Gardening for a greener, healthier and more habitable America is one of the causes promoted by the National Gardening Association. The organization is encouraging everyone to pursue gardening as a job or hobby. You can do it, too, if you know how to start your own garden. However, you need to consider a few things first to determine what type of garden you can create. Some of the things that you need to look into are location, gardening equipment, type of soil, gardening tools, supplies, and more.Some people opt to grow annual and perennial plants in places where these plants are suitable, while others opt to start a vegetable garden that is maintained as an organic harvest. These types of gardens are often found in suburban homes. These are often cultivated with the parent’s desire to add more nutrition into the meals of their kids every day. The vegetable garden is a good way to ensure that you will have fresh harvest that is easily within reach.To make this garden productive, you need basic gardening equipment. The necessary equipment and tools can help you put your gardening plans into fruition.Protective Gardening GearWhile you are outdoors toiling on your garden, you need to wear protective gear. By wearing the right gear, you will be protected from the dirt, germs, mud or other harmful stuff that could come from gardening. However, you might be a bit worried at first thinking about the additional cost of having to buy protective clothing and other necessary gears. You don’t need to worry at all because the equipment that you need are not really expensive. Wearing the right gear is also more cost-effective rather than wearing and damaging your trainers, shoes or flip-flops while gardening. By having on a pair of heavy-duty wellington boots or gardening tools, your shoes will be completely protected from soil, gravel, stones, sturdy roots, falling tools, muddy grounds after heavy rains, and other conditions that could put you in danger.There are several garden shoes to choose from, but the sturdiest brands would be your best choice. You can also wear gardening aprons with pouches and pockets that can hold your hand tools, plant labels, seed packets or garden twines. They can also secure your mobile phone and other important personal times while you are gardening. Gardening gloves can protect your hands from cuts, and you can choose among the lightweight and heavy-duty types.Additional Gardening EquipmentThere are garden equipment kits that you can order online. Some good kits include trowel, transplanter, hedge shear, weeder, narrow trowel, knee pad, edging knife, pitch fork, hose nozzle, water stop, adjustable metal hose nozzle, water tap adaptors, and more. You may also buy a tool seat consisting of a chair and tool kit.Garden AccessoriesFun garden accessories are available to make your garden look even more beautiful and functional. You can choose from automated sprinklers, patio heaters, bird houses, greenhouse vents, basket and trugs, carts and containers, seed tray, rain water butt, sprayers, and others.
SPDN: An Inexpensive Way To Profit When The S&P 500 Falls
Summary
SPDN is not the largest or oldest way to short the S&P 500, but it’s a solid choice.
This ETF uses a variety of financial instruments to target a return opposite that of the S&P 500 Index.
SPDN’s 0.49% Expense Ratio is nearly half that of the larger, longer-tenured -1x Inverse S&P 500 ETF.
Details aside, the potential continuation of the equity bear market makes single-inverse ETFs an investment segment investor should be familiar with.
We rate SPDN a Strong Buy because we believe the risks of a continued bear market greatly outweigh the possibility of a quick return to a bull market.
Put a gear stick into R position, (Reverse).
Birdlkportfolio
By Rob Isbitts
Summary
The S&P 500 is in a bear market, and we don’t see a quick-fix. Many investors assume the only way to navigate a potentially long-term bear market is to hide in cash, day-trade or “just hang in there” while the bear takes their retirement nest egg.
The Direxion Daily S&P 500® Bear 1X ETF (NYSEARCA:SPDN) is one of a class of single-inverse ETFs that allow investors to profit from down moves in the stock market.
SPDN is an unleveraged, liquid, low-cost way to either try to hedge an equity portfolio, profit from a decline in the S&P 500, or both. We rate it a Strong Buy, given our concern about the intermediate-term outlook for the global equity market.
Strategy
SPDN keeps it simple. If the S&P 500 goes up by X%, it should go down by X%. The opposite is also expected.
Proprietary ETF Grades
Offense/Defense: Defense
Segment: Inverse Equity
Sub-Segment: Inverse S&P 500
Correlation (vs. S&P 500): Very High (inverse)
Expected Volatility (vs. S&P 500): Similar (but opposite)
Holding Analysis
SPDN does not rely on shorting individual stocks in the S&P 500. Instead, the managers typically use a combination of futures, swaps and other derivative instruments to create a portfolio that consistently aims to deliver the opposite of what the S&P 500 does.
Strengths
SPDN is a fairly “no-frills” way to do what many investors probably wished they could do during the first 9 months of 2022 and in past bear markets: find something that goes up when the “market” goes down. After all, bonds are not the answer they used to be, commodities like gold have, shall we say, lost their luster. And moving to cash creates the issue of making two correct timing decisions, when to get in and when to get out. SPDN and its single-inverse ETF brethren offer a liquid tool to use in a variety of ways, depending on what a particular investor wants to achieve.
Weaknesses
The weakness of any inverse ETF is that it does the opposite of what the market does, when the market goes up. So, even in bear markets when the broader market trend is down, sharp bear market rallies (or any rallies for that matter) in the S&P 500 will cause SPDN to drop as much as the market goes up.
Opportunities
While inverse ETFs have a reputation in some circles as nothing more than day-trading vehicles, our own experience with them is, pardon the pun, exactly the opposite! We encourage investors to try to better-understand single inverse ETFs like SPDN. While traders tend to gravitate to leveraged inverse ETFs (which actually are day-trading tools), we believe that in an extended bear market, SPDN and its ilk could be a game-saver for many portfolios.
Threats
SPDN and most other single inverse ETFs are vulnerable to a sustained rise in the price of the index it aims to deliver the inverse of. But that threat of loss in a rising market means that when an investor considers SPDN, they should also have a game plan for how and when they will deploy this unique portfolio weapon.
Proprietary Technical Ratings
Short-Term Rating (next 3 months): Strong Buy
Long-Term Rating (next 12 months): Buy
Conclusions
ETF Quality Opinion
SPDN does what it aims to do, and has done so for over 6 years now. For a while, it was largely-ignored, given the existence of a similar ETF that has been around much longer. But the more tenured SPDN has become, the more attractive it looks as an alternative.
ETF Investment Opinion
SPDN is rated Strong Buy because the S&P 500 continues to look as vulnerable to further decline. And, while the market bottomed in mid-June, rallied, then waffled since that time, our proprietary macro market indicators all point to much greater risk of a major decline from this level than a fast return to bull market glory. Thus, SPDN is at best a way to exploit and attack the bear, and at worst a hedge on an otherwise equity-laden portfolio.
How to Get Your Private Party Auto Loans
The problem occurs when the individual planning to buy the car does not have enough cash to make the down payment. That’s where private party auto loans come in. They provide a way out for such individuals who desire to finance their vehicles and don’t have enough resources to make their down payments.What are private party auto loans?It’s not mandatory to get your auto loan from traditional car dealers or banks. It’s possible to negotiate with private parties and finance your commutation needs. One way of doing this is to get your credit facility from a private party who specialize in providing car loans without any down payment. Typically, in order to avail private loans, it’s important to find a vehicle that’s offered for sale by the original owner. At times neighbors, relatives, acquaintances, and colleagues decide to change their car, and put up their old car for sale. They often advertise their sale in local newspapers, magazines, and even advert their vehicle online in forums and portals supporting classified ads. One can get a good deal from such sources.Once the particular model or make is selected, the current owner has to be contacted for the sale price and vehicle specs. Thereafter, through proper price negotiation, it becomes possible to get a decent price for the car. The major advantage in these kinds of person to person auto loan sales is there are no brokers or dealers involved, and so the price of the car does not include the brokerage or commission. The buyer gets a potential discount that way.And the second advantage is you end up communicating with the actual owner, and not the auto dealer, so you end up with first hand information regarding the vehicle’s performance and history, including various aspects such as maintenance, insurance, any previous accident history, etc. The third advantage is you end up paying an affordable price for your car, since used cars cost significantly less. The used auto loans private party monthly loan repayment amount is therefore less, so it’s easier to repay. This actually improves your credit scores and ratings, since FICO scores increase with regular payments.How to apply for private party auto loans?The process is quite simple. The buyer generally searches online for cars offered for sale, and browses the list of vehicles. Thereafter, a few of the models and makes satisfying the buyer’s requirement are short-listed. The buyer has two choices. Either to contact the seller directly and negotiate the sale after checking out the vehicle, or apply online after filling up an application form. The forms are simple in nature and some basic information has to be provided by the applicants.Alternately, the buyer can also specify some specific requirements such as mileage, age of the car, specific model or make, and even the year of manufacturing in rare cases. Some buyers also request for information related to the existing owner to ascertain how well the car has been maintained, how many services it has had, and also some specific data associated with the insurance policy or claims linked with the car.Once the car and the owner has been decided, the second step is to approach the lender. If you’ve applied online, a loan provider will be made available to you so you don’t have to search for one. In case you’ve negotiated directly, and if your credit ratings are low, it’s recommended you search online for bad credit private party auto loans provider and fill up the application form to avail your credit facility.What are eligibility for private party auto loans?One needs to qualify for private party loans. Generally, the norms related to the eligibility remain more or less common amongst the providers, and are narrated as follows:o The applicant should be of 18 years of age or above.
o The minimum income per week should be $418 or $21,736 annually.
o The borrower should have lived for more than six months within the last two residences mentioned in the form.
o The applicant should have worked for more than six months with the last two employers mentioned in the application form.
o The borrower should not have filed for bankruptcy, nor be involved with any ongoing bankruptcy.
o The individual should possess a valid social security number.Many private money lenders advertise their loan products online so sufficient choices are available. Once you submit your application online, the company executive co-ordinates with the potential buyer to get the required documentation and contact details.