Cocktails have been around for a long time, although their origin is highly debated. They are great ways to entertain guests and friends at parties and casual meetings. Surprisingly, cocktails have gone through a long history with a variety of purposes around the globe, and they were also used as remedies. Today, making cocktails is an integral part of bartending, a popular art form that can be learned in many schools around the world. Here are some famous classic cocktail recipes for entertaining guests: Manhattan One of the world’s best-known whiskey-based cocktail was invented sometime during the 1880s. Since its invention, this cocktail has seen many variations and improvisations, but at the heart of the mix lies the sweet vermouth and bitters that are added in the right amount to the whiskey. The earlier versions of Manhattan were rye-based instead of bourbon as it was spicier and sharper in taste. It is considered that bourbon causes the drink to be more mellow. To prepare this simple cocktail, add two ounces of rye or bourbon of your choice to one ounce of Sweet vermouth. Then, add two dashes of Angostura bitters, a dash of orange bitters, and some ice in the mixing glass.

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments in a person’s life. For this investment, most homebuyers apply for a mortgage loan. Although 75 percent of mortgage loan applications get accepted and approved, there is still that 25 percent of applicants who do not get to fulfill their dream of owning a house and need to reapply. The reasons behind these rejections are usually mistakes committed by the applicants. However, most of these are common mistakes made when getting a mortgage, and they are completely avoidable. Here are some of these mistakes and the ways to avoid them: Ignoring the annual percentage rate While researching the rates of interest online, you might come across two different terms: the annual percentage rate and mortgage rates. Before you get a mortgage loan, it is crucial to comprehend the main differences between both of them. Often, lenders try to lure customers by offering attractive mortgage rates, and a first-time buyer might fall for this. In fact, this is one of the most common mistakes made when getting a mortgage. However, understanding the mortgage rate is just half the story, and the APR gives out the actual cost of what you will be paying as it includes the processing fees and other charges.

When it comes to different types of liquid assets, marketable securities are perhaps one of the topmost options. They are unrestricted financial options, which can be sold readily through a stock exchange and/or a bond exchange. These types of liquid assets are further divided into two categories, marketable equity securities and marketable debt securities. Marketable equity securities Marketable equity securities are an important type of liquid asset, which comprise shares of preferred stock or common stock. These can be traded, sold, or purchased on stock exchanges. These securities are usually considered as current assets as these are reported under the cash and cash equivalents account. These are short term and offer high liquidity. Marketable equity securities – An example Stocks are one of the most popular forms of marketable equity securities. Here, shareholders gain part ownership in the organization in which they have made an investment. On the other hand, the organization has the right to utilize the investment made by the shareholder as equity capital to finance its expansion and operations. In return, depending on the profitability of the organization, the shareholder gets voting rights along with periodic dividends. Stocks can be quite volatile and their value can fluctuate depending on the current scenario of the organization.

If you have decided to quit smoking, your efforts should certainly be appreciated. It is important to be aware that smoking is highly injurious to your health and you have to stop soon. This awareness is the beginning of healthy habits and lifestyle. However, understand that it is only half the battle crossed. What is important is to continue facing the battle and come clean off the habit of smoking. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the country. Altering one’s behavior does tremendous help in swimming to the surface, and not to forget the withdrawal symptoms that one has to go through. One of the most effective ways to quit smoking for good is to: Fix a quit day Inform friends and family Gift yourself when you reach the milestone Fix a quit day It all starts by fixing a quit day. One might argue, what’s in a date? But research shows that it gives the person anchoring, assurance, and something to look forward to. Ensure not to fix a quit date too far away, for you may not take it seriously. The time frame should be just enough to give you time to prepare.

While getting a new vehicle, you keep a budget and model in mind, and this is certainly the right way to go about it. However, there can be certain situations when things might not go according to your plan. Some of these situations can be: Not getting the chosen model at the desired price Getting offered the loan at an exponentially high price Getting a lease price beyond your budget In such cases, cracking a good deal with a finance or lease company is the best way to go about things. So, whether you are still deciding between financing vs. leasing a vehicle or whether you have already made up your mind, avoid these mistakes to get the best deal. Financing a vehicle: Mistakes to avoid Sticking to one car make only This is a mistake made by many people while getting their vehicle financed, but it can be avoided. Before getting their finance options set, most people decide on the vehicle they would like, but it is important to first check what you are able to actually afford. Instead of having your eyes set on one car, look for options that give you a better deal while getting an automobile loan.

In today’s day and age, it is close to impossible to afford a conventional college education without a proper fund. Having said that, you cannot do away with the need for a college education. To keep up with times, having a proper savings plan in place is crucial. If you are also looking for tips on saving for college for students, here are some ways in which you can get started. Choose from different scholarship options There are multiple grants and scholarship options that you can choose from. You do not need to necessarily be a class topper to take advantage of such scholarships. For students who are good at athletics or extracurricular activities, getting a scholarship becomes much easier. This will help in significantly bringing down your future education costs. The scholarship can pay for a huge chunk of your tuition and let you save a whole lot of money. Get a job While studying, you can pick up a part-time job. Many jobs offer decent remunerations which can help you put your savings towards further education. They can also help strengthen your portfolio and make you learn while studying. Most campuses post advertisements for jobs that are available.

A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that lets a borrower convert their home equity into cash that can be borrowed. This can be taken as a single, large amount at once, as a line of credit when required or as monthly payments. If you are wondering how these are paid back, there are a couple of ways. One of the most common ways is by selling the house after the borrower passes on. The proceeds from the sale are then used to pay the loan. The second way is if the borrower chooses to stop the mortgage after a couple of years, sell their house, and pay it back. Additionally, if the borrower defaults on his property maintenance, the mortgage gets cut off and they owe the money back. Finally, in some cases, if the heirs decide they want to keep the property for sentimental reasons, they can choose to pay the mortgage back and retain the property. These are some of the basics of a reverse mortgage. But, is it for everyone? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage, so you can take an informed decision. Pros of a reverse mortgage Here are the advantages of a reverse mortgage:

Benefits of savings accounts for students in top banks in the country Many top banks and financial institutions offer savings accounts for students with varying benefits. Looking at the benefits of savings accounts for students as offered by these banks makes it difficult to choose between them. So how do you know you are getting the best? To help you out, here are the benefits of savings accounts for students as offered by some of the best banks in the country at the moment: HSBC HSBC has consistently been one of the best banks to open a savings account. It yields high interest, and the process of opening an online account with this bank barely takes a few minutes. This is something very simple and you can do it between classes. The online savings account is known as an HSBC Direct Savings account, and it offers account holders a fabulous APY of over 2 percent, which is one of the best out there. Once you open an account, you get access to many benefits, including mobile check deposit facility, access to electronic statements, online transfers, and so much more. Additionally, HSBC is FDIC insured, so you know that your money is safe.

For anyone who loves their trucks, 2020 looks set to be a great year. With so many models set to enter the market, you will truly get your pick of some of the best in automobile technology. Off-roading and towing have never been so easy. To give you a head start on what you can expect, here are some of the top trucks of 2020. 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Chevrolet is an extremely trusted name in the field of automobiles. This is especially true for its pickups. The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado is set to take the market by storm. This pickup’s impressive list of features includes a 6.2L V8 engine for truly remarkable towing as well as an option for a Duramax® 3.0L Turbo-Diesel engine that offers great fuel economy of 23 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. The 2020 Silverado has a model for every user from the High Country that is suited for off-roading with its high-intensity discharge LED headlamps to the LTZ with its chrome finish or the LT Trail Boss with its 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine. Up to 15 camera views, a 15-inch diagonal head-up display, and a large capacity for storage are other noteworthy features that accompany the 2020 Silverado.

The best manufacturers and big brands like Sony and Microsoft with Xbox have consistently moved from strength to strength with the number of features and specs in their gaming systems improving year after year. However, when it comes to family-friendly games, there is a very niche choice of systems. Some could be in the market for educational content, multimedia capabilities, or simply family-friendly content so that the little ones can be kept busy while learning something. Whatever be your preference, there is something out there for everyone. This article looks at some of the top gaming systems for families and what they have to offer. Educational gaming console The Leapfrog LeapTV™ console is great for kids who wish to learn. It comes with a host of parental controls for supervision. Many parents have actually advocated this console as it really keeps kids engaged and helps them learn at the same time. The selling point is the physical activity the kids need to do while they are studying math or science. These keep the kids involved, interested, and engaged. The range of motions and actions is stunning and parents can choose from over 100 apps and games. The notable body motion feature allows kids to hop around, skip, and even dance or twist and turn to mimic the actions of a frog.