Why Work Hard for Our Money? August 8, 2021 bizadmin OUR fortunes have nosedived as this cursed pandemic continues to rob us of our income, security, health, peace of mind, freedom, and far worse, family and friends. Times are tough, and life is unpredictable. Sigh! Intriguingly, when we toss both facts — times are bad and we’re a short-lived species — into the “washer-dryer of our minds,” three truths tumble out: We need to work hard for our money; We need to work longer for our money; and We’d better love our work because we’ll be doing it for a long time. WORK HARD Historian Francis Parkman wrote: “He who would do some great things in this short life must apply himself to work with such a concentration of force that, to idle spectators who live only to amuse themselves, looks like insanity.” Even in the best of times, hard work is the primary prerequisite for a productive life of purpose. And, as you well know, now is not a spectacular time. In a July 21 briefing note on Covid-19 published by consulting giant McKinsey and Company, it was estimated that by 2025, the pandemic would have cost the world between US$16 trillion and US$35 trillion. I take that to be the estimated range of lost aggregate planetary gross domestic product. Well, with the world now carrying just under 7.9 billion people and assuming that rises to over 8.1 billion in 2025, the average human population over the next four years will be eight billion. If I were then to select a reasonable number between US$16 trillion and US$35 trillion, I’d be inclined — in the interest of simplifying my back-of-envelope analysis — to choose US$24 trillion in total lost global GDP. Note: US$24 trillion divided by eight billion people comes to US$3,000 of lost GDP per person from the start of the pandemic till 2025. However, given the income devastation and business Armageddon we’ve experienced and observed, that dollar amount seems low to me. But if we presume economies and personal incomes bounce up with a vengeance from 2023 onward, then perhaps US$3,000 is right. While some commentators use per capita GDP as a proxy for per capita income, that isn’t quite right. I won’t bother explaining the differences here. What I will say is — both in total and therefore also on average — the Covid-19 pandemic has made our planet and the average person on it poorer. Therefore, if we wish to buck that downward trend personally, we will have to work harder (and, of course, smarter) than we’ve ever worked before to stay abreast of our pre-pandemic selves. And if our goal is actually to get ahead, we’ll need to work much harder. WORK LONG In addition to working more intensely per unit time, most of us will likely need to bid adieu to the norm of holding merely one job that we work for 40 hours a week. More of us will have to tack on extra part-time work or even try to juggle two full-time positions to boost our working hours per week up into the stratospheric 50 to 90 range. I know this isn’t what anyone wishes to hear, but it’s how our lives will change over the next few years as we thumb our noses at the SARS-CoV-2 virus that has stolen too much from us, and as we declare we’ll do what we must to bolster our finances and buttress our careers. It will be hard. But committing long hours in significant work has therapeutic value, at least according to Charles Evans Hughes, the 11th Chief Justice of the United States from 1930 to 1941. He said, “I believe in work, hard work, and long hours of work. Men do not break down from overwork but from worry and dissipation.” Yet if we’re going to work harder and longer than ever, we’d be also better… LOVE OUR WORK Remember, our mortal years are brief. If we’re going to toil throughout our prime decades to get by in the world, we owe it to ourselves to navigate the jagged reefs of boredom into the bright, intriguing, compelling harbors of fascination. Novelist Mark Twain once observed: “The law of work does seem utterly unfair — but there it is, and nothing can change it; the higher the pay in enjoyment the worker gets out of it, the higher shall be his pay in money also.” So, throughout this season of WFH (work-from-home), do mull deeply — aided by your pen on paper in a journal of dreams that you keep private — on how you may ramp up your income or revenue-generating activities over the next few years as you pursue a higher income so you may save and invest aggressively for your delayed season of blissful retirement.
[Video] The 11 Things that You Should Not Share with Anyone and Keep to Yourself December 27, 2020 bizadmin 1-Your problems Some of us are tempted to release our stress and share our problems with others. Instead of carrying the hurt or abuse, it is better to tell it to to Jesus or your God, so that people will never add salt to the wound in future. Your own problems will never be echoed back to you in future because no one knows about it. 2-The Favors you did This originates from the Bible, Matthew 6:3 (King James Version): But when thou does alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does. That meaning alluded to the wisdom of not giving oneself credit for providing charity to others – just give and forget about it. 3-Secrets of others Never be boastful and try to have the upper hand by telling the secrets of others, when they are shared in private. This is not publicity stunt and inform the world of other people’s problems, to make yourself seem superior. That is why God gave us one mouth and two ears to listen. Provide a listening ear, but never share other people’s problems, so that your own problems will also be kept a secret. 4-Inner conflict in family The teeth and the tongue will grind into each other in close proximity. Hence, inner conflict in family is common and within family members. Never share with anyone your conflict with your family and just keep to yourself by meditating on it. The whole world does not have to know your issues with loved ones. 5-Your weakness When you go for an interview, never reveal your weakness, such as laziness, et cetera. You want to project the strength and sell yourself. Likewise, you are selling yourself to your spouse, your friends, and others for that longer lasting friendship and to earn their respect. Instead of being looked down upon as weak, you will project strength and reliability to the ones closest to you. After all, respect has to be earned. 6-Your upcoming goals Another pertinent point is that, never reveal your upcoming goals; lest they will not happen. People tend to sabotage your plans or dissuade you from achieving them, even for well-meaning loved ones. For many obnoxious people, the way they win is to make sure you fail. That’s how they promote themselves at your expense. It is never a teamwork, but rather who climbs the corporate ladder the fastest, wins. In this world, it is, to each himself or herself. They are only looking for their best interests, not yours. 7-Your faith and belief Keep your faith to yourself and if possible, avoid talking about religion, which is a very sensitive and private matter. Respect other people’s wishes if they are staunched to their religion. 8-Private moment with loved ones Your private moments with loves ones should not be revealed to anybody. That’s why it is called private. Some people are very nosy and have a tendency to tease you into revealing your private moments with your lover or spouse. Keep it strictly a secret. Don’t kiss and tell. 9-Your precious belongings Your valuables should be kept a secret together with your precious belongings. No one should know what you own. This is to prevent future theft and your precious belongings from being taken away from you. Don’t give an opportunity to potential thieves. 10-Your past relationship You don’t want your present relationship to be affected by the past relationship. Otherwise, your partner will think that you still cannot let go of the previous relationship. Don’t keep harping on it. Let bygones be bygones. It is history. Period! 11-Your financial status Never reveal your financial status to anyone. That is why your will should be kept a secret, and should only be opened upon your demise. I have seen my own greedy relatives who cannot work, steal and cheat a rich relative of her finances and expensive belongings, since she is single and is suffering from dementia in her advance years. We hope you like this video. Do subscribe and like for more videos with nuggets of wisdom like this.
Paypal, TransferWise, Stride September 24, 2019 bizadmin From the news this morning, Paypal has made Germany its headquarters while TransferWise is London-based and Stride is in Silicon Valley. There are over 244 million PayPal users globally, making it one of the most popular ways to send and spend money online. Whether you’re paying back a friend after splitting a restaurant bill, or sending money home to family based abroad, PayPal has a solution. However, it’s good to look at the fees PayPal charge before you decide if this is the best way to make your payment. In some cases – for international payments, or transfers in a currency other than pounds, for example – PayPal might not be the cheapest option out there. More on that in a moment. If you’re using PayPal, you might choose to hold a balance within your account for ease, which you can then use to pay for goods and services, or send to your friends and family. This article covers how you can do that, and what the costs of payments might be. However, this information is based on holding a personal PayPal account, so if you’re a business user, you’ll need to double check the small print – and especially the fees – before you proceed. Are you making international money transfers? TransferWise could save you up to 8x versus your bank Before you get started, a word. Banks and money transfer providers often give you a bad exchange rate to make extra profits. TransferWise is different. Its smart new technology skips hefty international transfer fees by connecting local bank accounts all around the world. Which means you can save up to 8x by using TransferWise rather than your bank when you send your money abroad. Check out how to make your first transfer with TransferWise. And give it a try. Oh, and while you’re at it, check out TransferWise’s free borderless multi-currency account. Where you can manage and send dozens of currencies all from the same account. Now, back to what you came here to read. Why would you add money to PayPal? You can pay and be paid from your PayPal account, and just like your main bank account, you can hold money in your PayPal account until you need it. You might have a positive balance if you’ve sold something online, and taken payment via PayPal, or if you’re a freelancer working with clients who pay using PayPal, for example. When it comes to making payments or shopping, you can either use the balance you hold already, or link your PayPal account to your regular bank account, credit or debit card. If you use a linked bank account or card, the payment comes directly from that card or bank account whenever you send money using PayPal. Alternatively, if you want to pay for things using your PayPal balance, you might want to top it up from time to time for convenience. PayPal payments You might use PayPal to collect money from friends, if you’re arranging a holiday together, to buy things on eBay, or to make a charity donation, for example. You can send money to someone easily, using their name, email address or mobile number. To access the payment, the recipient will need to have a PayPal account, or will be prompted to set one up to get their money¹. Making a payment is easy. Log into your PayPal account, and find the ‘Send Money’ button. Click on this, and you’ll be asked to give the recipient’s details, and the amount you want to send – PayPal remembers previous payments you’ve made, so it’s even easier if you’re making a transfer to someone you’ve already sent money to before. However, although PayPal payments are easy, they’re not necessarily cheap, so you’ll need to watch out for the fees charged. If you’re sending money to friends or family in the UK, in pounds, and the payment is funded using your PayPal balance, linked bank account, debit card or a prepaid card, then there’s no fee to worry about². However, if you want to pay for the transfer using a credit card, you’ll have to pay a charge² – more on that later. The fees can get even higher if you have a UK based PayPal account, and you make an international payment in a currency other than pounds. Sending money in a different currency to someone with a UK PayPal account will mean you have to pay a conversion fee, and there’s a charge for funding your payment using a credit, debit or prepaid card, too. Sending money in a different currency, to someone with an overseas PayPal account is even more expensive, as there’s a cross border fee, as well as a conversion fee, and potential other charges depending on how the transfer is funded³. The fees add up quickly, and can be really confusing, so it might be a bit of a struggle to understand what your international payment is really costing you. We will look at these costs in detail later, but one which often catches people out is the currency conversion fee. This is applied whenever PayPal change your payment currency – so if you’re sending money from your UK PayPal balance, to a friend in France, using euros, for example. The conversion fee is added on top of the real mid-market exchange rate – and will increase the cost of your transfer by 3.5-4% compared to a provider which uses the real exchange rate to process your payment³. If you’re sending money to someone based abroad, you could get a much better deal with TransferWise. The costs of your payment are set out upfront, and every transfer is made using the real, mid-market exchange rate. This matters because the mid-market rate is the one banks use to trade currency between themselves – and the best rate available at any point in time. Making a payment with this exchange rate, instead of one with a markup like the PayPal rate⁴, can save you a lot on your personal payments – and even more if you’re a business sending money overseas. For business payments, research has shown that TransferWise can be quite a bit cheaper than PayPal. PayPal balance You can choose to hold a balance in your PayPal account, either by keeping funds in the account after someone has paid you using PayPal, or by topping it up yourself³. You can top up your PayPal balance using your linked bank account or debit card – explained below – and then hold your funds in a range of different currencies. It’s worth understanding, though, that switching your PayPal balance between currencies can be costly. Whenever you switch your balance between currencies with PayPal, you’ll pay a currency conversion fee of 2.5%⁵. That’s lower than the fee we mentioned above, which is added to make a payment internationally, but still means that PayPal will take the real exchange rate, and add a markup of 2.5% before they convert your money. Not all providers do this. If you want to be able to exchange your balance for a different currency, and pay just a small upfront fee with no markup, you might consider getting a borderless account from TransferWise, instead. You can keep your money in any of over 40 different currencies, make payments in all available currencies and receive payments in British pounds, euros and US and Australian dollars (with more to come in the future) like a local, and check your balance across all currencies at a glance in the app or online. You can also receive a linked debit card, which is particularly handy if you go abroad often and want to be able to spend money without paying high (conversion) fees. All currency exchange is done using the real mid-market exchange rate and will only cost you a small fee which you always see upfront, so you can be sure that you’re getting a fair deal. How can you add money to PayPal? If you’d rather hold a PayPal balance to cover your purchases, you can add funds using a bank transfer or debit card payment. Bank transfer To top up your PayPal account using a bank transfer, you’ll need to log into your account, and find the ‘Wallet’ button on screen⁶. If you’re using a laptop or computer, this is likely to be in the middle of the main task bar on the login screen. On a smartphone, you’ll need to click ‘Menu’ and select it from the drop down menu. The Wallet screen will show you the payment sources you have already linked to your account, and you can click on the linked bank account you want to use to top up the account. One of the options you’ll see is ‘Transfer Money’. Click this and you’ll be offered the choice of taking money from your PayPal balance to your bank account, or using the bank account to top up your PayPal account. Select ‘Money In’, and you’ll get instructions on how to make a bank transfer to your PayPal account. You’ll find that you need to log into your online banking, and arrange a transfer to PayPal there. You’ll get an email from PayPal once the payment has been processed, and the money is available in your PayPal account. This may only take a few moments, but can take up to 3 days depending on your bank’s processes. Debit or credit card You can not add money to your PayPal balance using a credit card. However, if you link your credit card to your PayPal account, you’ll be able to use that card to pay for goods and services using your PayPal account. If you want to use your debit card to top up your PayPal account, you’ll need to make sure the card is linked to your account. You can then click on ‘Wallet’, as we explained above, and follow the steps on screen to use your card to top up the account. What are the PayPal fees for adding money? Service PayPal UK fees Topping up your PayPal balance from your linked bank account or debit card Free Changing your PayPal balance from one currency to another⁵ Currency conversion fee of 2.5% Sending money to friends and family in the UK, in pounds² Free if the payment is funded with PayPal balance, a linked bank account, debit card, or prepaid card 3.4% +20p if the payment is funded using a credit card Sending money to friends and family in the UK, in any currency other than pounds⁵ Currency conversion fee of 3.5-4% applies to all transactions An extra fee of 3.4% + fixed fee is added on top of this, if you’re funding the payment with a credit, debit or prepaid card Sending money to friends and family outside the UK, in any currency other than pounds⁵ Currency conversion fee of 3.5-4% + cross-border fee of £1.99-£3.99 applies to all transactions There’s an additional cost of 3.4% + fixed fee if you’re funding the payment with a credit, debit or prepaid card PayPal is immensely popular, and has a huge user base in the UK. For domestic payments, made in pounds, the PayPal system offers quick and easy payments, for no fee, unless you need to pay using a credit card. However, the fees can ramp up quickly if you’re paying someone based overseas, or in a different currency. If this is the case, it’s well worth checking out the alternative options out there, as using a specialist in international payments can be much better value than relying on PayPal. An alternative option could be TransferWise. With TransferWise you can make international payments as well as open a multi-currency borderless account where you can hold money in 40+ currencies. Your money will always be converted with the real, mid-market exchange rate without any additional currency conversion fees, and you only pay a small fee for each transaction. You’ll see the fees clearly stated upfront so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying.
Ringside Q&A: The App where Fans Crowdfund Questions to Influencers August 3, 2019 bizadmin I confirm that this is a sponsored post that adheres to FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 255 of the USA. I confirm that this is a sponsored post that adheres to FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 16 CFR Part 255 of the USA. The above picture certainly speaks a thousand words. There are more pictures to read the messages where fans crowdfund questions to influencers. Isn’t it great that you can earn some money/moolah just be answering your fans’ questions? Besides, if you are a popular influencer, you can earn even more with many more fans asking and asking for solutions to your success, lifestyle, and such. Personally, for an ordinary person like myself, I would be honored to answer questions to my fans (should I have any) and earn some cash or even pocket money. So, if you are a celebrity, an influencer, a speaker, author, writer, blogger, etc, this is the perfect app to get and you can use my referral code PHILIN at this site >>Ringside Q &A Application where Fans Crowdfund Questions to Influencers Influencers can earn anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars just answering and entertaining their fans who crowdfund the questions to their favorite influencers. This is a bright idea where both fans and influencers can connect with one another and perhaps even mentor the ‘student’ fans. As the fans learn about how to become successful like an influencer with hundreds if not thousands of followers, they will eventually hit the target. Everyone needs a mentor, and this is the perfect app and platform to connect and teach people who want to learn from you and admire your skills. Different people have different talents, so we need to pick the brains of the talented people like coders, writers, influencers who are just ordinary people like you and me who once started from ground zero. For ALL deals about Ringside on Dealspotr, check out >> THIS LINK here for ALL RINGSIDE DEALS. Just click on the hyperlink given earlier to see the various DEALS that you can choose from a wide variety of options to suit your needs. There 25% off on Amazon and 50% off on eBay if you check out the various deals from the hyperlink above. You, as an influencer, can also earn 100% profits for life! Yes, that’s right – For LIFE. So it’s relevant and pertinent to check out the deals and use my referral code PHILIN at this site >>Ringside Q &A Application where Fans Crowdfund Questions to Influencers Personally, I would be delighted to use this app and check out the various functions that are user-friendly and easy to learn as you navigate through the features. In this day of technology and applications plus Artificial Intelligence, the sky is the limit and ideas are borderless as to how creative one can come up with new brainchild to help people earn a living and create a home lifestyle where you can travel and earn at the same time using your smartphone, be it iOS or Android. Finally, you can check out their main website at ringsideqa.com
Won E-Poll Contest… Yippee! May 8, 2019 bizadmin I am happy to announce that this morning, I won the E-Poll contest and USD 20.00 was paid to my PayPal. This could be an hour’s worth of work for some programmers on Upwork or Freelancer. Well, I am delighted to wake up to receive such good news and earn passively after being entered into the contest that has a very high chance of winning. Why do I say that? That’s because out of the USD 1,000.00 draw for monthly contest, there will be 50 winners of USD 20.00 each. Hence, chances are high! My PayPal email payment proof! Now What is E-Poll? I have copied the FAQ section and pasted it here, as a favor in return for the winnings and am encourage to post it on Social Media, Blogs, etc. Q: What rewards do you offer? A: We offer a wide variety of electronically delivered rewards such as e-gift cards to Amazon, Starbucks, Best Buy and many more. Or, if you are in a giving mood, you can also donate your points to charity. Go to the E-Poll Rewards Store to see a complete list of rewards and the required point values. Q: How many points do I receive for taking surveys? A: The reward offered for each survey will vary based on length and/or complexity, but most surveys will offer between 500 – 1000 points each. Sometimes a lot more! Q: Do you offer cash rewards? A: No, but we do offer PayPal which is almost like getting cash. Q: Can I donate my points to charity? A: Absolutely! E-Poll has relationships with a number of charitable organizations. Please visit the E-Poll Rewards Store to see a list of charities you may donate your points to. For every 2,750 points, you donate we will make a $3 donation to the charity you selected. Q: Do you offer any rewards that can be sent electronically? A: Yes, all of our rewards are sent electronically, but please note that electronic rewards are not delivered instantly. We still require 4-6 weeks to process your order before we can send it. Q: What do I need to do in order to receive a PayPal reward? A: Before placing your reward order, make sure the email address in your E-Poll profile matches your PayPal account. If they do not match, your order will be canceled when we send the PayPal reward. Q: How many points do I have in my account? A: Your current point balance can be found at the bottom of your activity summary. Q: Will my E-Poll points ever expire? A: E-Poll points never expire as long as you complete at least one survey every 12 months and your account is in good standing. For more information, please see our Terms and Conditions. Q: How do I cash in my points for a reward? A: The E-Poll Rewards Store makes it easy to cash in your points. You can shop like you would at any other online store, and the best part is that it doesn’t cost you a penny to check out! Q: When should I expect to receive my reward? A: Order processing takes about 4-6 weeks before the reward email is sent to you. Our rewards are delivered by email but they are not “Instant”. Q: I ordered a reward but I have not received it yet. A: Please check your activity summary to see if your order is listed as “Order shipped”. If you don’t see this then your order is still being processed. Q: How do I check the status of my E-Poll reward order? A: There are two statuses, “Ordered” and “Shipped”, which will appear in your activity summary. You can expect your reward email shortly after order appears as shipped in your activity summary. Q: My activity summary page shows my reward was shipped recently, but I never received it. A: Reward emails are usually delivered within a few hours of being listed as “Order shipped” in your Activity Summary. If you do not see an email in your Inbox about your order, be sure to check your spam, junk and trash folders. If you still cannot locate your reward email please contact E-Poll Member Services to let us know so we can look up your reward info. Q: Can I change or cancel my reward request? A: Unfortunately, all orders are final once submitted and cannot be changed or cancelled.
Getting Finance from Banks for your Startups April 2, 2019 bizadmin Getting Finance from Banks for your Startups To get financing from your banks, you have to have a good score on your CTOS and CCRIS. CTOS is a private company which provides credit reporting and is widely used by financial institutions to determine an applicant’s creditworthiness aside from using CCRIS, an acronym for the Central Credit Reference Information System. You can log in to check via the websites by googling for them and see your own credit scores. If you are in the green region, it means banks are after you to loan you money as it shows you are a good paymaster and pay on time. However, if you are in the red zone, then good luck to you in getting financing from banks for your startups. Many milliennials prefer to be their own boss to escape the drudgery of working for a boss that pays you enough so that you won’t resign with plenty of work and long hours. How do I know? I have been in this line before working from MNCs to banks, schools, etc. Startups need financing to be successful initially with higher chance of making it in the first 5 years of doing business. It can be in the IT line offering web designing or business consultation and even legal firms or medical clinics. You will need ‘bullets’ or cash to run the show and pay for bills, rental, staff salaries, etc. Hence it is pertinent to brainstorm carefully what your strengths are and passion to start a company with loans from the banks for any startups.
How to Start a Craft Business that Actually Makes Money March 18, 2019 bizadmin Have you ever wondered how to start a craft business? This post is for you – it’s packed full of tips and tricks to help you start a craft business today! Do you love to make crafts? Could you spend hours upon hours covered in glue and glitter? Are you interested in learning how to start a craft business of your own? Welcome, you’re in the right place! I’ve been a crafter since the beginning of time (well, my time anyway) and I have a wide variety of crafting skills from applique to scrapbooking. I’m a “jane of all trades” when it comes to crafts, and I’m happy to say that I love working with all mediums (at least those I’ve tried!). Crafting is so much fun, why stick with just one thing? As you know, I’ve been running my own business for ten years, and throughout those years I’ve mostly stuck with stationery and paper goods. What can I say? I’ve got a love of paper. However, I’ve also dipped my toes into some other craft businesses including soap making, candy making, and even some woodworking. I’ve sold artwork, photographs and once, I tried to sell a few sewing projects…but I’ve not very good at it! I’ve tried out a lot of things over the years and even though some of my businesses have “floated down the river,” I’ve learned A LOT about how to start a craft business. So, today I’m taking you from idea to bank account, and I’m going to teach you how to start a craft business that you will love! I’m sharing my best tips and tricks for creating a company that you can be proud of sharing with the world. So, let’s get started, shall we? How to Start a Craft Business What Will You Sell? This is by far the hardest question of them all to answer when you are starting a craft business. What can you sell that people will want to buy? It’s a tough one, and unfortunately, there is no straight answer. People buy strange things. What might seem unusual to you might seem totally off the wall to me. So, the real question isn’t what will people buy, but what are YOU good at making? What do you enjoy creating that you can see yourself doing over and over and over and over and over again? When you have the answer to that question, you’ll know what to sell. Because if you can show passion in your work, no matter what it is, then, people will buy it. You have to prove to people that your product is so special to you, that it has to be unique to them, too. And then, they’ll not only buy it, but they’ll also beg for it. Don’t create a hodgepodge of crafts! Take the time to figure out where you want to fit in the craft world. I’m not saying you need to choose a single product and stick to it forever, but consider starting with a specific category. For example, my business is stationery and paper goods, but that doesn’t mean I’m limited to just paper products. It just says that I should stick with products for the home and office. My customer base would think I’m crazy if I started selling underwear. Take some time and think about what you want to make and what you want to sell. Where Will You Buy Materials? Once you’ve considered what you will sell, it’s time to make a list of materials. Don’t go rushing to your local craft store and buy a bunch of junk! Take the time, sit down and write out a list of all the materials you need to start a craft business in the field you’ve chosen. For example, if you’ve chosen to make t-shirts, you’ll need: t-shirts design software printer heat press After you’ve written out your list of materials, start looking for discounts and coupons from your favorite craft stores. Don’t rush out and buy wholesale, but buy smart! Start small and work your way up to buying your materials in bulk quantities. Where Will You Sell Your Crafts? Do you plan to start a craft business online or will you be selling your wares locally? If you are going to sell online, I highly recommend you get your start with Etsy. I’ve been selling there for over ten years, and I love every minute of it. Of course, you could always sell your crafts on eBay or Craigslist, as well, but I think Etsy is the better choice. Call me bias, but I make a decent income there every month, and I’m terrible at marketing. If it weren’t for the Etsy search, I wouldn’t have half the sales. If selling your wares locally is your thing, then start researching craft shows, flea markets, farmers markets and fairs and festivals in your area. Most of these events will have a website or at the least a Facebook page. Find the contact info for vendors and sign up to start selling. What Licenses Does Your Type of Business Require? I can’t help you much here, but most states require you to have at least a peddler’s license and a sales tax id number of selling your goods. Go to your state’s website and research what licenses and permits are required for your type of business. What Type of Marketing Will You use to Tell People About Your Craft Business? There are so many ways to market your business, why limit yourself to just one! But, when you’re just starting, it’s understandable that your marketing budget will be small – very small – probably zero. You might also like: 7 Ways to Promote Your Etsy Shop and Get More Sales How to Get More Sales on Etsy + Free Printable Checklist Instead of blowing all your money on some crazy marketing scheme, get the word out by word of mouth, create a press release for your local paper, start a blog and tell the world on social media. When your craft business takes off, then you can consider spending a little bit of money on Facebook ads, Pinterest Ads and a crazy television commercial. But, for now, save your money. Through this, you’ll have a basic understanding of how to start a craft business, regardless of your specialty. It’s a lot of work, my friends. Some of it isn’t fun, there are days when you’ll want to run, screaming, toward the mountains or something, but in the end, it’s all worth it. Honestly, working for yourself, watching something that you create come to fruition? There is no better feeling. Be sure to signup for my daily newsletter to receive free printables, easy dinner ideas, recipes, home business tips and so much more right in your inbox! Like this post? Don’t forget to PIN IT to share with your friends: Have a Spectacular Day!
Why Cutting Costs Beats Getting Rich Quick March 11, 2019 bizadmin Some of the emails I receive are heartbreaking. They typically read something like this: Home Financial Literacy Why Cutting Costs Beats Getting Rich Quick Why Cutting Costs Beats Getting Rich Quick written by Marc Lichtenfeld Monday, March 4, 2019 Some of the emails I receive are heartbreaking. They typically read something like this: It would be easy for me to say, “sign up for one of my trading services, which are designed to generate large and fast profits on stocks and options” – but that would be the worst advice I could give. Trading stocks in the hopes of making big gains quickly should be reserved for investors who can afford to take risks because sometimes the trades don’t work out. An investor who is desperate for profits will no doubt make decisions based on fear, which is a huge mistake. Acting on any decision that is tainted by emotion is not a smart way to trade or invest. Furthermore, it will cause a lot of stress if the investor is worried about losing money because they will continue to worry even if the trade is working. I’d love to have a magic formula for how a person can take no money and turn it into a lot of money – without any risk. But that doesn’t exist. That being said, there are steps one can take to ensure that the weak financial position they’re in is better in five or 10 years. Ten years may sound like a long time from now, but if someone reaches 73 with no money, imagine how difficult it will be for them at 83. The first thing I’d suggest for anyone in this situation is to work any way you can. That doesn’t sound too enticing, particularly if you’re older, I know. But you need some income coming in so you can start putting it away for the future. You don’t have to be a Walmart greeter either. Love pets? Consider pet-sitting. Love kids? Babysit or tutor. The important thing is to save and invest those funds – don’t just use them to make your life a little easier today. Whatever income you can bring in will help. Look at where you can cut costs. Do you have a cable TV package that is not necessary? Home phone and a cellphone? Consider getting rid of the landline. That could save you hundreds of dollars a year. Do you have insurance policies you no longer need? Life insurance should be used to replace income or cover funeral costs when you die. There aren’t many other reasons to carry life insurance. If you do have life insurance and it’s not necessary, get rid of it. Sure, it’d be nice to leave something for your kids. But if those thousands of dollars in premium per year would let you breathe a little easier, or could be invested for growth and income, they’re better off in your pocket. Whatever extra income you can put in your pocket or costs you can save, get that money earning interest or growing. It’s hard to think about the future when today is a struggle, but it will be much worse years from now if there are no funds available and your expenses are even higher. The worst thing you can do is enter into a risky investment when you can’t afford to lose money. If you have a little bit of cash that you’ll need soon, look for a high-yield money market account or CD. If you have a few years before you need the money, consider investing in a blue chip stock that raises its dividend every year. That way you’ll earn some income while the stock grows. But remember, even the most conservative stocks aren’t guaranteed to go higher. Whatever you do, if you need money now, don’t do something rash or take on more risk than you can handle. That kind of action usually leads to disaster. Good investing, Marc