Author: Lisa Evans

Tips On How To Be Financially Stable

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

It is always a good time to start taking charge of your money. Take the time to read over the following article for some great financial advice. It is not necessary to spend money on classes to teach you how to manage your money. Each piece of knowledge you acquire will make a difference.

With the recent downturns in the economy, diversifying your savings across different areas is a smart move. Spread that money to different accounts such as checking, savings, stocks, gold and other high-interest bearing accounts. Utilize a variety of these vehicles for keeping your money safe and diversified.

Really focus on documenting your daily expenses, and it will help you structure a plan. If you put your notes in an obscure location, though, it may be too easy to forget about it. Try listing how much you spend on a whiteboard set up in your office or den. This way you will be confronted with it often, and the message will stay in your mind.

TIP! Almost every new product comes standard with warranty that covers 90 days from the purchase date, and some products are warrantied for a year. Chances are, if your item fails, it will do so within the time frame of the standard warranty.

Always have an envelope with you. Keep all your business cards and receipts securely stored in this envelope. Keeping up with these items can help you to maintain more accurate financial records. It will be good to have them on hand, so that you can verify all the charges on your credit card statement and contest any that are incorrect.

File your taxes as soon as possible to abide by the IRS’s regulations. If you file for your refund with the IRS early, you will receive your money much quicker. However if you owe the IRS money, it is best to file near the due date.

The largest purchases that you will probably ever make in your lifetime are your home and vehicle. Your monthly payments on these items, including interest, usually makes up the biggest chunk of your budget. Pay them down quickly by sending in extra payments or you can use your tax refund money to make the balance go down.

Paying in full instead of getting into debt is the better option if you can manage it. Some debt is normal, such as education loans and mortgages, but try your best to avoid bad debt such as credit cards. Learning to live within your means insures a life free of high interest rates and massive debt.

TIP! Put money in your savings account every month by setting up a direct transfer from checking to savings. This will help you save money every month.

You will gain confidence in yourself when you start learning how to control your financial situation. Use the tips laid out here. You’ll be pleased when you start to notice the savings. Once you’ve learned how far a little saving can take you, you’ll want to do all you can to learn about saving more.

Stock Market Tips That Will Surely Work

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

Get started in the equity markets as it can be exciting. Depending on your investment goals, there are a wide variety of strategies that you can employ. No matter what investments you make, it is a good idea to have a solid understanding of the basics of the market. Here are tips to help you accomplish that.

Keeping it simple applies to most things in life, and the stock market is no exception. Trading, making predictions or examining data points should all be kept simple.

If you would like to make the maximum amount of money from investing in the stock market, try to create a long-term plan. You also will probably see more success by holding realistic expectations for your investments, as opposed to trying to predict the unforeseeable conditions that most often rule the markets. Holding stocks for the long-term is a sound approach and generally more profitable than trying to make a quick buck.

TIP! Analyze the stock market for some time before deciding to purchase stocks. Before your initial investment, try studying the market as long as you can.

A long-term plan will maximize your returns on investment. The more realistic your expectations are, the more likely you are to succeed. Holding stocks for the long-term is a sound approach and generally more profitable than trying to make a quick buck.

Make sure that you spread your investments around a little. It’s better to spread things out than it is to put all of your hopes into one stock. Failing to diversify means that the few investments you do participate in must perform well, or your stay in the market will be short-lived and costly.

It is prudent to have an investment account with high bearing interest that holds six months of your salary, just in case you need to use it in an emergency. Then if a sudden emergency happens, like an extended period of unemployment, or a medical emergency, you have enough cash to carry you through the rough patch. Do not sacrifice your security by having this cushion tied up in investments you cannot access quickly.

Before you sign up with any broker, or place any investment through a trader, take the time to find out what fees you are going to be liable for. Look for exiting as well as entry fees. You’d be surprised how quickly these fees can add up.

TIP! Long-term investment portfolios work best when then contain strong stocks from a diverse array of industries. Though the market, as a whole, records gains in the aggregate, individual sectors will grow at different rates.

Each stock choice should involve no more than 5 or 10 percent of your overall capital. This will greatly reduce the likelihood of your equity being totally wiped out in the case of a rapid stock decline.

Investing in the stock market can be a fun and exciting opportunity no matter what you decide to do. To make it as rewarding as possible, you should follow the advice that was given to you in this article. It will help no matter what your investment preference is – stocks, mutual funds, or stock options.

Personal Finance Help That You Can Truly Use

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

Though financial matters are always a concern, they are usually an unpleasant one. Your bills can often pile up and you can get overwhelmed. It’s never too late to turn things around. There’s still time to learn how to manage your personal finances instead of letting them manage you.

Stop spending money on things that promise you money overnight. Lots of Internet marketers get fooled by these types of programs because they’re new to business and need money now. You should certainly learn; however, carefully watch how much time and energy you put into learning. You do not want to spend so much time learning that you are unable to work and earn a living.

Writing down the amount you spend each day can be helpful in understanding where you spend your money. Simply jotting down your expenditures in a notebook may make it easier to avoid confronting them by pushing them to the back of your mind. It is more effective to keep it accessible on a wall chart or whiteboard. Seeing this multiple times a day can help keep it fresh in your mind.

TIP! Have a little envelope with you at all times. Tuck receipts and any cards you pick up from businesses you like into the envelope.

Eat as if you aren’t a tourist when you want to save on food costs when traveling. Most likely, the restaurant in the hotel, and the restaurants located in tourist areas will be expensive, so look around and discover where the local people eat. This way, you will not be wasting money on delicacies and can enjoy the local cuisine.

Place your money in different accounts to secure it. Keep some of your money in your savings account and some in your checking account. Invest some in gold, stocks and even in high-interest accounts. Use these ideas to make sure your money is safe.

Credit Repair

Married? Have the partner with the highest credit score apply for any loans. Try to improve your own credit by never carrying a balance on at least one of your cards. Once your credit score has improved, you’ll be able to apply for new loans.

TIP! Gradually replace all incandescent bulbs throughout your home with CFL bulbs, which are far more efficient. If you replace these older bulbs, you should notice lowered energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.

Don’t believe any credit repair service that says they guarantee they will repair your credit history. A lot of companies don’t give all the information about their skills for repairing your history. This is not at all accurate since what is affecting your credit is not the same as another individual with credit issues. There is no way to guarantee success in credit repair and if anyone says otherwise, they are being dishonest.

Now that you have read this article, saving should be more workable for you, no matter what may come your way. Changing your current situation might take time, but your efforts will be rewarded. Similar to dieting, it will not change all in one day. If you stick to the advice listed, you’ll eventually see some positive changes.

Think You Will Be Successful In The Real Estate Market? Try These Tips First

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

Investments are something we all consider and those that do ensure that their actions bring in the best returns. Many people learn that this type of investing is great for investing and watching their money grow. These tips may help you make better real estate investments.

Always do your research, check out locations, and know about the market that you are getting into. Check out anywhere from 50 to 100 properties in your desired location, and take notes in a spreadsheet. Know things such as current prices, cost of repairs and what you can expect to get in rent. This will help you to weed out the bad apples.

Prior to investing in any type of property, make certain you do a market analysis and research that property thoroughly. Check out anywhere from 50 to 100 properties in your desired location, and take notes in a spreadsheet. Pay attention to rent, repair budgets, and current prices. This information will help you find the best deal.

TIP! Be sure you’re educated about real estate prior to taking on any investments. There are many tips and strategies you must learn.

Prior to investing in real estate, do your research. There are many tips and strategies you must learn. It is recommended that you research as much information as possible to better your chances of success.

Make sure to gain a thorough understanding of local property values. It is vital to know the area that you are buying in. Once you have a good understanding of the street level conditions, you can make wiser decisions.

Property Management

Once you are sure that your investments will be in real estate, you should set up either an LLC or a similar entity. The purpose of this is to make sure that you and your investments are protected. Additionally, you may be able to get tax benefits for your business because of your dealings.

TIP! Connect with fellow investors and learn everything possible. Lots of people want to get involved in real estate investments.

Make certain you have the time to put into property management before you invest. The issues tenants have can become time consuming. A company that specializes in property management can take this problem off of your hands.

Join an online investor group, or subscribe to the blog feeds of prominent real estate investors. This will provide you with valuable insight that will help you to formulate your own strategies. You could even talk to someone in a more personal atmosphere.

Will the rent you charge cover the cost of the mortgage payment? This will help to insure that you are buying a good investment. It’s really a problem if you need to dig into your own money for monthly rent since the payments won’t cover it.

There are a couple of things to look for when investing in real estate. First, you shouldn’t overpay for where you buy things. Second, do not overpay for any business. Look at the price of the property physically as it is independently and also figure out how much in rent you can make from the business. You must settle on good findings for these numbers in order for you to make the decision to buy.

TIP! Spend more of your negotiating time listening than talking. By dominating the negotiations with your own talking, you might miss out on a great opportunity.

Put the tips you’ve learned here to use to succeed. When you make proper decisions, you can make good money through investing in a property. You have the information and now it’s time to set your plan in motion.

End Your Online Search For Information About Real Estate Investing With This Article

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

Real estate investments have been responsible for the creation of numerous millionaires. Alternatively, there are many people who are interested in something more modest and just need some great advice. If that sounds like you, read on to benefit from the information presented here.

Figure out what you want to focus on in your investment plans prior to purchasing any property. Flipping real estate properties might be something that works best for you. You might enjoy the challenge of revamping projects or rebuilding them from scratch. Each type requires a different commitment when it comes to work, so knowing what you want is key to honing your skills.

The rent you are getting from properties should cover their mortgage. This is a great way for you to break even. There is nothing worse than needing to cover the mortgage yourself because the renter’s payment cannot cover it.

TIP! Avoid real estate properties where the price is in the tank. Even if the price is tempting, you may end up being stuck with the property for a long time to come because there will simply be no buyers.

When you’re trying to come up with a strategy for business, know that the costs that are sunk go further than a home’s general price. You have closing costs, legal fees, staging costs, and more that may affect the bottom line. Consider all costs involved when determining your margin.

Location is incredibly important in real estate investing. Property condition must also be considered. Properties in areas that are depreciating are generally bad investments. As you evaluate properties, always look at the area and the potential of the properties.

Property Management

Know the value of your time. It may be enjoyable to fix up interesting properties; however, you must consider the value of your time. Would you be better off looking for a less time consuming opportunity? If you can outsource certain jobs, then you should do so. Make time for other parts of your business.

TIP! Take your time at first. It takes patience if you want to invest in real estate.

Make certain you have the time to put into property management before you invest. Tenant issues can eat up your schedule. A company that specializes in property management can take this problem off of your hands.

Do not assume property values will rise in an area. This assumption is dangerous in this market and any individual property. To be safe, invest in a home that can quickly be flipped. Increasing properties values equals profits for you.

While negotiating, open your ears and keep quiet. Simply by letting the other person speak, they can end up harming themselves when trying to negotiate a price. Finally, by listening closely, you will know when to offer your best deal.

For certain it can prove beneficial diversifying your real estate portfolio by investing in different areas and even countries, but you also want to capitalize on local real estate that you’re familiar with as well. You may find places in your area that are great investment opportunities. If nothing else, it is a good place to get started.

Real Estate

If you want to make money from investing in real estate, start now. Now that you’re more informed, you can start investing! Get prepared to become successful with real estate.

Personal Finance Tips That Really Make A Difference

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

You want to buy all the nice things in life, right? A nice home and car is within your grasp if you learn to handle your money. This article is filled with tips that will help you improve your skills.

Keep in touch with world events so that you are mindful of global financial developments. Many people concentrate solely on domestic news, but those with investments that can be affected by global changes need to take a wider view. When you’re aware of what’s going on globally, you’ll be able to make smart predictions about the market and choose your financial strategies wisely.

Try to choose a broker that you can fully trust. Make sure they have excellent references, and make sure they are open and honest with you. Your experience is also helpful when picking a broker.

TIP! Stay abreast of what’s going on in the global markets. Americans tend to ignore news from outside the U.

Try to eat in the restaurants that are frequented by the local people in order to eat economically when you visit foreign countries. Restaurants near hotels and popular tourist spots are usually expensive. The locals most likely eat at far less expensive restaurants, so find out where they are. This is a great way to find authentic food at a budget-friendly price.

This is a time of considerable economic uncertainty, so it makes sense to save your money in several different places. Besides maintaining balances in checking and savings accounts, invest in stocks, mutual funds, gold, and t-bills. Using a variety of strategies will help you protect the money you have.

Remember to do your taxes at a time that is right for your personal situation. To get your money faster, file your refund as early as you can if you are expecting a refund. If you will owe money to the IRS, file just before the due date which is April 15.

To maximize your credit score, have at least two, but no more than four, credit cards. It can take quite some time to establish a satisfactory credit score if you only utilize one credit card, but if you use more than four, you are unable to handle your finances in an efficient manner. It’s a good idea to begin with two credit cards and only get more cards if you truly need them.

Credit Card

Stop charging a credit card that you have issues paying off. Reduce your expenses as much as possible and find another method of payment, so that you do not max out your credit card. Don’t use the card until you have paid off the balance in full.

As you should now see, managing your finances well will provide you the chance to make larger purchases later. With the tips from this article in hand, you can make better decision regarding your finances.

Try to negotiate some options when a debt collector contacts you for a payment. Your debt was probably bought for a low price. Even if you only pay 50% of your balance, they will make money. Use this to your advantage and pay a lower price for that old debt.

Great Advice On How To Be Successful In The Stock Market

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

You can earn quite a lot of money when you invest in stocks. However, in order to make profitable investments, you first need to understand how the market works. The following article will provide you with great advice that can help you make big returns on your stock market investments.

Before you invest or entrust any money at all with an investment broker, make sure you take advantage of the free resources that are available to you to clarify their reputation. Knowing their background will help you avoid being the victim of fraud.

Set realistic goals when you begin to invest. Common sense tells us that you cannot get rich overnight in the stock market unless you invest in many high risk ventures. This is, of course, a faulty strategy because of its high risk of failure. By knowing this, you can stay away from costly investment mistakes.

TIP! If you are the owner of some common stocks, try to participate in the voting process whenever you can. Election of board officers and approval of proposals are items shareholders are commonly granted the right to vote on by the company charter.

If you’d like the maximum cash amount from investing, create an investment plan. You will find more success when your expectations reflect the realities of trading, rather than attempting to look for a crystal ball that doesn’t exist. Have the patience to hold on to your stock investments for as long a period as needed, sometimes years, until you can make a profit.

Before agreeing to a specific broker, make sure you understand the fees involved. There will be entry fees and other fees that could be deducted upon exiting, as well. It will shock you how much they add up to!

If you wish to target a portfolio for the most long range yields, be sure to have stocks from various industries. Although the overall market trend tends to go up, this does not imply that every business sector is going to expand every year. By investing in multiple sectors, you will allow yourself to see growth in strong industries while also being able to sit things out and wait with the industries that are not as strong. If you re-balance your position on a continuous basis, your losses in the industries that are not growing or are losing ground is minimized. Furthermore, you can hold your position to prepare for the spurt of growth.

If conducting research on your own is something that interests you, look into hiring an online brokerage firm. The commissions and trade fees of online brokers are cheaper because you are doing all the work. Since your target is to make cash, having the lowest operating cost is always your best option.

TIP! Try to give short selling a shot. This is done by using borrowed stock shares.

When you choose an equity to invest in, don’t allocate more than 10% of your portfolio into that company. Following this advice will limit your risk if the stock should tank.

The return you desire should influence the type of stocks you purchase, for example, if you need a high return, look to stocks that are doing better than 10%. To figure the potential stock return, add the dividend yield to the growth rate of projected earnings. So for example, with a stock that has a 12% earnings growth and that yields 2% could give you 14% return in the process.

If you want to have the full service of a broker but also make your own choices as well, you should find a broker that will offer both full services and online options. Doing so allows you to take on as much or as little responsibility as you would like. This allows you the safety net of having two people working towards your goals.

Be aware of your stock market education and only do what you are comfortable with. If you do have a financial adviser to help you, invest in the the companies you are familiar with. If you work in the technology sector, you may know more than the average investor when it comes to that. You may not know anything about the airline industry, though. Work with a professional broker or advisor to make these kinds of investing decisions.

TIP! To maximize your profits always check into your portfolio and update any plans you may have with strategies and plans written down. Be sure to include your specific intentions on when you will buy and when you will sell stocks.

As stated above, the potential for earning by investing in the stock market is significant. Once you have the hang of things, you may be quite surprised to learn how much money you can actually earn trading stocks. Use the information that you read in this article to increase your profits.

Tips And Tricks For Investing In The Stock Market

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

The markets can be very complex, even for seasoned investors. While the potential is there to make plenty of money, unfortunately, things can go very wrong. By using some of the advice featured above, you will start making wise investments in the stock market that will yield you long term profits.

Stock market investments should be kept simple. Keeping trading activity, market predictions and data analysis simple, can help you to avoid making foolish investments.

Before choosing a broker, do your homework first. Look at the resources offered online that can give you an assessment of each broker’s reputation and history. These resources are usually free. By spending some time investigating their background, you can avoid rouge brokers who will rob you of your hard earned cash.

TIP! Keep your investment expectations reasonable. Most people know that investing in the stock market doesn’t guarantee riches overnight.

Watch the stock market closely prior to jumping in. It is always recommended to wait on making your first investment until you have studied the market for a lengthy period of time. Keeping your eyes trained to see if the market is going up or down takes a minimum of three years as a basis of analysis. That way, it is possible to gain a greater understanding of the ways in which the market functions, and you will stand a greater likelihood of generating profits.

Before you sign up with any broker, or place any investment through a trader, take the time to find out what fees you are going to be liable for. There will be entry fees and other fees that could be deducted upon exiting, as well. This small fees can quickly add up.

Make sure that you’re spreading out your investments. Investing largely in one sector can come with disastrous results. If you have everything you’ve invested in a single stock and it flops, you’ll be in a lot of trouble.

Before leaping in, watch the market closely. Prior to investing in the stock market take the time to study the inner workings of trading and investing. The best way is to monitor it for about three years or so. This will give you more market knowledge and increase the likelihood that you will make money.

TIP! Conceptualize stocks as being parts of companies that you really do own, instead of being hazy intangibles that you can trade. This means that you will really want to be knowledgeable about any investment you’re making.

If you aim to have a portfolio which focuses on long range yields, then you want to grab a variety of the stronger stocks from a wide range of industries. Even if the market, as a whole, is seeing gains, not every sector will grow every quarter. By having positions along many sectors, you can profit from growth in hot industries, which will expand your overall portfolio. Rechecking your investments and balancing them as necessary, helps to minimize losses, maximize returns and boost your position for the next cycle.

When trading stocks, think of them as your own companies instead of just meaningless symbols. Take some time to look into both the weaknesses and strengths of a given business and asses your stock’s value. This will allow you to think carefully about whether you should own certain stocks.

A basic index fund provides returns that typically match the 10% annual market average. If you intend to pick individual stocks, you want to select ones that offer better returns than this. Estimating your stock’s likely return is as simple as locating the growth rate’s projected earnings and then adding that to the dividend yield. For example, from a stock with a 12% growth and 2% yields, your returns will be 14%.

Resist the temptation to trade according to a time-table. Historical data shows that results come from investing the same amount of money repeatedly over long time frames. Figure out how much you can invest without causing undue hardship to your budget. Then, make a habit of investing regularly, and don’t stop.

Stock Market

As you can see by now, there are many things that can be done to ensure your money remains safe while you take advantage of the stock market. Instead of relying on blind luck, utilize the advice from this article to make big profits on your stock market investments.

Investing And Making Sure You Know What To Do

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

Investing in real estate can be all or nothing. You must have the right information to begin your adventure. If you take the time to do it right, the payoff can be quite profitable. Review these tips to get the ball rolling. Once your investment knowledge is strong, you will make decisions you are comfortable with.

Learn all you can about the market before investing a dime in real estate. Doing so can give you a lot of useful advice about how to make money in real estate. Get a lot of videos about this and check your local library so you can find books to read about real estate to get into a good position.

Network with people who plan on pursuing the same goals. Many, many people have an interest in investing in real estate. There are certain community business groups who feel the same way. There are many forums that you can go to talk to people. You need to become networked so that you can learn from those people.

TIP! A key element in real estate investing is finding the right location. You can always change carpets or the exterior of a home.

You should decide early on about what types of real estate you want to invest in. You may like flipping real estate. Or, you might prefer to build from scratch. You need to consider your tastes and skills so you pick the right type of real estate to invest in.

Understand that reputation is one of the most important aspects that you will deal with when venturing into this business. This is why you should stick with your word while being sure you don’t tell potential clients lies. They will allow you to boost your credibility since they may refer you to others.

Do not purchase anything that has not been inspected by an unbiased professional. Though the seller may offer to pay for an inspection, they might use someone who is biased. Always get a neutral report or a lookover from someone that you personally trust.

Don’t assume that any property values always rise. This is a bad assumption to make when dealing with real estate. Your best bet is to invest in things that give you a positive cash flow right away. You’ll earn more money if the property value appreciates at all.

TIP! It can be extremely helpful to sit back and listen during negotiations. If you do most of the talking, you may just talk yourself out of a good deal.

If you want to invest in real estate, you have to be committed to the process. You might have to curtail your time spent on other activities in order to make more money over the long haul. Ditch poker night or another guilty pleasure so you have more time to hone your investing skills.

When looking at investing in retail or industrial properties, consider two guidelines. First, avoid overpaying for the land. Do not spend too much money on the business either. Separately look at how much the property is worth, as well as the amount of rental income that can be expected. Each one of these numbers should be good.

Real Estate

Always look at the whole neighborhood before you decide to invest in a piece of property. A good neighborhood will keep the value. A property’s value is very important, but the location can often be even more important.

TIP! When buying a property that you intend to rent out to others, choose your tenants carefully. The person should have first and last month’s rent ahead of time, as well as a deposit.

Most investments are risky, but this information should make it lest risky. Learn everything you can from the information located above. Understanding real estate investing will help to ensure your success. You have already begun. So, continue to learn and it’ll be easy for you to invest in real estate.

Important Things That You Need To Know In Managing Your Personal Finances

Posted on by Lisa Evans / Posted in Investing

Are you in a bad financial situation? Has your spending gotten out of your control? Whatever your current money challenges, it is critical that you take action to keep your finances under control. In the following paragraphs, you’ll learn how to spend and save wisely, so that you can regain control of your financial life.

Don’t pay big fees to invest your money. Brokers that invest long term tend to charge fees for making use of their services. Your total return will be greatly affected by these fees. Keep your investing costs down by staying away from funds with pricey management fees and brokers that take large percentages in commissions.

Choose a broker that you can trust and are comfortable with. Ask for references and be sure that your feel comfortable communicating with them. Experience is good attribute to look for in a broker as well.

TIP! Make sure you pay attention to the news so you can expect market movements. It’s problematic to ignore international news in favor of U.

Instead of carrying a card that is almost maxed out, consider using more than one credit card. Having to pay interest on two different cards will be a lot lower than paying a maxed out one. In most cases, this won’t do much damage to your credit scores, and, if you manage your cards wisely, it may even help you improve the state of your credit.

Switch out your old incandescent bulbs in favor of new, energy-efficient bulbs. By replacing your regular bulbs with high efficiency CFL bulbs, you will lower your electricity bill, as well as help the environment. CFLs also last considerably longer than most older-styled light bulbs. Buying bulbs less frequently can help you save money.

Save a set amount from each check you receive. It is easier to save money every week rather than waiting to see what you have left when the month is over. Knowing how much money is already used makes budgeting easier. There will be less temptation to spend it and more encouragement to save it.

In these times, spreading your money into different areas is a great idea. Fund your savings account, maintain your checking as well, and diversify the rest between stocks, retirement accounts and, if possible, gold. Use all or some of those ideas to keep your money safe.

TIP! If you are looking to improve your credit report, it is a good idea to have between two to four active credit cards. It can take quite some time to establish a satisfactory credit score if you only utilize one credit card, but if you use more than four, you are unable to handle your finances in an efficient manner.

If you want to better manage your finances, you need to rid yourself of any outstanding debt. You’ll need to pay off what you owe first. Go out to eat and part less to save some greenbacks. You will have to cut back your spending and sacrifice some things if you are serious about credit repair!

You can feel as if you have nowhere to turn if your personal finances are in trouble. However, with just a bit of effort and will, you can get yourself back on stable footing. Use this article to make better decisions about your finances. Soon enough, your financial problems will become a problem of the past.