eluding to. Sort of. Possibly. The Japanese don't. Nick Cummins is currently playing as a professional in Tokyo and the Japanese called him the Honey Budger, which is kind of cute.

But really, Nick Cummins needs to be accompanied at all times by a professional translator. Lucky for you, I speak perfect Australian and I am happy to translate his best quotes and turn them into something resembling English.

Quote: "I just saw the line, pinned me ears back and ended up bagging a bit of meat in the corner which was tops."

Translation: I caught sight of the try-line, accelerated to the very limit of my abilities and managed to score, which was pleasing.

Quote: "Yeah mate I bloody was like a rat up a drain pipe in one of them runs there."

Translation: I ran particularly fast in one instance.

Quote: "He was huffin' and puffin' and, mate he did well, he always does, he's a tough rooster."

Translation: My teammate was breathing heavily but he persevered. He always does. He is very hardy.

Quote: "I'm gonna have a truckload of pudding and uh, old mum's good on the cook too so, Dad's got the tucker ready over there and mum and dad are gonna work together and form a massive feed and I'm going to come in and dominate it."

Translation: I intend to eat a large volume of pudding. My Mother is more than competent at the culinary arts as well. My Father is getting the food ready over there. The two of them will combine their talents to create a meal of sufficiently large proportions. Then I intend to devour all of it.

Quote: "I was busier than a one-legged man in a bum kicking contest."

Translation: I was under extraordinary pressure because of the workload I was given during the match.

Of course when people hear Nick Cummins come out with this stuff they are a bit shocked but in a good way. To borrow an Australianism, the Honey Badger is a fair dinkum character and sadly there are too few of them.

But it would be too easy and unfair to describe Nick Cummins as a one trick pony when it comes to producing actions that we can laugh at and admire both on and off the sports field.

He is also a very devoted and loving son to his parents and his brothers and sisters. As a rugby player, Nick Cummins is at the very top of his game. He plays test match rugby for Australia. But very recently he turned his back on the game in Australia to play professional rugby in Japan but not for the reasons that you might think.

Yes he did it for the money. But not for himself, it was for his family. Nick Cummins' father has incurable prostate cancer which has made him unable to work and that has been a considerable drain on the family finances. Nick Cummins has seven siblings, two of whom have cystic fibrosis, an incurable lung disease. So Nick has stepped in and stepped up. He accepted a lucrative contract but it will go to help the family during some very tough times.

Cummins has 40 thousand followers on Instagram, 34 thousand on Twitter and his match videos have millions of views on YouTube.

He is one of the few people who can win over an entire host nation on an Australian rugby tour with a few choice words said in a post match television interview.

While he's been in Japan he has shot some television commercials. You should check them out. Just like the old spice guy but way more funnier IMO.

So he is gone but not forgotten. Hopefully, he will be back soon to entertain us again. The world needs guys like Nick Cummins and not just because we like to watch a skilled athlete. He makes us laugh and that, is the best kind of medicine there is.

Whom To Bet On The Mayweather Jr Vs. Pacquiao Big Fight

The best way to appreciate the virtues and shortcomings of both Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao without any bias is not to take side with of the boxers. As both the boxers prepare themselves for their fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2nd, it becomes almost nigh impossible to reason with the fans of why any of them would lose, as no fan will accept his choice of fighter as the second best and has a worse chance of winning the bout. However, for the boxing experts, the flaws on a fighter as well as the strengths and weaknesses on the style of boxing are easy to find and understand.

May be your friend will watch the fight on May 2, but do they know what is a jab or how to sit down on punches? It is important to have the quality of match making for hardcore fight fans as they become more demanding, but it is these loyal fans for which the Boxing industry might as well survive and make huge revenues from them. It is for these fans that believe and buy anything they come to know as a good product, even if there is a constant hype of a fight by all the media coverage.

It is really going to be an interesting fight but it is going to be a totally different when compared with a fight six years back. Back then, Manny was a hungry young man for glory and fame; the ferocious fighting style was a delight to watch and there was no match of the aggressive Filipino. But six years hence, a lot many changes have taken place with the Congressman and now it is more of a thinking boxer than the beast he was known to be. On the other hand, Floyd still remains as the boxer he used to be, may be his speed has slowed down a bit; but he is still fast and has better footwork and is comparatively a better boxer than Chris Algieri and Tim Bradley.

Manny has great speed, mobility and power and has a punchers chance. But due to his fighting at mid to long range, Floyd could get the benefit. Pacquito is known to be dominant against pressure fighters who do not have defensive or counter-punching skills or some great footwork. He has been unable to or not willing to finish off the fight when the opponents are ready to get knocked out.

There are many big holes on the defense of Manny and gets countered with ease by boxers with speed. Since the last knockout loss, there has been a careful matching of Manny against light welters with average power.

Floyd remains as this era's best defensive counter puncher with a good chin. In addition, his ring IQ and the quality to adjust show the elite class he belongs.

Build Your Own Gymnastics Balance Beam

There are several methods to make a gymnastics balance beam for home use. They can run the gamut from the most basic wooden beam to one covered with carpet. Or you can make a more elaborate balance beam padded and wrapped in synthetic suede. However you decide, this project isn't too difficult and can save you money. Most supplies you need can be found at a local home improvement store.

First a little background. All competitive gymnasts are required to perform on the balance beam apparatus. Beams used in international gymnastics competitions must conform to the strict guidelines and specifications set forth by the International Gymnastics Federation Apparatus Norms. Originally, the balance beam surface was polished wood. Since the 1980s, beams have been covered in synthetic suede. Today's competition beams are also sprung to accommodate the stress of high-difficulty tumbling and dance skills. This is why gymnasts who are competing can be very particular about the apparatus they use at the gym vs the apparatus you might make at home. Therefore, it is always a good idea to consider the level of the gymnast when deciding to start this project

The regulation length for a competition balance beam is 16 ft 5 inches. Many homeowners can not accommodate an apparatus of this size in the home, therefore decide to make a shorter one. Many home-made balance beams range from 8 to 12 feet in length, however, all are a standard 4 inches in width. The height of the beam will depend on where it is used. We do not recommend using balance beams outdoors as it can be difficult to get a stable surface to prevent wobbling. Your apparatus should always be used on a flat surface.

For beginners age 3-6 a basic wooden beam will provide a great introduction to the sport. As the gymnast gets older this same apparatus can be wrapped in carpet to provide a bit of padding or you can choose to wrap it in synthetic suede to give it the realistic look and feel of a standard balance beam.

MATERIALS

(6) 1 x 6 lumber 8 ft. long (or any desired length)

(2) 2 x 4 lumber 20" long for the legs

Wood Glue (such as Elmer's Carpenters wood Glue)

3M Spray Adhesive

3" wood screws

Wood Stain

Industrial Carpet

Suede Topper for carpet beam (option for carpet beam)

4 inch adhesive loop strip (option for padding)

Synthetic Suede Fabric (cover option)

Iron leg brace option

C Clamps

Sandpaper

Step 1

Glue the six 8-foot pieces of 1-by-6 inch pine lumber together so that their sides are fully contacting one another. This will create a block of wood that is 8 feet long with a side of about 4.5 inches.

Glue liberally between the boards and use clamps to make sure that the glue fastens itself to the wood. Let dry overnight. Using a Belt Sander go over entire beam and sand to smooth finish. If staining your beam you can use finer grade sandpaper with an Orbital Sander to create a smooth finish. If covering the beam with carpet or Suede this step may be omitted.

Step 2

For a stained wooden beam. After sanding to smooth finish, apply stain to your beam.

To make a carpet covered beam you will use heavy-duty staples and wrap the beam with the carpet. Start by stapling carpet to bottom side of the balance beam and tightly wrap carpet around beam and staple underside of beam only. You may also use spray adhesive to further secure the carpet to the beam.

For a synthetic suede covered beam you will want to pad the beam first using a neoprene strip. It can be difficult to find 4 inch wide neoprene which is used on professional beams therefore many home-made beams use yoga mats to pad the beam. You do not want the beam to be too soft so minimal padding is needed. Do not staple padding. Use glue only as staples will cause dimples. You can also use 4 inch wide adhesive peel and stick loop to create padding as well. Continue attaching the suede to the beam by applying spray adhesive to the top and sides of the balance beam. Working from the bottom of the beam, staple the Suede along the bottom. This is a 2 person project as one needs to tightly pull the Suede around the beam evenly while it is being secured with the adhesive. Make sure your balance beam is completely dry before use.

Step 3

For a basic beam you will screw the (2) 20 inch 2 x 4 wood braces to each end. Place each brace at a 90 degree angle to the beam 12 inches from each end.

Alternatively, you can purchase iron manufactured balance beam braces you simply screw into the bottom of your beam. These braces come in a variety of heights and can even make your beam adjustable. It is possible to convert your basic beam to metal braces later on. One advantage to metal braces is they are tall enough to allow a mat to slide under the balance beam while the gymnast is using it.

Warning

Use home-made balance beams at your own discretion. As your beam is not a professionally made piece of equipment it is only as strong as your craftsmanship. Use with supervision as gymnastics is a sport with inherent risk of possible injury.

How Booking Property In Lucknow Can Offer Huge Benefits?

The real estate development has touched the heights in India at a remarkable extent. Lucknow is also one of the prime locations in India in the real estate world. Thus, people are moving forward to get settled down within this city, in case Uttar Pradesh is given a preference. Also, Uttar Pradesh is popular for a huge number of population in India. Thus, the city is liable to offer a numerous of benefits to the real estate builders. With this scenario, the reputed builders emerged with residential and commercial properties equipped with exclusive facilities and amenities.

Reasons behind real estate boom in Lucknow:

A plenty of reasons are responsible for the rise of real estate within the city. The primary reasons are the economic growth and educational institutes. Students all over India get enrolled in the renowned institutes of this place. Moreover, the commercial zones involving shopping complexes are contributing a significant portion in the economic growth. Thus, the residents within the city can get a high source of income by making investments in such commercial areas. Also, the property rates there are affordable against other similar locations.

Since, Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and the destination for politicians and industrialists. Thus, it enjoys the maximum development in various sectors. The rate of employment is also high because the city is bagging a plethora of tourist places along with the renowned industries. There are also a few international IT industries for which the people are investing in residential property so as to get settled nearby their firms.

In the upcoming years, the city is expected to have many more developments, thus, booking a property in Lucknow can bring high return of investment. However, the non-residents can explore the best property option with the assistance of an experienced real estate consultant. Some of the firms are also involved in advising the property options. With such resources, an individual can find the residential or commercial unit within their desired budget and preferable location.

Perks of real estate development for Lucknow residents:

With the growing industrialization and economic growth, the builders realized the future prospects of real estate development. Thus, they launched excellent projects for high return of investment and benefits of residents. A range of all these exclusive projects includes Paarth Aadyant, Omega Affordable House, Radhey Krishna Casa Greens Exotica, Azea Botanica, Omaxe Grand and many more. All these projects are not only offering a future saving, but also an international lifestyle to the residents.

People are investing in these projects as they can enjoy a luxury lifestyle with comfortable living. The basic amenities within the building include parking area, excellent connectivity with neighboring cities, electricity supply round the clock, proximity to schools, healthcare centers and shopping complexes. This is not the limit to the benefits that a resident can enjoy, but there are many more advantages. There are a few prime locations like Gomti Nagar, Sitapur Hardoi Road, Sector-6, 7 and many more. Thus, people are looking forward to book a property in Gomti Nagar for best returns.

Tips On Running A Youth Boxing Program

Congratulations on becoming a boxing coach! Amateur boxing is one of the safest sports that youths can participate in. Working with youths can be rewarding, but it also has its challenges. In order to make the gym run smoother, here are some tips.

1. Meet with the parents before they sign up their kids for boxing. Parents and kids need to know what boxing is and what it is not. Explain your coaching style. Take them on a tour of the gym. The idea is to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

2. Be wary of parents who force their kids to take up boxing in order to "toughen" them up and/or to teach their kids how to handle bullies. If the kid doesn't want to be there, it will be very hard for the coach to motivate them.

3. Recruit volunteers for the gym. These could be parents and/or other interested adults who would like to help train the kids and help out in the gym. Volunteers are valuable, especially when boxing shows and tournaments take place. Also, if there are a lot of students in the gym, volunteers can help take some of the load off of the coach.

4. Always be open to suggestions and advice. But make it clear there is only one boss in the gym.

5. Deal with discipline problems quickly. All it takes is for one kid to act out, then all the others will follow suit. Having to gain re-control of a class takes up valuable training time. Take the kid aside and talk to them about their behavior as to not embarrass them in front of the other kids. If the behavior continues, meet with their parents. It could be that boxing is not a good fit, and the kid would be happier in another activity.

6. Be aware of the students' heights, weight, and abilities. I've had to ask some 12 year olds to sign up for the teens' class because not only were they bigger and taller than I, but bigger and taller than most of the kids in the class for the eight to 12 year olds.

7. Focus levels vary among students. One way to combat a lack of focus is to keep everyone busy. Do drills, have exercises, have them work on the equipment... keep them moving!

8. Boxing can be a tough sell to girls, particularly teenage girls who may be concerned about their image among their peers. Emphasize the health benefits of training to them.

9. Be firm, but refrain from heavy criticism, yelling, screaming, etc. Make the time in the gym fun for all and always offer encouragement.