How to Make Money with Minimum Risk

You might have heard from lot of financial planners that those who cannot understand stock markets should go for mutual funds and best way to invest in mutual funds is through Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). In Systematic Investment Plan you need to invest every month in a mutual fund on a fixed date for a period of time say one year or two year etc. As per the financial consultants, this will give good returns. In case there are periods where markets are high for certain time and then it goes down for certain time then the average investment will even out and you will get positive returns.

This is totally misleading statement especially if you start out at when the stock markets are on a high. I have done that and found how misleading it is. The moment you stop the SIP the fund stops getting evened out and if you stop when the markets are at a low for last few months, then you chances of making any profits are quite less. Financial planner and mutual fund companies are the only gainers.

SIPs are for lazy investors. Most people want to earn money from stock markets automatically and they do not want to take much risk and in the bargain do not earn what they could have earned potentially.

How to Profit from Stock Markets?
If you want to make money in stock markets I will suggest a simple solution. Invest in index funds. In case you are unaware, index funds are mutual funds which are not actively managed. They invest money in all the funds which represents a index. For example, Nifty is collection of top 50 companies in India. Similarly Sensex consists of top 30 companies. If the index fund you choose is based in Senxexm the index fund you choose will have proportionate investment in all the stocks which are included in Sensex. Whenever Sensex increase by 5% that index fund will also increase by 5% and if the Sensex fall by 10% that index fund's value will also reduce by 10%.

As per the history of Sensex and any other index in the world, the indexes increase over time. So investing in them is a almost certain way to have profits.

Another advantage of index funds is, since it is not actively managed, they have very less fund management charges as compared to other actively managed mutual funds.

Although for a short period of time like one or two or three year a fund may give more returns than the index for over a longer period of time they are not able to beat the returns of index funds consistently. So go for index funds.

How to Invest in Index Funds
Making profits is easy. Invest when markets are down and sell when markets are high. So next question is how. It is simple. First fix some money say for example 5000 or 10000 rupees or dollars whichever is your currency. Decide that whenever markets fall by 5% then you will invest that money and whenever market rises by 7% you will sell units worth that money. Usually fall like 5% and rise of 7% will not happen more than 5 to 7 times a year.

Based on the averages you will definitely make money. If you want to increase the returns than you can increase the money you invest or sell in a transaction. So with each fall you buy more units are cheaper price and when it rises you book your profit. Whenever you buy or sell, mark when you will buy or sell next. For example if you sell today when the market is at 100 points then your would sell next time when market is at 107 and buy at 95. You would now mark these two as the new transaction points.

I have observed the pattern for last few years and have seen that it can make money. Another advantage is you do not need to watch the markets every day very closely. You only need to observer if it is gaining and moving towards the new markers. When it is close then you need to make sure that you do the transaction.

If you follow the above steps you can make money without much risks.

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Twelve ways to sharpen your brain

It is a fact the our brain, like the other body muscles sharpens more as we use it more. More neurons are created to store newer experiences. More the number of these neurons, sharper it will be.

There is another similarity between the exercise of the muscles and the brain. If you continue to exercise the same set of muscles, they will grow stronger till some point and then the muscles becomes used to that exercise and does not grow after that. Similarly when we keep on feeding the brain same experiences time after time it stops recording them at a deeper level and stronger neurons networks are not developed.

On the other hand, if you exercise different set of muscles, then body will respond to that exercise better and body will have more muscle mass and same is the case with brain cells. When it fed with newer experience it becomes sharper. Newer experiences are recorded at a deeper level and for that you need to feed it with different experience which are not recorded previously.

The question is how to feed the brain with newer experiences. The answer is to do some activity to which you are not used to. Doing that requires more concentration and brain is feed with different impulses from the muscles or the sense organs which are being used. This leads the brain to record that experiences which add new neurons making the brain stronger.

Here are twelve simple activities which can sharpen your brain.

1. Drive to a place through a new route.


2. Ride a bike facing backwards while someone else is driving. Be careful it may be dangerous


3. Go for trekking to a new place.


4. Solve some puzzle.


5. Write or draw with left hand if you are right handed or vice versa.


6. Play carom board with your weaker hand


7. Play Chess especially with a player with who you do not normally play with.


8. Learn a new skill like Skating or Skiing or Salsa.


9. Paint.


10. Try something adventurous like rock climbing or scuba diving.


11. Meditate


12. Try some new Yoga Postures. You can visit my blog www.headfirstyoga.com for Yoga articles.

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Write Down Your Goals To Achieve Them

Yesterday I finished one of my goals in 50 Things I Want To Do or Achieve Before I Die. It was really good to complete one of my stated goals. Now that I am able to write Done in front of the goal I can now move on to next goal with more confidence than ever that I can achieve them also.

Benefits of Writing Down your Goals
It proved to me what I have read for a long time. If you want to achieve something, then write it down. Writing down your goals in a way compels and more than that encourages you to at least have a go at them and once you do that you are in a better position to achieve them.

Writing down your goals also good because writing means more of a commitment and less of a wish. Only you have the power to achieve your goals and the satisfaction which you will get from achieving can not described in words.

Writing down your goals and making the list public will also put some positive pressure on you to accomplish the goals. That is why I have published the list on my blog. If you do not want to publish it on blog then you can share it with your friends and family and also tell them to remind you after that.

Another benefit of writing down your goals is you will only write the goals which are quite meaningful to You. Lot of time we try to accomplish goals which are set by others for us. That is not good. Once you write down your goals, you take charge of your life. You will then be able to decide the destiny and journey of your life and not others.

Action Item
Take a pen and a paper and write down following three list.
a. Your Goal for next three months. include various things which you would love to do in life and not just health and money, for example learning something new skill or visiting some place. (For example my personal aim is to learn Skating.)
b. Similar list for next six month.
c. Similar list for next one year (2010).

Now paste the list on your wall where you do most of your work. I think after six month you will have a lot to shout about. Go and get a pen NOW.

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50 Things I Want To Do or Achieve Before I Die

Every one has dreams. I have read this kind of list where people list out places they want to visit before they die. I think this is a powerful way to achieve your dreams. Instead of just being passive and hoping that some dreams will come true, wh not create a list and go after them. At least once you know what you want how will you ever achieve your dreams? This kind of list empowers you and fills you with motivation to go ahead and achieve your dreams.

I have also decided to create a list. I want to achieve at least 50 things which are important to me. At present the list is quite short, and I intend to fill it up as and when I meet some interesting goal. Some of the goals below may be expanded to create few more interesting goals.

As and when I complete a goal I will update that here.

So here goes my list.

1. Finish the 32 Week Basic Course of Iyengar Yoga


2. Retire at 45


3. Practice Surya Namsakar for 21 rounds for 30 days. (Done)


4. Practice Surya Namsakar for 108 rounds for a week.


5. Create a poster with self performed 108 Yoga Poses.


6. Reach more than 10000 daily visitors on my Blogs.


7. Travel to Darjeeling and Sikkim and explore the great Himalayas


8. Visit Switzerland and Paris. Travel through the alps


9. Learn Skating


10. See Tiger in a Wild Life Sanctuary.


11. Visit Andamans.


12. Do Snorkeling.


13. Build a Wind Power generator.


14. Buy a Farm and grow crops.


15. Take my parents abroad once


16. Go on a cruise for at least 2 days


17. Be Total Vegetarian


18. Learn Sanskrit good enough to understand Bhagwad Geeta


19. Have a pet cow.


20. Para Sailing


21. Do Para jumping atleast once in my life


22. Attend a 10 day Vipassana Course


23. Live on boiled and raw food without any spices for a week


24. Release own Software Products


25. Write 5 Books (1 Done)

Related Posts
How to Achieve More Goals This Year
Write Down Your Goals To Achieve Them

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Developing Self Reliant Communities

In these days of World economy I came across a presentation from a organization called Swadeshi Jagran Manch which tells the Indians to buy Indian goods. Its motto is "Buy Local". Swadeshi means produce belonging to ones' native country and "Jagran Manch" means platform to raise awareness. This organization aims to raise the awareness amongst Indians to buy local goods and reject the multinational companies. I think there are similar kind of organizations all over the world in different countries.

As per this philosophy, every consumer should try to buy goods which are produced and manufacture locally and if they are not produced locally then go for imported goods if they are absolutely must. For example, if a person wants to buy grain he should buy that from a merchant or farmer from his own village. If it is not available then try to buy merchandise from his district, then from state and then from other states. If not produced in the country then go for imported goods. If at all we need to import then see if that is absolutely essential or has technical benefits for the country.

In my view it does makes sense. There are several benefits I can see.

Following are the benefits of Buying Local.
1. Firstly, it will develop micro economy.
2. Money will reach the small farmers and producers.
3. It will generate more employment locally and in turn it will stop migration of people to cities where they stay in improper conditions, as they will find employment there.
4. The wastage and expenses incurred during the transportation will reduce.
5. Big multinational firms spend more money in advertising there by increasing the price of the goods. Their involvement in selling these goods also means they lesser number of people are employable for selling the same amount of the goods. They hardly bring any value to the good and charge exorbitant amount for the shopping service they provide.
6. By going local you are providing money for a local family instead of filling the coffers of a cash rich company.

What are the steps you can take.
1. Buy local material. For example if you can see grains, cereal or spices manufacture by local company buy that instead of local brands. Just make sure they are of good quality.
2. There are certain items which may not be produced locally, there go for the companies which have manufacturing facilities in your state or district.
3. Try to avoid buying items such as toys which are made in China for example even if they are cheaper.

This can be done by people in all countries of the world. This will strengthen the local communities and not restrict the wealth in the hands of few individuals and corporations. Less babies will suffer from malnutrition and hunger and world will be a happier place.

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Dress Restriction for Girls in Colleges

Recently there was a news in the media regarding the dress code for girls in colleges in Kanpur city which is in northern India. The girls did not like the ban and reacted by protesting it. Similar bans have been called for recently in Karachi and various other colleges. The target is always the girls and they are told that wearing jeans would invite eve teasing. Some places the plea is that jeans is a western dress and we should stick to our culture.

I think the reasoning is absurd. The sickness is in the loafers and idiots roaming around in the streets and we are treating it by telling the girls to wear traditional dresses. As if you have a pain in the legs and instead of treating it we say amputating the leg will relieve the pain in the leg. Can the college authorities assure the girls that the eve teasing will stop if they start wearing traditional dresses? Another reason I don't like such bans is it is giving in to the rowdies.

I am not against the traditional dresses, and in fact I think girls look beautiful in them, but again choice should be with the person as to what they want to wear. If sticking to the culture is the main point then the boys should also not be allowed to wear T-Shirts or jeans and instead should come to college in Kurta and Dhoti which are traditional dresses for male in India.

Some people would argue that the crime against the women will rise if they are in Jeans and T-Shirt. That is also not very true. In fact if a girl is confident in these dresses then there are less chances of eve teasing compared to a weak body language in traditional dress. There are scores of rapes and crimes happening against girls and there is no statistics to suggest that most were in western dresses. I feel if the dress is dignified and not revealing it should be allowed. If compared to Tops, sarees, the traditional dress shows more skin. Some ladies wear Sarees in a very dignified manner while some can make it look vulgar.

The major solution in my opinion would be to run a public campaign to educate people on how to handle eve teasing, encouraging people to help girls live a dignified life and at the same time give police more power to tackle the culprits. Recently in Kanpur, police caught few eve teasers and invoked the strict national security act on them. Such kind of actions can be deterrents to crimes against the women and not the knee jerk reactions being shown by the weak college administrators.

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How to maintain you cool in Traffic

Driving in congested traffic is one of the major causes of stress in day to day life. I have asked many people and they agree that they get angry regularly while Driving. While in America, I saw that most of the traffic was well disciplined and respecting other drivers. It is not to say that everybody is disciplined but most of the people obey traffic laws. Here in India and rest of South Asia people somehow want to move ahead and beat you. Everyone seems in too much hurry and some how want to reach their destinations earlier. People take too much time to save 5 to 10 minutes of their time, while putting at risk their own and others' lives. Most of my friends who come back from America after a long time are afraid to drive here for first few days even if they have been born and brought up here.

When do most people get irritated?
I was thinking about this problem for a long time and trying to analyze what caused me most irritation. I came across three major reasons which creates anger.

1. Slow traffic in front
   When you are in a hurry to reach your office or rush home after a day at the office, one thing that irritates the most is another motorist who is moving too slowly on a single lane road and blocking your path. It gets more annoying when you want to overtake but unable to do so because of lack of space. You start cursing that person.


2. Honking
   Sometime you might be traveling at a proper speed but the person behind you may be in too much hurry and keeps on honking on you. I have also see people who keep on honking on everybody else on the road expecting that everyone else will clear the road for him. This habit creates a lot of stress to others. Quite a few people think of taking revenge and start honking on that person. This creates more stress on the road.


3. Rash Driving
   Few people think it is their birth right to move into every little space on the road and do not care about the lanes or any other rules. Some others turn suddenly without any indicators. When you see such driving you become aware of the danger to you and become apprehensive and cautious.

Steps to remain cool in Traffic

1. Start Early
   Starting early is one of the key to remain calm in traffic. If a destination requires 15 minutes, then start 20 minutes early. Similarly for a destination of 1 hour start 15 minutes early. If you want to hurry, use it to make an early start. For example, try to finish the daily routine like bath, or breakfast earlier so that you can make an early start. Once you start with sufficient time in hand, the traffic jams will not cause stress as you already accounted for them.


2. Drive Slowly
   This is an extension of the earlier point. Apart from starting earlier, try to drive within the speed limit and as per the road condition. I have observed that driving slowly ensures that the driving anxiety is not there. Even if you are in a real hurry, try to drive as much slowly as possible. Remember it is better to reach late than ending up in hospital with few broken bone or disability for life.


3. Keep Distance
   Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. If there is sudden braking from the vehicle in front you would still be safe. Another benefit of maintaining safe distance is you can anticipate any danger and take evasive action. If you are too close you may not get a chance to save yourself from the danger.


4. Forgive
   This is a technique which I find extremely effective and useful. Even if someone manages to irritate you and makes you feel angry, lets say by continuous honking, suppress the urge to honk him. Think that may be this person is in real hurry let me forgive him. You will immediately find peacefulness returning and stress getting released.


5. Observe Your Stress
   I also use this technique quite a lot. When ever you feel angry, try to divert the attention and observe and feel the stress your face. Observe how the forehead is tighter. You will immediately be able to relax and de-stress.
   

Try out the above techniques and let me know about them. I would also love to hear from you, any other techniques which you find useful. Happy Driving, Bon Voyage.

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Starting Practical Self Improvement Tips & Information Blog

I am currently running a blog called headfirstyoga.com. That blog is dedicated to Yoga, Acupressure and Ayurveda articles and tips. I am starting this blog in the hope of sharing other information and tips which I collect and which I want to share. Like everybody else, I have my own perspective of everything around us which I want to bring to you.

I feel that everyone of us have lot of potential and we can keep on improving each day. Even if we move one inch a day ahead we will move 365 inches forward in a year. That is my philosophy. One year from now you would wish you had started today. Start the improvement today and even if we move slowly we will be better off next year this time.

Have a great day and I look forward to bringing you my views on various topics.

Thanks
--Nilendu Bhattacharya

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