Self Improvement » Business & Money

Stretch Your Budget Farther

icamm — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:15:03 +0000

Just because the price of things does up all the time doesn’t mean your spending needs to. Instead, stretch your budget a little farther with a little help from these tips.

* Repair things when you can, even things form other people, and reuse them instead of buying new. Search print classifieds and publications like “Trading Times” for items no longer wanted that you could put to use instead of buying new. Look at eBay for auctions of used and even new, discounted items.

* Get with a neighbor and buy in bulk, then separate when you return home. This works great for meats form the grocer, with pizza delivery specials and a whole lot more.

* Every year at least once, go online to search for better credit card rates and watch your postal mail, too. You can save up to 10 percent and even more. Plus sometimes you can get neat specials like free travel miles or points to purchase products or get rebates.

* Negotiate with purchases and services you need, even if prices are clearly marked. See if you can barter or offer your own services in exchange for those of another.

* Start your own part time business online or off. Check library books for helpful information and businesses to start. Also check with the Small Business Administration and their affiliate S.C.O.R.E. at:

SBA Answer Desk
6302 Fairview Road, Suite 300
Charlotte, North Carolina 28210
1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722)
Send e-mails to: answerdesk@sba.gov
Answer Desk TTY: (704) 344-6640

SCORE Association
409 3rd Street, SW, 6th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20024
1175 Herndon Pkwy., Suite 900
Herndon, VA 20170
Phone 1-800/634-0245 or 703/487-3612
Fax: 703/487-3066

http://www.score.org

Get on their mailing and emailing lists today!

* For a date with your spouse or a time out for yourself, head to a matinee instead of the evening show. It’s not only cheaper, it’s healthier because you’re not eating all that popcorn and junk food right before bed.

* Look around before buying your next purchases. You can comparison shop online in a click nowadays at sites like MySimon.com. Check at eBay and Amazon, too, for new and used goods.

* Stop looking for name brands all the time. Toothpaste is toothpaste; mouthwash is mouthwash. But everything is cheaper at Dollar stores and wholesale outlet stores. Instead of fancy, brand name conditioner, you can buy at least twice the dollar amount or more there. It’s worth a visit.

Self Improvement with a Home-Based Business

icamm — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:15:02 +0000

A self improvement solution that works for many people who work for others is to start a home-based business. The positive features and benefits of working at home often outweigh the negative impact of working for someone else that brings along with it long hours, low pay, poor work duties and responsibilities and much more. And thus self improvement results – in a big way.

Here are some of the main improvements that happen for those who choose to work a home-based business.

Opportunities- Suddenly the work-at-home individual has more choices to make, chances to make dreams come true again like during childhood. Business opportunities are wide and plenty from starting a daycare for children or elderly, to starting a mail order business, to running a consulting business, to selling real estate to building a business online and much, much more. No longer do you have to dwell on one job for all your income, one check to cover all your expenses. You can finally dream again of increased income, fun work that you want to do, different duties and responsibilities – in short, change – that you choose and want. Deciding to work at home is like getting freedom from slavery or drudgery.

Flexibility – A home-based business offers you a chance for flexible hours. No more rush-hour traffic, working the night shift or getting up at 4 AM military time. You choose your hours, work part time, full time, any time. Of course at first, you may have to work more and longer hours to get your business started. But after that, you can grow your business how you want, setting your own hours and hiring help or outsourcing work to cover the other times. Spend more time with your spouse, your children, your own self. Schedule fun, take time off like school teachers and don’t work summers.

Work / Decision Making – A home-based business means you get to forget about filing and hire someone else to do that. You can forget about “the customer is always right” being a policy, too, and finally have your say-so and turn rotten clients away if you want. You can also raise rates and give yourself a raise. You can also give back to the community in ways you’d like without being force to contribute a portion of your pay to an organization not of your choice. You’re the boss and you get to run the show, so enjoy.

So take advantage of your opportunities to improve yourself!

Self Improvement Series: Time Means Money, Time Management Basics

icamm — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:30:03 +0000

Time is money, and if you use the time you have available to you to get things done more efficiently, you can save a great deal of money in the process. This means more time and more money for you to do what you like.

Saving money, and time doesn’t have to be a difficult task. In fact, introduction of the internet has revolutionalized the way that we live our lives, spend our money, and use it to save time, by providing information at our fingertips, any time of the day or night. So let’s look at some of the ways that we can manage our time better, as well as save money, by using the Internet.

Time Management Tips

* When it comes time to buy something for our homes, children, or ourselves, we know that the only way to get a great deal is to shop around. The problem is that going from store to store will cost you time, as well as money in gas to run your car. Why not try searching the Internet before you purchase anything, and cut the legwork out of shopping around.

* Purchasing products and services online has never been easier. Online shopping has been made very safe, secure, and convenient. You can have items shipped to your door without ever needing to speak to anyone over the telephone, visit the bank, or leave your own home.

* If you are looking for a great credit card deal, why not try searching online for lending institutions that are offering the best rates, fees, and packages before signing up for a credit card at a local lending institution.

* If you are looking for consolidation services, or would like to combine high interest credit into a lower, more manageable payment strategy, try looking on the Internet for advice, as well as online packaged deals, before approaching a lending institution. That way, you will be an informed customer, and know the best places to get debt relief facilities.

* Using email facilities rather than using call utilities, or waiting on the other end of business call centers that use automated phone menus can also be used to manage time, and money wisely. Emails take a matter of seconds to compose, are free to use, and, best of all, you send your message, and don’t have to waste precious time waiting on the end of a telephone to get an answer.

* You can also get access to things such as recipes or ideas for cooking meals or planning parties on the internet. Best of all, many recipes and party ideas are free to download, and print out for reference. This means that you have information and ideas at your finger tips when ever you need them.

The Internet is a wide world of information and answers just waiting to be found. Why not put the immense power of the Internet to use, and start saving time and money.

Self Improvement Series: Real Estate Basics

icamm — Sat, 07 May 2011 11:00:04 +0000

Real estate is an exiting investment opportunity for many. With a good knowledge of how it works, and what options are available, you have the potential to gain equity, and, in some cases, even create a sound income from property investments. Below are some important basic real estate basics.

Mortgage Loan

A mortgage loan is money lent to you from a lending institution to purchase a property. The bank then secures the house in the event that you stop paying your repayments. The lending institution offers you a repayment schedule, to repay the money over a set number of years, and charges you interest rates for the money you have borrowed. Depending on your credit rating, or credit score you may get a very low interest rate, which will make the mortgage easier to pay.

Appraisals

Appraisals are independent evaluations of a home in order to determine its market value, or how much money it is worth in the event that it is sold. An appraisal is often done by a real estate agent, or broker, and differs from a bank evaluation. Basically, a bank evaluation determines the amount the property is worth, if it was sold immediately by the bank due to foreclosure. An appraisal, on the other hand, is the current market value of a home, based on market trends, and the location and condition of the property.

Lease To Tenants To Get Income

Investing in a property that will be rented out to tenants is an ideal way to generate an extra income, or generate money that pays the mortgage repayments on the home. Lease to tenant investments are known as long-term investments, and basically, the tenants pay your re-payments. The property that you have invested in then becomes your equity, to assist you in future investments.

Lease With Option To Buy

Lease with option to buy is a medium term investment, where you lease a home to tenants, and allow them the option of purchasing the property after an agreed time. A written agreement is set up, and the tenants must provide a portion of the money owed in one lump sum, and then continue making monthly repayments until the home is fully paid for.

Mortgage Fees And Closing Costs

For every mortgage that you take out, you will have to pay fees to set it up. The opening mortgage fees differ greatly between lending institutions, as do the services that they quote on, so make sure that you take into account both what the lending institution is charging you fees for, as well as the amount that they are charging you for them. By asking around, and having these services explained, you can get the best terms for your mortgage, as well as low set up fees.

When you sell your investment property, you will also be responsible for closing costs of the mortgage. Closing costs are only an estimation of the amount that you will have to pay once the property has been sold. The lending institution has no control over the costs that you will have to pay for attorney, or title company charges, but the estimation that the lending institution controls are usually very accurate.

Self Improvement Series Investments Basics 101

icamm — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:15:03 +0000

If you are looking for a sure way to make your financial future better, one of the best things that you can do is to start investing. Even if you are relatively new to the investing world, there are a variety of investment options that you may want to consider. Before you get started investing for the very first time, make sure that you know your options and the benefits of different types of investments.

Savings Accounts – One simple and safe way that you can invest your money is to start a savings account at your local bank. Savings accounts help you to put away money and pay a small interest rate on the money that you have in the account. Usually, you are required to have a minimum balance, which usually is around $500, and the interest rate is usually quite low. This method of investment is very safe, but usually does not return a great amount of money.

Savings Bonds – One type of investment that you may be interested in is a savings bond. There are various banks and credit unions that offer savings bonds, and basically, these bonds are special securities that the U.S. Treasury Department offers so you can invest your money and the government can use your money. Since you are, in essence, lending your money to the Federal Government, they pay you interest on the amount of money that you put into the bonds. The interest rates on savings bonds tend to vary and go up and down in accordance with the national economy. If interest rates are currently high, more than likely you will get high interest rates on your savings bond.

Money Market Accounts – Another way that you can invest your money to earn income is to have a money market account. You can get money market accounts at your local bank, and the money that you place in that account will be invested in mutual funds. Usually, you will receive dividends from your money market account every month. While the rates on this type of investment are quite a bit lower than other types of investments, they are usually a very safe way to invest your money.

IRA’s – Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) are a great way to save money that will benefit you when you retire and you will also earn interest on this money as well. There are many companies that are no longer offering retirement benefits, and with social security appearing to be quite shaky, it is important that you save and invest for your retirement years. Putting your money in an IRA account will provide savings, keep you from paying taxes until you take the money out, and will earn interest while it is in the account.

Real Estate – One method of investing that has often proved to be very lucrative is investing in real estate. Many people do not realize how much money can be made by investing in real estate. Real estate investing requires that you purchase a piece of property and then, perhaps, fix it up and sell it for a profit, or you can rent it out for a monthly income. There have been many who became very wealthy by investing in real estate, so this is an excellent option for investing.

These are just a few ways that you can get started in the investment field. Remember that investments can help you insure a more stable financial future, so start saving and investing today!

Self-Improvement Series: Home-Based Biz Opps

icamm — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:30:03 +0000

Beginning a home based business opportunity can be a big step in your life. If you choose the right business opportunity to suit you, your lifestyle, as well as the time and space limitations that you have available to you, the result can be the lifestyle that you have been dreaming about, but never had the chance to enjoy.

If you need more time at home for family or personal reasons, or if you would like to explode your income, by working smarter rather than harder, a home-based business opportunity can be just the ticket.

How To Choose The Right Home-Based Business Opp

In order for you to be successful in your home-based business and be able to stick with it, you need to find the right type of opportunity that will be profitable, as well as provide you the lifestyle change that you are looking for. So let’s take a look at some of the main things to take into consideration

* Do your homework, read magazines, look for trends, and look at as many different types of home-based business opps before committing yourself to anything.

* Consider what type of business suits you the most, and choose something that you really enjoy doing. Some options available include franchise businesses, buy into, or start from scratch home-based businesses.

* Look for a business opportunity that both it interests you, as well as having the potential to make you a healthy profit, without dedicating your every waking hour to it.

* Research all of the work involved in the home business opp, and determine whether you have the capabilities, and the time to do them. Will you be required to collect receivables, make cold calls, or track your expenses? And are these tasks suited to you?

* Does your home-based business fit into your home area? One of the trickiest things when starting a home based business, is making sure that it has its own place where it won’t interfere with the normal functionality of your home.

* Determine whether you will be working with potentially harmful substances, and whether you have a safe place in your home, or garage where these substances can be kept away from children, pets, or guests who visit your home.

* You will most probably need insurance for your home business opportunity. Make sure to find out how much insurance will cost you. Some insurance types that you may require are property, licensing, liability, life insurance, disability, health, and workers compensation. You may need some or all of these, so find out what you can expect to pay.

* Make sure that your home-based business complies with zoning, and ordinances in your area of residence. You can do this by visiting your local city hall, or planning office, and asking them if your home-based business opp will be suitable.

* Ask yourself whether your home-based business opp suits your lifestyle, as well as any time limitations you may have, and if you have a family, or children, choose a home-based business opp that you can safely involve them in.

Self Improvement Series: Frugal yet Tasteful Living

icamm — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:45:02 +0000

Though we can’t all claim to be rich, we can claim to have enough. If you follow some simple tips on how to handle your money and spending, you can almost have it all. You can live in an area that has good schools, a low crime rate, and positive influences for your children. You can have a nice home that will accommodate your family no matter its size.

Living life can be expensive. There are the expenses to live like mortgages and utilities. There are travel expenses whether you have a car and pay for gas and upkeep or use public transportation. There are other monthly expenses that are necessary such as groceries, clothing, doctor’s visits, etc. With many of these expenses, there are discounts such as discount stores. There are sales that many stores have often. There are countless coupons out there. If you are vigilant about finding these discounts and sales, you will save money dramatically every month.

When you shop for clothing, do you shop for spring clothes when they first arrive in the stores? Do you wait a bit and shop when the next season is starting to arrive in the hopes of running into sales? When you get your car washed, do you drive to the local car wash and pay full price? Whatever type of shopping trip it may be, do you plan ahead for it or just simply go when the fancy strikes you?

* Shop in the off season. That might sound funny. Why would you want to be buying wool sweaters and turtlenecks when the weather is finally lightening up? The answer is simple; the sales are the best in the off season. If the sweaters and turtlenecks have sat all season and are still around, the prices drop drastically when the weather begins to turn because the retailer is desperate to get rid of them, but is still trying to make a profit.

* ALWAYS look for coupons. There are coupons for just about everything. Even car washes and oil changes. If you get your local newspaper daily, look through it with and eagle eye and clip any coupon that looks like you might use it. If you don’t use it, no harm done, but better to have it when you need it. Sometimes coupons come in the mail. Look through those and take out any you might use.

* Read your Sunday paper. The Sunday ads are used to inform the public of any upcoming sales. This is where they advertise for special sales such as including a shopping bag and offering a certain percentage off for anything you can fit in the bag. In the Sunday paper, not only will you get coupons that you can use at the grocery store, but you will find out about discounts in several other areas like the “bag sale” mentioned above.

There are many avenues for saving money. You have to take the time to seek them out and sometimes they will take longer. In the end, saving the money to allow yourself the lifestyle that you want is worth it.

Self Improvement Series: Financial Stress

icamm — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:45:02 +0000

According to studies, more than half the working people have money problems that result in them having financial stress issues. Stress is unhealthy and can cause many health problems including depression, sleeping problems, anxiety and a sense of despair, if the triggers of stress are not addressed early and treated or corrected.

Financial debt stress is among one of the most common types of lifestyle related stressors. Americans are increasingly getting into more debt and then begin to experience stress because of their financial burdens and not knowing how to cope with them.

Making more money by working longer hours, or taking on a second job is not necessarily going to alleviate financial stress, it will more than likely end with you becoming burned out, as well as being still feeling stressed.

The best way to relieve financial stress is by finding ways that you can manage your money and finances more efficiently, such as keeping a tight reign on your spending habits, getting out of debt, and making a budget, and sticking to it. Then use the surplus money that you have generated to spend on things in your life that will make you feel better about yourself, and ease your stress, such as taking a holiday.

Tips To Reduce Financial Stress

* Budgeting your money carefully, and sticking to it will help you understand your financial situation better, as well as help you take control of your spending. When you know that your financial situation is improving, you will feel less stressed, and more content with life.

* Concentrate on eliminating debt. Take a look at your spending habits, as see if there is anything that you can cut out of your budget. Use the money that you save from the items you have cut out of your budget to pay of debts such as credit cards, or store cards.

* When buying things, ask yourself if you really need the item, or whether you are buying on an impulse. If you can do without an item, don’t buy it, and save your money. By doing this, you will reduce clutter in your home, as well as reduce your financial stress, as you will have more money in your pocket.

* If you don’t have debt problems, why not take advantage of your extra money by using it to buy you time for the things that you like to do. If you hate doing your gardening, why not use the extra money that you have been saving by cutting down on your spending, to hire someone else to do jobs for you. By freeing up some of your time, you will feel less stressed, and happier with yourself, as you are taking out time to do things that make you happy.

* To get extra cash, and reduce your financial stress, why not de-clutter your home, and make money doing it? A garage sale can get you some extra cash for the things around your home that you no longer need, and reduce your stress by using the money to pay off debts, or use it for something that you will enjoy, such as a weekend away with loved ones.

Self Improvement Series: Finance 101 – Basic Banking Products & Services

icamm — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 16:30:03 +0000

Stepping out into the world of personal finance can be daunting. But don’t despair. There are some practical ways that you can get the most out of your banking experience. In this article, we will discuss some good products to have when you are starting out, as well as some things to watch out for.

First, you need to determine where you would like to open your accounts. Choose a bank that is close to your home or work. It will be much easier for you to make deposits and cash checks if it is in a convenient location. Check with friends and family to see where they do their banking and whether or not they are pleased with the service they receive. Another good idea is to go into the branch and talk to the staff. If they seem pleasant and friendly, it may be a good choice. They should offer a variety of accounts and be willing to explain all of them to your satisfaction.

Once you have determined where you would like to bank, go and talk to their account specialist. His or her job is to set you up with the products that will most benefit you and your unique situation. He or she is the expert and should recommend an array of products and services. You are, of course, able to pick and choose what you are most comfortable with. If you are very new to banking, start out with a simple checking and savings accounts and add products as you feel you are ready.

Most banks offer a free checking account of some sort, and will usually recommend that you start a savings account as well. Some will require you to have direct deposit, while others may ask that you do your transactions through the ATM (automated teller machine). Make sure you understand the terms of the account before you open it, or you may end up with some unexpected fees.

When you open a checking account, make sure that you religiously update your check register. You are responsible to know what is in your account at all times. If you make a mistake, it is much easier to find it if you keep good records. Banks are also much more sympathetic if you keep a good register.

When you open a checking account, you should always sign up for overdraft protection. There are no exceptions to this rule. Overdraft protection is invaluable, as it can save you hundreds of dollars in fees for a small clerical error. This product comes in the form of a credit card attached to your account, a separate line of credit, or even your savings account. You pay a small fee when you use the service, but it is absolutely worth it.

Almost all financial institutions offer package deals. The more products you open with them, the better the deal you will get. For example, if you have your mortgage or car loan with a bank, they will offer you a checking account with more perks, such as free checks or a safe deposit box. Always ask about packages if your banker does not offer it.

Online banking is a great service. It is a way to keep track of your accounts on a regular basis from the comfort of your own home. All banks have a telephone banking service, but it can be time consuming to wade through the automated process. When you use online banking, you can see all your accounts at a glance. You can transfer funds between accounts, check balances, see what transactions have taken place, and even pay your bills. Banking online is a safe, secure way to monitor your accounts.

Starting a bank account is an exciting process. If you get all the facts and make sure you have a clear understanding of all of the terms and conditions of your new accounts, it can be very rewarding.

Self Improvement Series: Family Budget

icamm — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:43:48 +0000

Life is stressful. There’s the coming and going of the everyday. If you have children, there’s even more coming and going. And there are expenses. You cannot live life without encountering a certain number of expenses. If it seems like those expenses are turning into a mountain with peaks in the outer atmosphere, creating a family budget is a way that you can take back control of your financial situation.

You will want to start creating a budget with research. It is important to track how you and your family spend money over a month or two. In doing this, you will find areas where you can cut spending. Maybe you’re spending an extra ten dollars a week on fast food lunches. That is something that can easily be cut out of your expenses. It will mean that you will have to bring lunch from home. These areas may seem small, but if there are several of them in a typical month for you, they add up quickly.

Creating a family budget will mean some sacrifice. It will also mean some lifestyle changes. Like mentioned above, maybe you’ll have to give up fast food for a while. If you eat out at restaurants a lot or go to the movies weekly, you may have to give that up. If you’re used to buying fillet mignon, maybe it’s time to settle for rump roast. These changes will be for the better in the long run and once you have your finances safely back under your control, you may be able to add some of these little luxuries back, but with moderation. Here are some tips for family budgeting:

* Clip coupons anywhere that you can find them, then use them when you grocery shop.

* Only go to a restaurant once a month instead of weekly

* When you shop for clothes, look at the clearance rack. It will take longer, but the savings can really add up.

* When grocery shopping, buy generic. The savings are phenomenal over the name brand items.

* Build some money into your budget for entertainment. If you go stir crazy, you’ll almost certainly chuck that budget in the trash bin and have a spending frenzy, but if you allow yourself some limited entertainment, it should do.

* Get your appliances fixed instead of replaced.

* Don’t throw away those old jeans. Keep them for gardening or working around the house. Save the good jeans for going out and they’ll last longer.

This is just a small list of some ways in which you can improve your spending habits and create more money in your monthly budget. If you take the time to research and be entirely truthful about your spending, you should be able to create a budget that will keep those finances in your control. It will take a little self discipline in the beginning, but once those finances are looking rosy again, maybe you can add some of those luxuries back. You’ll appreciate them more for having restricted yourself for a time, just make sure that you don’t return to your old ways of spending, otherwise, you’ll end up back in the same financial mess.

Pay off Your Debt

icamm — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 05:15:03 +0000

When self improvement includes getting finances into order, one of the main goals should be to pay off debt. It is simply not possible to be in fantastic financial shape with all sorts of debt looming overhead. This isn’t necessarily an easy fact to digest, since the current culture endorses debt so freely. The truth is, however, that until a person gets to the point to where he or she does not owe money to anybody, he or she is not truly financially independent.

The very first step towards decreasing debt is to stop using credit. That means no more credit cards, no more auto loans, and no more consumer loans. This may be a huge change for some people who rely heavily on their credit cards. Some people use credit cards exclusively in an attempt to build up rewards and points from the lender. Research has shown, however, that people tend to spend more money when they use credit cards as opposed to using cash. This means that sometimes the rewards and points people accumulate are not on par with the amount of money they would have saved if they had not used the credit cards to begin with.

Not relying on credit can be a major change, and if people use credit as a sort of financial safety net then this means that by eliminating credit cards they are also losing their safety net. People in this situation should pad up their savings accounts in order to have some sort of emergency fund in place. When people have some money in the bank they have an easier time of not relying on credit cards. Existing credit cards can be either put away somewhere safe, or if a person is ready he or she can cut them up and close the accounts.

Once someone has learned to stop using credit and has bulked up a savings account, the next step is to start paying down the debt. While most financial experts claim that the best way to pay off debt is to attack the accounts one at a time, there is an argument among these experts as to which debt should be paid off first. Should people pay off accounts with the highest interest rates first in an attempt to save money, or should they instead attack the accounts with the smallest balances so they get paid off quicker and therefore instill a sense of accomplishment and urge them forward? It depends on each individual; whatever method is most motivating is the method each person should employ.

It takes time, but once a person reaches the point to where he or she does not have any debt all the effort will certainly be worth it. For most people, a situation where they had no bills to pay would result in a lot more money to play around with each month, not to mention an overall sense of accomplishment and contentment. Since self improvement is generally aimed towards achieving a better life, paying off debt and becoming more financially responsible will help attain that goal.

Overcoming Home-Based Business Challenges

icamm — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:06 +0000

Working at home can be absolutely awesome. But difficult challenges can arise that can take some pretty fancy footwork to turn around so that you can get yourself – and your business – back on track. Here are some top issues to face and ‘how to handle them’ tips.

Children / Spouse (or Someone Else at Home) Issues

One of the biggest issues can be dealing with other people at home. A home office can be great, but if you need to watch children or deal with a spouse at home on sick leave or a day off, your peaceful working times could be over- or at least shorter than normal. In these instances, here are some tips:

- Get child care help as needed. Trade work for childcare, if possible. Offer to do online marketing for the daycare of create flyers, brochures for new parents or craft packages for teachers. Be creative and check out some childcare books form the public library and business opportunity books and see what you can come up with.

- For the times when you need to have the children at home, due to money issues, snow days or sick days, for example, if you cannot hire help or have a relative or neighbor come over and help, plan ahead with activity packs. Have coloring and activity books on hand with colored pencils, crayons, paints, magic markers, and games and small toys. Also have a few family videos or DVDs stashed in your activity pack with some handy snacks like microwave popcorn packs, healthy snack bars and juice boxes.

- Have a secondary area to work from if needed when your spouse or other adult is around who may also need work space. Having a laptop can come in handy so that you can work from any room in the house.

Technical Troubles

Computers crash for any number of reasons. And with all your other business responsibilities and duties, you may need help with your PC or laptop repairs. So plan ahead and check with your local computer stores for prepaid computer service packages. Some places have vans that come to your house to repair computers. Sign up for a year and be ready in case of problems. Or buy the warranty package with your next computer so you’ll be covered if you need help. You’re in business now, so you need to be prepared and have help.

And keep any old machines for basic word processing while your new one is in the shop. Also, ALWAYS back up all of your work.

Goals: The Key to Big Buck$

icamm — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:00:04 +0000

Money, dough, cash, filthy lucre–we all want money. Money plays an important role in one’s success and future. Small children crave money and earn it by asking their parents, “May I have a dollar?” Little ones can get away with that, but once they reach ten or so they must start earning the money themselves. It’s not unusual for teenagers to have a summer job mowing grass, raking leaves in the fall, or shoveling driveways in the winter. All seek money and do what they must to earn it.

Everyone hears the word “budget” now and then. Do you casually mark off the word saying, “I won’t budget. That’s foolish.”? You might be surprised at how many folks shrug off the thought of maintaining a budget. But these same people who wave off the concept of budgeting are overheard saying, “I just don’t understand how Mr. Banker got so much money.” “Mr. Banker” arrived where he is today because he started in the beginning by budgeting.

Brenda is a waitress at a local restaurant. Her meager income requires her to keep a budget. She didn’t always have a budget though. She relied on her tips and paid her bills according to the money she pocketed each night. Though the idea was great, she found herself falling further and further behind in her expenses. She decided that she would start keeping a log of her money and jotted down a written budget. Today she still works as a waitress and manages to have all her bills paid on time and a little extra “spending money” in her pocket.

Learn from Brenda’s wisdom. She kept a journal of her income and expenses and put into practice many valuable keys to success. Writing down money goals keeps the long-term goal in focus. It’s easy to lose sight of your vision because the cares of life threaten to take every penny that you earn. With your goals written down, you can look back and remember what you were shooting for. If you get off track just a little bit, it’s easy to get back on once you realize you’re a little off-balance.

Practice living from paycheck to paycheck. You can even have a monthly budget in plan. For example, the paycheck the first week of the month pays the electric and heating bills and the next paycheck will pay the garbage and insurance payments. It’s easier to have the bills paid up and paid on time when you realize that this paycheck goes for these specific bills.

Educate yourself as much as you can in money managing. It’s wise to invest money in a savings account and buying stocks might even be profitable for you. Knowing all the avenues of money management strengthens your chances in being financially successful. As you learn the different elements of money, calculate your progress regularly. Record your ups and downs and learn from them.

Money covers a broad spectrum. These are just a few points that will help get you started on the road to financial success. Brenda learned the importance of maintaining a budget; likewise, learn from her. Start out just writing down a few things you desire to achieve and work to it. Remember this quote, “You can have anything you want, if you want it bad enough.”

Improve a Financial Situation

icamm — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:03 +0000

Financial problems cause a lot of problems in people’s lives. Relationships can suffer when finances are in trouble, and experts cite financial woes as one of the biggest reasons for divorce. Even single people suffer when finances are out of order; stress from financial problems can cause actual physiological problems because of the constant stress a person can feel from constantly worrying about money. For this reason, self improvement should always include a hard look at finances.

People often accept the fact that they have debt, and many people are willing to live with the idea of living paycheck to paycheck without much worry. The problem with this line of thinking, however, is the fact that one emergency : whether and illness occurs, the car breaks down, or an unexpected job loss happens : can result in financial tragedy for people who are not prepared. So what is the best thing to do? When examining a financial situation, people need to try to get to a point where they are not merely “making it,” but instead strive to reach a point where there is a little bit of wiggle room. This means that if an unexpected financial hiccup does indeed occur, it does not result in dramatic consequences such as car repossession or home foreclosure.

People should take a long, hard look at their money situation, and when they find the aspects which need some work they should go about setting the goals necessary to make things better. If there is a lot of debt, there needs to be a plan to pay it down. If there is no money in savings, a plan needs to be made to bulk up the savings account. If money is floating in and out of a person’s hands without any accountability, then some detailed financial records need to be created. Setting a budget is imperative. Even though budgets can be a lot of work, they work to people’s advantage in a few ways. First, a budget may tone down spending a little as people realize how much money they have been spending on non-essentials.

Secondly, many people find that when they set an actual budget they might spend less simply because they do not want to have to sit down and reset their existing budget after having gone over with their spending. Thirdly, budgets tell a person exactly where their money can go, showing the person where he or she might be able to cut down some spending. If, on paper, it appears that there is not enough money to get a daily latte from the coffee shop without having to dig out a credit card, then this might help a person to wake up to the fact that he or she should pack a coffee from home instead of stopping every morning to purchase one. Little changes like this can make a huge difference in the long run.

Improving a financial situation will improve a person’s overall quality of life. Keep finances on track and stay on a budget, and soon financial woes might become a thing of the past.

How to Choose a Health Insurance Company

icamm — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:45:03 +0000

Working at home or even for someone else can be scary when health issues arise. With medical costs having skyrocketed over the years, and health insurance coverage having decreased in response, it’s no wonder that people panic when illness and emergencies arise.

As a result, careful planning and preparing ahead of time are needed to help make life more affordable and manageable during illness and emergencies. To help with choosing the right health insurance coverage for your families’ needs, here are top concerns to discuss ahead of time.

Interview Prospective Insurance Companies and Agents

Begin by calling around for information packages to be mailed to you. Don’t accept email packages, because you’ll want hard copies to hold in your hand and refer to – often. And you shouldn’t have to pay to download everything and print it out yourself. Insurance make more than enough money to afford their own marketing materials, otherwise you don’t need them on your families’ team.

When an agent is hooked up with you, make sure you can communicate OK. Some have zero product knowledge and may be too new to know much. Pass these agents up if you like and ask for more experienced and knowledgeable people. Nothing against newbies, but this is serious financial information for your family and you want it handled appropriately. Newbies can sit in on discussions but you want a qualified, experienced, knowledgeable agent there as well to discuss all available products.

A couple things to check with regards to the insurance company you are considering going with are the company’s rating and its accessibility. First check with the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org to make sure there are not excessive complaints with the company. And since this is insurance, check with your state’s Department of Insurance. They have a regulatory system in place to monitor insurance activities and complaints.

And contact the company a couple of times before committing to buy. Make sure someone answers the phone -hopefully human and not robotic menus. Plus see if you are sent all over to report a claim or discuss one. In short, make sure they have customer service – and that it works.

Just the Facts

Then discuss product details. Discuss pre-existing conditions to see which ones are not approved by the companies. See if there are add-ons like dental or eye wear options. See if there are co-pays, what limits are, what out-of-pocket expenses there are.

Handling the Stress of a Home-Based Business

icamm — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:30:05 +0000

Working at home can be very rewarding. You get to choose your own hours, choose who you want for clients, and so on. However, freedom also comes with stress. Some popular stress triggers and how to deal with them follow.

Motivation is a top issue that work-at-home people run into a lot, daily sometimes. Not everyone is cut out to run their own business, set their own hours, etc. However, nearly anyone can learn. A person is not necessarily born with the knowledge and skills to run a business from home, in other words. They can be learned, regardless of age, gender, race, income, socio-economic level…or anything. So check out motivational books form the public library, listen to motivational cassettes, read motivational articles online. Figure out what you aren’t doing right in your business, what you need to do, and how to do it. Then like Nike, “Just do it!”

Low self esteem is another issue that rears its heads form those who work at home. Too often, times come where business lags, you need more clients, more sales, more work. And your brain starts thinking about those ‘lucky’ stiffs with jobs who get paid vacations, sick days, payment during down times, etc. And you start feeling sorry for yourself. During these times, it helps to write out your woes. Make a list of all that bothers you: lack of clients, lack of income, lack of time off. Then start finding solutions and putting them to work. Schedule some fun time off in the near future. And in the meantime, increase your marketing and sales efforts. Crank out a new promotion for a new product. Network with some business associates and work a joint venture together; two heads are better than one! Head to the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov)

Loneliness is an issue from time to time, too. Some people miss business discussions and networking, so get out there and take a course and attend industry events. Check with local associations and Chambers of Commerce in your area and sign up for events. Plan and go!

Making decisions can be tough sometimes. Figuring out how to grow your business, how to stay on top of things, how to deal with financial messes and more…can all add up to a lot for one person at home to handle. At times like these, hire help form a business coach. Search the Internet and ask around among colleagues for recommendations. A couple of consulting sessions with someone who’s “been there, done that” can push you farther ahead much faster.

Eight ways to save money on household items

icamm — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 01:30:06 +0000

It can be very surprising how much the everyday household items that we need, rely on and the expense that adds up over the course of the year. Simply by taking a little care and shopping around you can save yourself dollars every week or month. Making savings isn’t hard and you can do this in a variety of ways by saving on the most common household items such as bathroom cleaners, floor cleaners, polish, soap, shampoo, virtually every household item imaginable. Here are eight fantastic ways in which you can start saving with ease.

You can very often double up on the item, for example always keep your eye open for special offers which have 25% or 50% free in them. This is an excellent way to save money on many common items around the home, and is a gimmick that a large number of manufacturers will put on their product every now and again. Also keep your eye open for the packs are strapped together as buy one get one free, again this means that you have double for the same amount you usually pay for one item.

Many of the top named brands send out coupon books offering savings on their household products always keep your eye open for these or check out the manufacturer’s website. Manufacturers often advertise coupons or discounts on their sites. Some have you fill in a quick survey and in return they send out books of coupons or discounts on their products.

Check out the dollar stores, dollar stores do have named products sometimes as well as the more obscure brands and here you make huge savings on many common household items. If they don’t have your favorite brand then try one of the others, who knows it might be just as good if not better than some of the top named brands. Be on the lookout for smaller sizes and quantities that are being offered in these dollar stores, this means that although you might feel like you are buying the same item for just a buck, you actually just be getting less of it, so it’s not as great a deal as it may seem.

There are online survey sites where if you fill in a few surveys each month or answer surveys sent to you by email will give you money off vouchers for the products that you use most. Other sites will let you stockpile your points until you are ready to cash them in for various prizes, gift certificates or other incentives. Gift certificates are a great way to go because they often can be for places that you already shop and would have spend money at with or without the gift certificate. Be wary of survey sites that ask for you to pay up front for access to the surveys, these companies are not legitimate and you should never have to pay to take a survey.

Companies are always bringing out new products and of course when they bring something new out it is always on a special offer. Don’t get stuck with just one brand keep shopping and changing for the new items and make great savings along the way. What the companies are hoping is that with each new product they will create brand loyalty and one the item stops going on sale because it’s new, that you will continue to buy the product regardless of it’s jacked up price. Keep an open mind on the products you buy and never feel like you have to buy the same item over an over just because it worked for you in the past. Most new products are very similar to old ones, just with shiny new packaging and labeling.

If you favor a particular supermarket the take a look at the supermarkets own label and line of household items. Almost all big supermarkets will have their own brand and of course this can help you to make huge savings, as it is cheaper than well-named ones. And not surprisingly, most of these items are not actually manufactured by the grocery store. Most store labels begin with an agreement with the big name company to repackage the product under the grocery store’s name. Since the actual manufacturer no longer is selling the brand name like Cheerios, Downey or Kraft, they are able to sell the same product at a discounted price. The store brands can sell for cheaper because they do not have the expense of advertising, coupons or high cost label design.

Always keep your eye open for brand names that the store is discontinuing, if the store is no longer going to be carrying the brand then they often reduce it for sale. In many cases, these sales meet or exceed 75% of the original price so keep your eyes peeled and if it is something you use regularly, stock up.

Take advantage of the sales, most stores and supermarkets will have sales from time to time so keep your eyes open in the newspapers, TV and radio for those stores having a sale and head there. Combine the sales with couponing and if you are on your toes, you will always be able to save at least 50% on your grocery bill.

Earn with Real Estate

icamm — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:00:05 +0000

If you’re looking for a way to generate more income, real estate investment could be what you’re looking for. Real estate has helped produce a majority of the world’s millionaires and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. There are so many ways to earn money in real estate virtually anyone can do it.

One popular way to earn money through real estate is through the use of rental properties. This strategy has been used for hundreds of years and it still works today. In order to do this, there will be some risk involved. You’ll probably have to get out of your comfort zone. First, you must find a property that you think would be a good rental house. If you can buy it cheap and fix it up, this is a plus, too. Then you must buy the property. This will most likely be done with a loan of some sort. This is where you can leverage other people’s money to benefit you. The bank or an investor puts up most of the money and then you profit from it. Once you have purchased the property, you must find a tenant… the sooner the better. If you don’t find someone, you’ll be stuck making the mortgage payment. When you get a tenant, they will basically be making the mortgage payment for you. You want to charge enough for rent to cover all the expenses if possible. Then you keep renting it out for a few years. Besides the rental income, the tenant is actually paying off the mortgage for you. The house will undoubtedly appreciate in value. Then after a few years, you can sell the property or refinance for cash. The benefit of this strategy is that you make money in two ways: through rent and appreciation.

Another popular trend in today’s real estate world is quick turning. This involves finding a run-down cheap house, buying it, fixing it, and then selling it. There is a lot of money to be made in this field. While there is a lot more competition in this field than there used to be, there are still deals to be found. The important thing is that you remember you make your money when you buy the house, not when you sell it. Your most important job is to negotiate a cheap price up front. If you pay full price for the property, it doesn’t matter what you do to it…you won’t make any money. Finding a house that just needs some new paint won’t really benefit you either. You need one that needs considerable work done to it. The more work that has to be done, the more money you will be able to make on the sale. This strategy can also be combined with the rental strategy if needed. Once you fix it, you can rent it out. However, most people turn around and sell them quickly. It’s really up to you. Whatever you decide to do, keep real estate investing in mind. It is a wonderful way to create wealth.

Earn with Online Business

icamm — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:04 +0000

It’s been a while since the Internet has made its way into our homes, our dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, offices and even our minds are now dependent on the net for some reason or the other. Our regular visit to the grocers has been cut short due to the neat fare available via a click. Our perfumes and nail polishes, swim wears and holidays, music and even lingerie have increasingly begun being picked off Ebay. The transition is almost complete and today it’s reasonably tough to shun yourself from the razzle-dazzle of the commercial fare available on the net, because, really, it’s all so easy and so varied.

But take pause to consider whether you could possibly benefit from this communication boom instead of just being a part of the system. What if you could churn out a bit something out of this multi-billion industry yourself? What if a neat fraction of the dough being flung around made its way into your pockets? Impossible you say? I say not. Earning money online is a cakewalk really, if, of course, you know how.

Here’s our infallible guide to making some quick bucks on the net.

1. If you have your own company, you might consider using the net as a publicity tool. Market your product to a large audience by means of the web. Start off by creating your company’s own website. Or buy one that is already up and running, get it redone as per your own taste and requirement (start off by customizing the navigation bars, coordinating the colors and such like). And once you do all that lay back and watch it work for you. If it doesn’t work, don’t worry, just sell it to someone who’ll pay good money for it and make your share of profit.

2. Think you have the gift of gab? Then go ahead and flaunt it. Take up freelance jobs online, write specifically for certain products or websites, start up your own blog to discuss these. Or write content for the millions of websites that keep mushrooming up daily. Once you get a hang of it the words will fly off your fingers and the money will pour in quick.

3. On the other hand if it is your communication skills which are worth raving about hook up with some online business firm and contribute to their ads. You will soon be laughing your way to the bank.

What is the plus side to earning online, you ask? Well, in one word – Freedom. Working online means every day is a Sunday. No more late nights and staying away from the family, no more meager lunches at the office cafeteria and no more dozing off in the tube ride back home. Whether you have a baby to cater to or you have had just plain ‘enough’ of the regular run-of-the-mill 9 to 5 jobs, your online career is your free ticket to staying at home and working at your own will, as and when you please.

Earn with Mail Order

icamm — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:15:05 +0000

Mail order is when you order a product or a service via postal delivery. It is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional shopping and you can order items from the comfort of your house. Sales reached $200 billion last year alone. Orders can be placed by phone, email or in writing. If the order is made by phone or email, payment can be by credit card. Since there are so many people who like to use mail order, it is possible to set up a mail order company from your home. The choice of what to sell is immense.

Competition can be tough but if you start small and part time, you can grow from that. Success does not come overnight but if you have good products and organize your company properly, there is no reason why you should not succeed and earn good money with a mail order business.

There are various ways to set up a mail order business. You could work for a larger mail order company, distributing their catalogs or promoting their website, accept orders on their behalf and deliver the stock. You could alternatively set up from scratch, source your own goods and keep all your own profits. The main thing with mail order is advertising. No one is able to buy from a catalog they have never seen. You have to cover a large area, which could involve high printing costs and lots of shoe leather. If your business is mainly online, you can save on the printing and footwear costs but other expenses are involved, such as setting up your website. Obviously you will be saving money in shop rent and employees but you still need some money to start up. Catalogs cost money to print, if you are using them. You can make budget catalogs with a photocopier in your local newsagent or you can make big glossy ones. It depends on what your product is and what your budget is. If you are planning to sell items, you need to source and buy them. Once the money starts coming in, then it is time to upgrade, but not before then.

It is also a good idea usually to stick to one line or one type of product and it is probably more fun for you to sell something you are knowledgeable about. If you are mad about clothing, a fashion catalog might be good. You will have stiff competition but if you can offer something a little different to the others, it might be worth a go.

It is a good idea to research what similar products sell for so as not to overprice your goods. Your products should seem fairly priced and good quality. You should be easy to contact in case someone has a question and you must be polite and professional in all communications, even if you think the customer is wrong. Setting up a mail order business is far from easy but you can potentially earn great money from it.