Most of us guys are useless at Christmas shopping. Here's a few tips I've picked up over the years.
Ladies, you might want to share this with the men in your family to avoid getting an undesirable and badly wrapped present this Christmas.
Buying your Christmas presents at a petrol station or dairy on Christmas morning really isn't the done thing - apparently not everyone wants a funnel, box of biscuits or a car care kit. Don't do it.
Get started early, no not on Christmas Eve, yesterday was already too late.
First thing in the morning is the best time to Christmas shop, and I mean first thing, teenagers are still in bed.
It's not the thought that counts, it's how MUCH thought that counts.
Cash is a GREAT present for teenagers - and me.
If you must give gift vouchers make sure they are from a shop the recipient actually shops in and try and avoid those with an expiry date.
Wrapping and cards are important, you and I know it's just paper but for some reason they are important.
Before you start browsing in a shop check that it does gift wrapping and accept the service - wait if necessary. If the shop doesn't do gift wrapping move on to the next. Unless you are an expert present wrapper - Yeah Right!
Even if every present you buy is gift wrapped, buy plenty of wrapping paper and sellotape. You are going to need it because dairy's and petrol stations don't gift wrap and being a bloke you'll probably ignore number 1.
Guys ignore the above at your peril and have a wonderful Christmas.
Standard & Poors is a company that analyses countries, businesses, and individual securities and expresses an opinion on how likely it is that the entity will be able to meet its future financial commitments, its credit worthiness.
A paper called Standard and Poors Guide to Credit Ratings Essentials provides an overview of different business models and methodologies used by credit rating agencies. It also describes generally how Standard & Poor’s forms its ratings opinions about issuers and individual debt issues, monitors and adjusts its ratings, and studies ratings changes over time.
It points out several key things you should know about credit ratings:
Credit ratings are opinions about relative credit risk.
Credit ratings are not investment advice, or buy, hold, or sell recommendations. They are just one factor investors may consider in making investment decisions.
Credit ratings are not indications of the market liquidity of a debt security or its price in the secondary market.
Credit ratings are not guarantees of credit quality or of future credit risk.
General summary of the opinions reflected by Standard & Poor’s ratings
INVESTMENT GRADE
‘AAA’ Extremely strong capacity to meet financial commitments. Highest rating
‘AA’ Very strong capacity to meet financial commitments
‘A’ Strong capacity to meet financial commitments, but somewhat susceptible to adverse economic conditions and changes in circumstances
‘A’ Strong capacity to meet financial commitments, but somewhat susceptible to adverse economic conditions and changes in circumstances
‘BBB’ Adequate capacity to meet financial commitments, but more subject to adverse economic conditions
‘BBB-’ Considered lowest investment grade by market participants
SPECULATIVE GRADE
‘BB+’ Considered highest speculative grade by market participants
‘BB’ Less vulnerable in the near-term but faces major ongoing uncertainties to adverse business, financial and economic conditions
'B’ More vulnerable to adverse business, financial and economic conditions but currently has the capacity to meet financial commitments
‘CCC’ Currently vulnerable and dependent on favorable business, financial and economic conditions to meet financial commitments
‘CC’ Currently highly vulnerable
‘C’ A bankruptcy petition has been filed or similar action taken, but payments of financial commitments are continued
‘D’ Payments default on financial commitments
Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.
Investment and Speculative grade debt
The term “investment grade” historically referred to bonds and other debt securities that bank regulators and market participants viewed as suitable investments for financial institutions. Now the term is broadly used to describe issuers and issues with relatively high levels of creditworthiness and credit quality. In contrast, the term “noninvestment grade,” or “speculative grade,” generally refers to debt securities where the issuer currently has the ability to repay but faces significant uncertainties, such as adverse business or financial circumstances.
Most of us guys are useless at Christmas shopping. Here's a few tips I've picked up over the years.
What do Standard & Poors ratings mean?