On Saturday I went house hunting and it was a real eye opening experience. There were lots of families going through all the same homes as us and many of us thought the same things, so I thought I’d share what we thought sellers could do from a buyers point of view.
1.) Clean the house. Most of the houses I saw were vacant, yet they were the ones that were filthy. Clean the carpets professionally, mop floors, scrub down walls and doors and the house will look much fresher.
2.) Update if you can. A simple coat of neutral paint can work wonders and doesn’t cost the earth. Sometimes new taps and handles can make a bathroom or kitchen look so much better. If you can update more, that’s great. If not, do the minimum to make it look decent.
3.) Air it out and make sure it smells nice. Some of the homes had that awful musty, been locked up for a long time smell. One of them smelt like stale cat and dog urine combined with rot. That is just plain gross and very off putting for the buyer. Opening windows to air the house and leaving some plug-in scents or burning some nice candles before people come through can make a huge difference. Whilst many will say they can look past the smell, others will not and if a house smells, people will not hang around for very long.
4.) Mow the lawn and have the yards looking nice. They don’t have to be completely landscaped, but a well manicured lawn and no weeds in the garden makes a big difference.
5.) Choose your agent carefully. A few of the agents were flat out lying to our faces when we were going through, obviously trying hard to get a sale, but it turned everyone off. Suss out your agent by going to their open homes as a buyer first, to see what they are like. Get recommendations from people as well.
6.) Price your house realistically. Some of the homes we looked at were so overpriced it wasn’t funny. A small home on a small block that stinks in not worth as much as a larger home, with a garage on a larger block in the same suburb. Check what houses are going for in your area before you list.
Those seemed to be the main points everyone was commenting on. I hope this helps you if you are ever looking to sell.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
House hunting yesterday - help me
Yesterday I looked at homes here. I went to 8 open homes and was truly amazed. Some were so small on such small blocks they shouldn’t have even been in the same price range. Some stunk so bad I got a headache as soon as I walked in and couldn’t breathe. Others were in the 70s still.
I don’t mind a house that needs updating as then I can do it how I want it. Problem is the price. Houses are so expensive where I live and I just don’t feel they are worth what is being asked. I am really wondering if where I currently live is where I should live. I see so many other beautiful areas that have lovely homes for less than where we live. The reason everything is so expensive is because it is a small capital city.
I am wondering if I am better off continuing to rent and trying to invest elsewhere. Problem is I so desperately want a house of my own, with a backyard for the kids and a study for me. How do I suppress that desire and put up with what I have for longer?
Where we live is a great place to raise kids, but once they get to be teens, I don’t feel there is much here to do unlike other areas. I have looked around though and just can’t decide. Nothing else feels right.
I did see one home yesterday that I am tempted to go back and see again. I am not in a position to buy immediately, and it would need to be renovated, but it has an ensuite (no other property in my price range has one), a double garage AND enclosed carport, storage room, garden shed, 3 bedrooms, and a few other features I like. It felt very light, but very private which I really liked.
It has some draw backs. There is wood panelling from the entry up the hall into the lounge. The kitchen is pale blue and the bathrooms burgundy, so to me everything would need to be done, but it is all in good condition. One of the rooms was bright yellow, sunflower yellow. It hurt my eyes and my 2 year old thought it was gorgeous! Lol. She stayed in that room and danced for ages. She didn’t do that in any of the other homes.
Would you live in a house you have to completely fix? And how did you decide where to live?
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Automatic Millionaire - book review
I got a book last week from the second hand shop called “The Automatic Millionaire” by David Bach. It was published in 2004, so not too long ago. I was intrigued by the title as my aim is to be a millionaire. I wondered what this book would teach me. I have to say I didn’t think much of it. I guess if you don’t already pay yourself first but you do waste money every day on things like coffee and cigarettes, eating out/anything like that then it is a good book.
If you already have some basic money sense, save some (preferably 10% or more) of every pay, don’t eat your breakfast/lunch/dinner out or at cafe’s, don’t buy magazines every week or whatever then it’s not really going to teach you anything.
I understand that “The Latte Factor” discussed in it is about finding where you waste your money, and is good for those who don’t realise what a waste it is to buy a coffee and cake at the cafe every day, but most people I know don’t do that. “The Latte Factor” is basically where you watch your spending, realise you are wasting $10 a day on cafe coffees, invest just half of that and at the end of 40 years, assuming a 10% annual return you will be a millionaire.
Using myself as an example, I don’t work, so am at home most days. If I do go out it’s usually to a park, friend’s house or to buy groceries. There is nothing I spend on every day, or even every week. I don’t buy magazines or chocolates as my weekly treat. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol or even drink tea or coffee at all. I never have and have no intention of starting. There’s not even anything I buy monthly I don’t need.
I don’t have cable, my mobile/cell phone is prepaid, so I never end up with a nasty bill. I only buy clothes when necessary. I cannot list a single vice of mine where I could apply “The Latte Factor”.
So, onto the automatic idea in this book. It is automatic, but I already do it and I want to be a millionaire sooner than 40 years. Basically, if you get payroll to “automatically” deduct 10% of your wages and put it in savings you won’t notice the difference and hence you get to eventually become an “Automatic Millionaire”. Maybe I think this is so basic because I thought it was the first thing most people do. You pay yourself first. It is the number 1 thing in all financial books. How are you going to save if you pay everyone else first and try and save what is left you just won’t save.
I guess the difference is that most people don’t have an automatic savings plan in place. They do it themselves every pay, but most people don’t actually do that.
The book goes on to talk about automating every aspect of your budget. Mortgages get automatically deducted (when this book was published, I go a mortgage not long after and it was just how the banks did it, automatic deductions from a linked account!). Then there are all your bills, such as electricity, gas, water, land rates etc... Everything can be set up to be a direct debit from your account so you automatically have a budget.
It is a good idea for those who aren’t good with their money, but to spend almost an entire book talking about it was a bit much for me. If you are just starting out with money management, it could be a good book to read, but it wouldn’t make it to my top 10 list, probably not even my top 50 list. There are much better books out there, which I will post on soon.
If you already have some basic money sense, save some (preferably 10% or more) of every pay, don’t eat your breakfast/lunch/dinner out or at cafe’s, don’t buy magazines every week or whatever then it’s not really going to teach you anything.
I understand that “The Latte Factor” discussed in it is about finding where you waste your money, and is good for those who don’t realise what a waste it is to buy a coffee and cake at the cafe every day, but most people I know don’t do that. “The Latte Factor” is basically where you watch your spending, realise you are wasting $10 a day on cafe coffees, invest just half of that and at the end of 40 years, assuming a 10% annual return you will be a millionaire.
Using myself as an example, I don’t work, so am at home most days. If I do go out it’s usually to a park, friend’s house or to buy groceries. There is nothing I spend on every day, or even every week. I don’t buy magazines or chocolates as my weekly treat. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol or even drink tea or coffee at all. I never have and have no intention of starting. There’s not even anything I buy monthly I don’t need.
I don’t have cable, my mobile/cell phone is prepaid, so I never end up with a nasty bill. I only buy clothes when necessary. I cannot list a single vice of mine where I could apply “The Latte Factor”.
So, onto the automatic idea in this book. It is automatic, but I already do it and I want to be a millionaire sooner than 40 years. Basically, if you get payroll to “automatically” deduct 10% of your wages and put it in savings you won’t notice the difference and hence you get to eventually become an “Automatic Millionaire”. Maybe I think this is so basic because I thought it was the first thing most people do. You pay yourself first. It is the number 1 thing in all financial books. How are you going to save if you pay everyone else first and try and save what is left you just won’t save.
I guess the difference is that most people don’t have an automatic savings plan in place. They do it themselves every pay, but most people don’t actually do that.
The book goes on to talk about automating every aspect of your budget. Mortgages get automatically deducted (when this book was published, I go a mortgage not long after and it was just how the banks did it, automatic deductions from a linked account!). Then there are all your bills, such as electricity, gas, water, land rates etc... Everything can be set up to be a direct debit from your account so you automatically have a budget.
It is a good idea for those who aren’t good with their money, but to spend almost an entire book talking about it was a bit much for me. If you are just starting out with money management, it could be a good book to read, but it wouldn’t make it to my top 10 list, probably not even my top 50 list. There are much better books out there, which I will post on soon.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Blogs I like
This week in an effort to learn more about blogging I have been “studying” other blogs, looking at their lay out what I like, what I don’t etc... It has been really interesting and I have come across some great blogs which I thought I would share with you all. One thing I found interesting was when I did my post on No more TV I didn’t look at what other blogs were writing, but a few days later I did and it seems many bloggers feel the same as I about TV!
One particular post on TV watching I really like can be found here.
So, now for a list of some of the blogs I found and like
The Simple Dollar has been around for quite some time and has some great posts to read through when you have time.
Moolanomy has a great archive of articles on making and saving money as well as investing.
The Wise Buck is a male blogger discussing money saving, investing and money making.
Financially Poor are relatively new, but it’s interesting. It a mid twenties guy and he has some great articles so look in the archives.
Wisebread top 100 most popular blogs will give you a lot of blogs to read and the site itself is awesome. There are more than 100 blogs if you look right through.
Steve Pavlina has a site I have been to many times before and love. He has some great posts, not just on finance and websites, because he is all about personal development. I came across this post when I was trying to decide what to do for work (for some reason on that day I could not get the link to work here!)
So those are just some of the blogs/sites I came across and thought I would share this week. Have fun reading!
One particular post on TV watching I really like can be found here.
So, now for a list of some of the blogs I found and like
The Simple Dollar has been around for quite some time and has some great posts to read through when you have time.
Moolanomy has a great archive of articles on making and saving money as well as investing.
The Wise Buck is a male blogger discussing money saving, investing and money making.
Financially Poor are relatively new, but it’s interesting. It a mid twenties guy and he has some great articles so look in the archives.
Wisebread top 100 most popular blogs will give you a lot of blogs to read and the site itself is awesome. There are more than 100 blogs if you look right through.
Steve Pavlina has a site I have been to many times before and love. He has some great posts, not just on finance and websites, because he is all about personal development. I came across this post when I was trying to decide what to do for work (for some reason on that day I could not get the link to work here!)
So those are just some of the blogs/sites I came across and thought I would share this week. Have fun reading!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
26 Ingredients
Click here to go to the site. If you would like to buy a signed copy (Australian residents only, sorry) click here. Make sure you leave me a note when paying as to how you would like it signed, as in who to (also put ACRF if you would specifically like the royalty from your purchase to be donated to Australian Cancer Research Fund). Overseas customers can purchase unsigned copies by clicking here.
This is the book I've published. It is designed to save money and food wastage in the kitchen.
The ingredients are
Apple
Butter
Carrot
Cheese
Chicken
Cocoa
Coconut
Cornflour
Eggs
Garlic
Lemon
Milk powder
Mince
Mushrooms
Oil
Onion
Plain flour
Potato
Pumpkin
Self-raising flour
Stock powder
Sugar
Tinned Tomatoes
Tomato paste
Yeast
Zucchini
Saving money shouldn’t mean sacrificing choice or variety when it comes to cooking for a family.
26 Ingredients was written to help you spend less on your groceries and minimise food wastage.
All the recipes in this book are based around the same simple ingredients, so you will be able to plan your meals and menus with minimal effort and outlay.
From gourmet breakfasts to delicious desserts: snacks and appetisers or refreshing drinks: it’s all here, with easy to follow recipes!
Throughout the year I will be donating a percentage of my royalties to various charities. May was for Phoebe, she has Alstroms Syndrom, a very rare genentic disorder. June/July is for Australian Cancer Research Fund and The Cancer Council amongst other cancer charities, as my mother passed away 10 years ago this July from cancer.
How to create a vision board
I was asked this week to do a post on vision boards. I have one, so will tell you how I do it. I have always had a vision book, where I stuck things I liked or wanted in. I have also often had pictures stuck on walls of things I want or sayings that inspire me.
There are a few ways of doing them. You can break them into groups and do a vision board for different aspects of your life e.g. home, travel, career/finance, health etc... You can place everything all on one. Some people put a picture of themselves smiling and happy in the middle, others don’t have pictures of themselves on there at all.
I know what I want. I have goals and pretty set ideas. If you don’t know exactly what you want that’s ok. You can either sit and try to work out what it is you want or you can go through the process and what you want might just show itself.
Gather together lots of magazines from a variety of genres. I have property and investing, travel, home and garden, health and religious magazines, as well as a few catalogues of stores I like.
Go through them and rip out everything that appeals to you, that you would like, even sayings or words that stand out to you or describe what you want.
Once you have done that, start placing the images on the board in the way you like them. Do not glue them yet, you are just getting a feel for where you want to put the images. Discard any pictures you don’t feel are right. Some people put their pictures in like groups, others just put them wherever. It is YOUR board and about what YOU want, you do what suits YOU!
Once you have done that and the pictures are where you want them, glue them to the board. Use good glue, not just cheap glue that loses its stick quickly. It is a definite, purpose filled board. You don’t want you pictures (which represent your dreams and visions) to fall down.
Once it’s done put it in a prominent place where you will see it regularly. Mine is in my kitchen because I love to cook so am in there all the time. That and my kitchen is combined with my lounge/dining area, so it’s a good place for me.
Remember to take your time when you care making your vision board. It needs to truly reflect what you want. I have done rushed versions and it means nothing to me. When you spend your time making it, thinking about it and truly envisioning your life like that then it is a real vision board.
If you are struggling for ideas, here’s what I have put on mine and why:
A woman surfing – I want surfing lessons
A cruise ship – There is a cruise I want to do around the South Pacific which goes to Tonga
Turtle conservation in Costa Rica and Australia – I want to do a conservation holiday as a family
A woman flying first class – I want to fly first class
A globe – I want to travel the world with my family
Various furniture such as 4 poster bed, lounge suite, day bed, funky armchair – they are all types of furniture I want
Outdoor things like a swing set, BBQ, gorgeous outdoor lounge – I want a fun outdoor area
Swimming pool – I want one
Toyota Camry – Whilst this to many is not a car to dream of, it is the car I want. I like BMW’s and cars like that, but I have wanted a Camry for years.
Dishwasher, air con, fireplace – All things I want in my home
A picture of a $ sign grown in a hedge – Symbolises my wealth growing
A lay out of a property plan – I want to build my dream home
A few house with “Australia Property Investor” on them – I am and will expand my portfolio
I phone, Dyson vacuum cleaner, Kitchen Aid mix master – All things I want
Sneakers and black high heels – Symbolise shoes I want and a new classic wardrobe
A photo of me, when I was the weight I want to be – Self explanatory really.
Words such as “storage”, “workplace”, “a place for everything”, “keep things tidy” – Are all things I want in and for my new home
Words such as “Fit and fabulous” and “Healthy lifestyle” – Are what I want to be and have
A Nikon D5000 camera – Yeah, badly want one of these!
So those are just some of the things on mine. Have fun making yours!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
70+ ways to work or make money from home
This day and age there are so many opportunities to earn money from home. There are also a lot of scams out there looking to take your money, so you need to carefully select what you will do. I have compiled a list here of ways to make money from home, some online, others require physical work, but all can be done in the comfort of your own home.
Before we start, be aware that regulations vary from place to place. You may need permission to do some of these things on your property. You may need qualifications, you may not. It all depends on where you live. Make sure that you take out insurance to protect yourself against lawsuits of any kind especially if people are going to be coming to your house.
Online
1.) Blogging is a great way to earn an income. It does take quite a while and a significant amount of effort before you will begin to reap rewards. Many people jump in thinking they will start making money instantly, but that is not the case. You may make small amounts, but not true income amounts. The way most people earn from blogging is via affiliate links such as amazon, adsense with Google and selling things such as eBooks on their blog. A really good download on blogging Kateigirl showed me can be found here. If you're after a really good blogging course this one is awesome. I have just started but it has already made a huge difference to me.
2.) Write an eBook. There’s lots of advice out there about how to do it. It can be on anything you know about. The first step is actually writing it. Most people don’t get past that point. Figure out what it is that you have to share with the world, write it down and put it out there.
3.) Squidoo is a site where you write a page, called a lens on anything you like. Add pictures, links to Amazon products and make it fun. You get paid 50% of the affiliate money from any links in your lens such as Amazon. You also get paid a few dollars if your lens is in the top rankings. They are easy to do, but to earn real money from them you need a few up. Once they are up though, they are there forever and it can be a good little money stream.
4.) Sell books on Fishpond if you are in Australia or try Amazon if you are in the USA.
5.) Type up resumes/uni assignments. Be clear that you are typing only. You are not responsible for the actual content, grades etc...
6.) Freelance editing. You could set up an online business where you edit peoples blogs, websites etc...
7.) Online life coach. Many people use life coaches to motivate themselves and get their lives in order. You could offer daily emails, a guide on how to do different things, like organise the house, ask for a raise, get fit etc...
8.) Virtual Assistant. Some companies now have online assistants how make their calls, appointments etc... everything an in office assistant does without actually being there.
9.) This is your life DVD’s. With some computer know how you can create beautiful memories for people. They bring the photo’s they want on the DVD and the music they want it set to, then you create the DVD. It is excellent for 21st, 50th, wedding anniversaries etc...
10.) Create a niche website e.g. wedding vows/local business site. Something you are passionate about. You then make money from affiliate links and selling advertising space. You could create a site with a store and sell things on it too. It’s up to you what you do and how you do it.
11.) Website design. Not everyone is talented in this area and with more and more people creating websites, it is a great market to get into.
12.) Design blog backgrounds and do blog make-overs. April Showers does this and a great job of it too.
13.) Create your own ezine people subscribe too. This could be something you add to your site or blog or just do on its own.
14.) SEO consultant. There are businesses now who check your site/blog and redo it for Search Engine Optimization. If you know a lot about this it is a good option.
Selling
15.) Import wedding dresses and sell them. You could set up a room in your house with the dresses hanging up, a big mirror and change area. Import them from China or somewhere and resell them for much more than you paid. Wedding dresses for curvier women are in high demand.
16.) Buy to resell on eBay. There are still bargains to be found, though it is getting harder. You really need to know what will and won’t sell so you don’t end up with a house full of things you don’t want.
17.) Sell on eBay for others. Not everyone wants to sell on eBay and many people feel overwhelmed by it. You could list it for others taking a percentage of the sale or charge a flat fee to list on their behalf.
18.) Break up selling service. After a break up many people have things from the relationship they don’t want but can’t face selling. For a fee you could sell it all for them. All they have to do is pack it up and give it to you. Make sure they sign a waiver stating it is theirs to sell. When I say break up stuff I mean gifts such as jewellery, cd’s etc... not the ex’s clothes or car!
Use your house
19.) Family day care or child minding. Family day care is a company you can do it through. You need to have your house passed for safety and need some training, but many people run very rewarding businesses this way.
20.) Drop off babysitting/occasional care. Provide a service where mums can drop their kids for a few hours to do the shopping and errands. Charge per hour. Parents could have set days and times, or ring on the day to see if there is space available. This suits lots of people who would like to do things without the kids, but don’t want to enrol them in regular day care.
21.) Rent a room to a boarder or exchange student. If it is a boarder charge extra for meals if they want them. Exchange students have a set fee they pay and you have to help get them settled into the country, show them around, set up bank accounts etc... So they can be more work than your usual boarder, but depending where you live they can be worth more too. With a boarder have a written agreement about how much they will contribute to bills, whether they can use your phone/internet, food, cleaning, everything.
22.) Rent out the garage for people to store their stuff. Storage places aren’t cheap and if you are not using your garage you could rent it out. Have a set agreement about how much they pay, how long they have, when they can access the property, do they call you first, what can they store (So you know they aren’t storing illegal things) etc...
23.) Rent out your driveway or yard to someone who needs to store their caravan/RV/boat. Again, have a thorough written agreement.
24.) If you have a pool you could do swimming lessons, both for kids and adults. Or you could do aqua aerobics if you are qualified.
25.) Alternatively, if you have a pool you could lease it to a personal trainer to do swimming and fitness classes in your pool.
26.) Lease allotments in your garden for people to grow their own vegetables. Charge a fee for the spot and a fee for water.
27.) If you have a large block, or rural block you could set up a dirt track people could use for their trail bikes, lease some of the area to those with horses, grow Christmas trees to sell.
28.) If you have a large block you could build a shed or barn to hire out for parties and weddings etc...
Writing
29.) Freelance for newspapers and magazines
30.) Write gift card sayings and quotes. Here is a great article about it.
31.) Write puzzles for magazines and newspapers such as Sudoku, cross words, find a words etc...
32.) Write reviews at places like Product Review Australia
Australia's Favourite Review Site!
Anyone can do it
33.) Ironing. Advertise in your local paper or on community noticeboards. It’s up to you if you charge per item or per basket, whether you include a pick-up drop off service, same day or next day service. How you want to run it is your choice.
34.) Submit money saving tips, jokes, funny stories and photos to magazines and newspapers.
Some skills needed
35.) Make-up for bridal parties. If you are a make-up artist or are good at make-up you could do bridal parties, formals etc... in your own home. Set up an area specifically for it, provide nibbles and things for full bridal parties, play music and have fun.
36.) If you can sew or are a professional seamstress you could make bridal dresses, page boy suits, kids clothes, party costumes, the list is endless. You could do it all from home or sell them at markets and things. Etsy, madeit, oztion and eBay are all great places to sell your items.
37.) If you can sew you could specialise in alterations. Hemming pants, fixing ripped seams, that sort of thing.
38.) Personal trainer at home. Once you have your qualifications you can do it in your own home or backyard.
39.) Photography. You could set up a room in the house and do family portraits or glamour shots.
40.) Furniture restoration. If you have the right tools and a workshop area this is something you could do. Be careful though, as some pieces of furniture require specialist skills and you do not want to damage a beautiful antique.
41.) Massage in your house. Have a room set aside with a table, some soft music, towels etc... Offer ½ hour or more, head, neck and shoulders, back, full body etc...
Classes you could teach
42.) Basic mechanics. Obviously you would need to know what you are talking about, but you could do it in small groups. They bring their car and you teach them about it, changing oil, tyres, checking fluid levels etc...
43.) Cooking classes. These can be small and intimate. You could do Thai, Chinese, Italian or even a just moved out of home and need the basics class.
44.) Grooming and deportment classes
45.) Tutor in anything you can do. Piano, guitar, English, Math etc...
From the garden
46.) Sell potted cuttings, bulbs, herbs etc...
47.) Sell eggs from chickens
48.) Sell fruit or vegetables from your garden
49.) Sell honey if you keep bees
50.) Wheatgrass trays. More and more people are seeing the benefit of wheat grass. With the right juicer they can make their own shots each morning. You could do trays for $10. It takes a few days to grow it, but it is very easy. People could pop in on their way home from work to grab one and make enough shots from it for a few days.
51.) Garden sculptures from metal, wood or ceramics.
52.) Create water features to sell.
53.) Breed animals such as dogs.
Create, cook or build
Click the image to see a great wedding blog
54.) Cupcakes. Cute little decorated cupcakes can be sold online, to cafes or direct to businesses such as hairdressers and offices.
55.) Wedding cakes/birthday cakes. A wedding cake typical goes for $600+. They are a lot of work and you do spend a bit on equipment and products but you make a few hundred from each cake. Birthday cakes are not as much work generally and their prices reflect this.
56.) Party invitations. Create beautiful wedding invitations, birthday party invites etc...
57.) Thank you gifts for weddings and parties. Little things like personalised lollies, gift bags, cute figurines...
58.) Cookies for businesses. Many salons serve a cookie with a coffee when people are having their hair done. A homemade cookie is better, so why not be their supplier?
59.) Be a fairy lady. Create everything to do with fairies such as wings, dresses, wands, tiara’s, pretty hair pieces etc... sell them online.
60.) Beaded jewellery. Sell them online or on consignment in various stores.
61.) Build cubby houses. The y could be sold in packs to put together or as a ready made product.
62.) Wooden toys and puzzles, the educational type are becoming more and more sought after instead of the easily breakable cheap plastic items from China.
63.) Build furniture like unique dining and coffee tables from recycled wood.
64.) Make and sell soy candles.
65.) Pregnant belly casts. This could be set up in your garage or a spare room. You make casts of people when they are pregnant. They could choose to have them painted or left plain.
66.) Baby hand and feet casts. There are actual franchises you can buy into for this or go it alone.
67.) Print pendants. A piece of jewellery with your loved ones fingerprint in it. Using a baby hand cast, you can create a unique piece of jewellery. This is a business you can buy into or create yourself.
68.) Set up an embroidery business. You could do personalised towels, work uniforms and more.
Survey sites
69.) Pure Profile is an online market research company I have used. You need to be over 18, fill out some forms, then just check it regularly. You can get paid from 5c (usually 10c or 15c) for a website visit, anywhere from $2.50 - $20 for a survey and when your account reaches $25 you can cash it out and it is paid straight into your account. It can take a few weeks to receive the money though.
70.) Product tester – This is a form of market research. You sign up and they send you products to test and fill in surveys. Sometimes you get paid, sometimes the payment is the free products. Soup is a good one. Also check out VibeVillage
71.) Rewards Central is another online site where you get paid a small amount for visiting. You accumulate points for doing various things such as web clicks (2 points) a quick survey (3 points) and sometimes there are bonus web clicks where you get another 2 points for each click. The quick survey is not available every day, but if you click on it even when there is no survey you get an entry in the draw for $10,000. You also earn points by shopping with their rewards partners. Once you reach 3300 points you can get a $30 cheque or for 10100 points you get a $100 cheque. They are linked with My Opinions.
72.) My Opinions is a survey site where you accumulate points to cash out. You can transfer points from this site to Rewards Central once you reach 100 points. My opinions will email you to let you know when they have a survey for you to do. If you check in regularly there are quick surveys worth 3 points. Also in the rewards section there is an instant win. This is a game where you click on a square and can get from 0 to 500 points for nothing.
73.) Your voice is another site where they will email you surveys to do you can get vouchers such as Woolworths or Dymocks.
A few tips when filling out surveys...
1.) Be honest and answer each question properly.
2.) At the end most have a comment box, write something in it. Anything, because it shows you are paying attention and “care” and it means you are more likely to get more surveys.
3.) Update your profile regularly. If you buy something new or are looking to, have a child, fall pregnant, get married, get divorced, whatever it is, chances are it is in your profile and needs to be changed.
4.) You don’t have to do them all. You will get lots of emails for different surveys, but the good thing is they usually state how long they take and how much you will get so you can choose which ones you’d like to do. If you go for long periods without doing any though, you won’t get sent the good ones.
5.) Be aware you probably won’t get a lot of money for them and it may take a while for points and things to accumulate so they are definitely not a get rich quick scheme.
A few random things
75.) If you are psychic you could set up a room and do tarot, palmistry, whatever your ability is.
76.) Rent things out for parties such as chocolate fountains, chair covers, table clothes, disco lights, cutlery and crockery, smoke machines etc...
77.) Electrical repairs either fix washing machines, lawn mowers and the like or buy them from second hand places or the tip shop to fix and resell
78.) Personalised books. There are businesses you can buy into to do this. Basically people can pick their child’s favourite story and their child’s name is used in the book instead of a main character so it is their story.
79.) Avon and the like are a classic fall back option for many people at home. Just make sure you don’t spend your commission on the product!
For more great info see these posts
Free and cheap advertising
Starting your own business
WAHP Work at honme parents
Before we start, be aware that regulations vary from place to place. You may need permission to do some of these things on your property. You may need qualifications, you may not. It all depends on where you live. Make sure that you take out insurance to protect yourself against lawsuits of any kind especially if people are going to be coming to your house.
Online
1.) Blogging is a great way to earn an income. It does take quite a while and a significant amount of effort before you will begin to reap rewards. Many people jump in thinking they will start making money instantly, but that is not the case. You may make small amounts, but not true income amounts. The way most people earn from blogging is via affiliate links such as amazon, adsense with Google and selling things such as eBooks on their blog. A really good download on blogging Kateigirl showed me can be found here. If you're after a really good blogging course this one is awesome. I have just started but it has already made a huge difference to me.
2.) Write an eBook. There’s lots of advice out there about how to do it. It can be on anything you know about. The first step is actually writing it. Most people don’t get past that point. Figure out what it is that you have to share with the world, write it down and put it out there.
3.) Squidoo is a site where you write a page, called a lens on anything you like. Add pictures, links to Amazon products and make it fun. You get paid 50% of the affiliate money from any links in your lens such as Amazon. You also get paid a few dollars if your lens is in the top rankings. They are easy to do, but to earn real money from them you need a few up. Once they are up though, they are there forever and it can be a good little money stream.
4.) Sell books on Fishpond if you are in Australia or try Amazon if you are in the USA.
5.) Type up resumes/uni assignments. Be clear that you are typing only. You are not responsible for the actual content, grades etc...
6.) Freelance editing. You could set up an online business where you edit peoples blogs, websites etc...
7.) Online life coach. Many people use life coaches to motivate themselves and get their lives in order. You could offer daily emails, a guide on how to do different things, like organise the house, ask for a raise, get fit etc...
8.) Virtual Assistant. Some companies now have online assistants how make their calls, appointments etc... everything an in office assistant does without actually being there.
9.) This is your life DVD’s. With some computer know how you can create beautiful memories for people. They bring the photo’s they want on the DVD and the music they want it set to, then you create the DVD. It is excellent for 21st, 50th, wedding anniversaries etc...
10.) Create a niche website e.g. wedding vows/local business site. Something you are passionate about. You then make money from affiliate links and selling advertising space. You could create a site with a store and sell things on it too. It’s up to you what you do and how you do it.
11.) Website design. Not everyone is talented in this area and with more and more people creating websites, it is a great market to get into.
12.) Design blog backgrounds and do blog make-overs. April Showers does this and a great job of it too.
13.) Create your own ezine people subscribe too. This could be something you add to your site or blog or just do on its own.
14.) SEO consultant. There are businesses now who check your site/blog and redo it for Search Engine Optimization. If you know a lot about this it is a good option.
Selling
15.) Import wedding dresses and sell them. You could set up a room in your house with the dresses hanging up, a big mirror and change area. Import them from China or somewhere and resell them for much more than you paid. Wedding dresses for curvier women are in high demand.
16.) Buy to resell on eBay. There are still bargains to be found, though it is getting harder. You really need to know what will and won’t sell so you don’t end up with a house full of things you don’t want.
17.) Sell on eBay for others. Not everyone wants to sell on eBay and many people feel overwhelmed by it. You could list it for others taking a percentage of the sale or charge a flat fee to list on their behalf.
18.) Break up selling service. After a break up many people have things from the relationship they don’t want but can’t face selling. For a fee you could sell it all for them. All they have to do is pack it up and give it to you. Make sure they sign a waiver stating it is theirs to sell. When I say break up stuff I mean gifts such as jewellery, cd’s etc... not the ex’s clothes or car!
Use your house
19.) Family day care or child minding. Family day care is a company you can do it through. You need to have your house passed for safety and need some training, but many people run very rewarding businesses this way.
20.) Drop off babysitting/occasional care. Provide a service where mums can drop their kids for a few hours to do the shopping and errands. Charge per hour. Parents could have set days and times, or ring on the day to see if there is space available. This suits lots of people who would like to do things without the kids, but don’t want to enrol them in regular day care.
21.) Rent a room to a boarder or exchange student. If it is a boarder charge extra for meals if they want them. Exchange students have a set fee they pay and you have to help get them settled into the country, show them around, set up bank accounts etc... So they can be more work than your usual boarder, but depending where you live they can be worth more too. With a boarder have a written agreement about how much they will contribute to bills, whether they can use your phone/internet, food, cleaning, everything.
22.) Rent out the garage for people to store their stuff. Storage places aren’t cheap and if you are not using your garage you could rent it out. Have a set agreement about how much they pay, how long they have, when they can access the property, do they call you first, what can they store (So you know they aren’t storing illegal things) etc...
23.) Rent out your driveway or yard to someone who needs to store their caravan/RV/boat. Again, have a thorough written agreement.
24.) If you have a pool you could do swimming lessons, both for kids and adults. Or you could do aqua aerobics if you are qualified.
25.) Alternatively, if you have a pool you could lease it to a personal trainer to do swimming and fitness classes in your pool.
26.) Lease allotments in your garden for people to grow their own vegetables. Charge a fee for the spot and a fee for water.
27.) If you have a large block, or rural block you could set up a dirt track people could use for their trail bikes, lease some of the area to those with horses, grow Christmas trees to sell.
28.) If you have a large block you could build a shed or barn to hire out for parties and weddings etc...
Writing
29.) Freelance for newspapers and magazines
30.) Write gift card sayings and quotes. Here is a great article about it.
31.) Write puzzles for magazines and newspapers such as Sudoku, cross words, find a words etc...
32.) Write reviews at places like Product Review Australia
Australia's Favourite Review Site!
Anyone can do it
33.) Ironing. Advertise in your local paper or on community noticeboards. It’s up to you if you charge per item or per basket, whether you include a pick-up drop off service, same day or next day service. How you want to run it is your choice.
34.) Submit money saving tips, jokes, funny stories and photos to magazines and newspapers.
Some skills needed
35.) Make-up for bridal parties. If you are a make-up artist or are good at make-up you could do bridal parties, formals etc... in your own home. Set up an area specifically for it, provide nibbles and things for full bridal parties, play music and have fun.
36.) If you can sew or are a professional seamstress you could make bridal dresses, page boy suits, kids clothes, party costumes, the list is endless. You could do it all from home or sell them at markets and things. Etsy, madeit, oztion and eBay are all great places to sell your items.
37.) If you can sew you could specialise in alterations. Hemming pants, fixing ripped seams, that sort of thing.
38.) Personal trainer at home. Once you have your qualifications you can do it in your own home or backyard.
39.) Photography. You could set up a room in the house and do family portraits or glamour shots.
40.) Furniture restoration. If you have the right tools and a workshop area this is something you could do. Be careful though, as some pieces of furniture require specialist skills and you do not want to damage a beautiful antique.
41.) Massage in your house. Have a room set aside with a table, some soft music, towels etc... Offer ½ hour or more, head, neck and shoulders, back, full body etc...
Classes you could teach
42.) Basic mechanics. Obviously you would need to know what you are talking about, but you could do it in small groups. They bring their car and you teach them about it, changing oil, tyres, checking fluid levels etc...
43.) Cooking classes. These can be small and intimate. You could do Thai, Chinese, Italian or even a just moved out of home and need the basics class.
44.) Grooming and deportment classes
45.) Tutor in anything you can do. Piano, guitar, English, Math etc...
From the garden
46.) Sell potted cuttings, bulbs, herbs etc...
47.) Sell eggs from chickens
48.) Sell fruit or vegetables from your garden
49.) Sell honey if you keep bees
50.) Wheatgrass trays. More and more people are seeing the benefit of wheat grass. With the right juicer they can make their own shots each morning. You could do trays for $10. It takes a few days to grow it, but it is very easy. People could pop in on their way home from work to grab one and make enough shots from it for a few days.
51.) Garden sculptures from metal, wood or ceramics.
52.) Create water features to sell.
53.) Breed animals such as dogs.
Create, cook or build
Click the image to see a great wedding blog
54.) Cupcakes. Cute little decorated cupcakes can be sold online, to cafes or direct to businesses such as hairdressers and offices.
55.) Wedding cakes/birthday cakes. A wedding cake typical goes for $600+. They are a lot of work and you do spend a bit on equipment and products but you make a few hundred from each cake. Birthday cakes are not as much work generally and their prices reflect this.
56.) Party invitations. Create beautiful wedding invitations, birthday party invites etc...
57.) Thank you gifts for weddings and parties. Little things like personalised lollies, gift bags, cute figurines...
58.) Cookies for businesses. Many salons serve a cookie with a coffee when people are having their hair done. A homemade cookie is better, so why not be their supplier?
59.) Be a fairy lady. Create everything to do with fairies such as wings, dresses, wands, tiara’s, pretty hair pieces etc... sell them online.
60.) Beaded jewellery. Sell them online or on consignment in various stores.
61.) Build cubby houses. The y could be sold in packs to put together or as a ready made product.
62.) Wooden toys and puzzles, the educational type are becoming more and more sought after instead of the easily breakable cheap plastic items from China.
63.) Build furniture like unique dining and coffee tables from recycled wood.
64.) Make and sell soy candles.
65.) Pregnant belly casts. This could be set up in your garage or a spare room. You make casts of people when they are pregnant. They could choose to have them painted or left plain.
66.) Baby hand and feet casts. There are actual franchises you can buy into for this or go it alone.
67.) Print pendants. A piece of jewellery with your loved ones fingerprint in it. Using a baby hand cast, you can create a unique piece of jewellery. This is a business you can buy into or create yourself.
68.) Set up an embroidery business. You could do personalised towels, work uniforms and more.
Survey sites
69.) Pure Profile is an online market research company I have used. You need to be over 18, fill out some forms, then just check it regularly. You can get paid from 5c (usually 10c or 15c) for a website visit, anywhere from $2.50 - $20 for a survey and when your account reaches $25 you can cash it out and it is paid straight into your account. It can take a few weeks to receive the money though.
70.) Product tester – This is a form of market research. You sign up and they send you products to test and fill in surveys. Sometimes you get paid, sometimes the payment is the free products. Soup is a good one. Also check out VibeVillage
71.) Rewards Central is another online site where you get paid a small amount for visiting. You accumulate points for doing various things such as web clicks (2 points) a quick survey (3 points) and sometimes there are bonus web clicks where you get another 2 points for each click. The quick survey is not available every day, but if you click on it even when there is no survey you get an entry in the draw for $10,000. You also earn points by shopping with their rewards partners. Once you reach 3300 points you can get a $30 cheque or for 10100 points you get a $100 cheque. They are linked with My Opinions.
72.) My Opinions is a survey site where you accumulate points to cash out. You can transfer points from this site to Rewards Central once you reach 100 points. My opinions will email you to let you know when they have a survey for you to do. If you check in regularly there are quick surveys worth 3 points. Also in the rewards section there is an instant win. This is a game where you click on a square and can get from 0 to 500 points for nothing.
73.) Your voice is another site where they will email you surveys to do you can get vouchers such as Woolworths or Dymocks.
A few tips when filling out surveys...
1.) Be honest and answer each question properly.
2.) At the end most have a comment box, write something in it. Anything, because it shows you are paying attention and “care” and it means you are more likely to get more surveys.
3.) Update your profile regularly. If you buy something new or are looking to, have a child, fall pregnant, get married, get divorced, whatever it is, chances are it is in your profile and needs to be changed.
4.) You don’t have to do them all. You will get lots of emails for different surveys, but the good thing is they usually state how long they take and how much you will get so you can choose which ones you’d like to do. If you go for long periods without doing any though, you won’t get sent the good ones.
5.) Be aware you probably won’t get a lot of money for them and it may take a while for points and things to accumulate so they are definitely not a get rich quick scheme.
A few random things
75.) If you are psychic you could set up a room and do tarot, palmistry, whatever your ability is.
76.) Rent things out for parties such as chocolate fountains, chair covers, table clothes, disco lights, cutlery and crockery, smoke machines etc...
77.) Electrical repairs either fix washing machines, lawn mowers and the like or buy them from second hand places or the tip shop to fix and resell
78.) Personalised books. There are businesses you can buy into to do this. Basically people can pick their child’s favourite story and their child’s name is used in the book instead of a main character so it is their story.
79.) Avon and the like are a classic fall back option for many people at home. Just make sure you don’t spend your commission on the product!
For more great info see these posts
Free and cheap advertising
Starting your own business
WAHP Work at honme parents
Monday, May 24, 2010
Unexpected bonus with my car
This morning I got up all pumped and motivated. I was going to do a few things and make some money today. Then my car died. Usually, this would be rather upsetting, but it’s all good, because it was only just bought, came with a warranty for free, so it is not going to cost us to fix (yes, already checked coz I know most warranties are not worth anything! Lol)
When I found the car, I was pretty unsure and didn’t really want it. Then I took it for a test drive and fell in LOVE!! It is so nice to drive and has little things like seat warmers I have never had. It was within our price range so we got it.
I did not take any of my own advice when I got it, such as you should check the price of the car on www.redbook.com.au and you should check with insurance to see how much it costs to insure and you should research if the car you are looking at has any common problems. Me, I just bought the car. That is usually very dumb.
So after I had bought this car I rang insurance to see how much it is to insure. You could have knocked me over when they said the value of the car was $3,000 more than I spent. (I spent under $5k, so it was a little cheapie!) I have looked the car up now and it is worth more than I paid by A LOT, everywhere I look. This is very exciting. Many places have it for double what I paid.
I could actually sell this car and even after taking out the stamp duty I paid to transfer it into my name make a profit! Who the hell makes a profit completely by accident on a car?
I really do love the car, but the thing is it is going to be costly any time it needs a repair due to the brand, so I am thinking I should sell it on, take the profit and buy something else. We’ll see what happens when I get my car back.
Oh, and incase you are wondering, the mechanics said everything else is perfect and it runs like a dream!
When I found the car, I was pretty unsure and didn’t really want it. Then I took it for a test drive and fell in LOVE!! It is so nice to drive and has little things like seat warmers I have never had. It was within our price range so we got it.
I did not take any of my own advice when I got it, such as you should check the price of the car on www.redbook.com.au and you should check with insurance to see how much it costs to insure and you should research if the car you are looking at has any common problems. Me, I just bought the car. That is usually very dumb.
So after I had bought this car I rang insurance to see how much it is to insure. You could have knocked me over when they said the value of the car was $3,000 more than I spent. (I spent under $5k, so it was a little cheapie!) I have looked the car up now and it is worth more than I paid by A LOT, everywhere I look. This is very exciting. Many places have it for double what I paid.
I could actually sell this car and even after taking out the stamp duty I paid to transfer it into my name make a profit! Who the hell makes a profit completely by accident on a car?
I really do love the car, but the thing is it is going to be costly any time it needs a repair due to the brand, so I am thinking I should sell it on, take the profit and buy something else. We’ll see what happens when I get my car back.
Oh, and incase you are wondering, the mechanics said everything else is perfect and it runs like a dream!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Why employment is not for me.
I have been toying with the idea of going to work. There are a few types of jobs I would like to do, but some are very low paid until you get all the training and start earning great commissions and others require years and years at Uni. Neither of those things suit me, yet there are no other jobs that I would like to do either.
I have been thinking and thinking about what I should do and then it hit me. The reason I cannot think of a job I should do is because employment is not for me. I am not saying I do not want to earn money, because I do. I do not want to go work for someone else, when I know I could earn much more on my own.
If I was working I would be getting paid less than I feel I am worth. I would be exhausted and I would not be able to build alternative income streams as easily as I can now. I would not have as much time to devote to building them up.
I am not earning huge amounts of money through my various projects yet, but that is because they are all in the baby stage. There is a lot I need to do to build them up, but once I have, I will be earning an income and then some.
There is so much information out there about how to go about building various income streams and I feel like I am only at the tip of the iceberg. I have so much to learn, but I am trying to spend as much time as I can learning everything I can.
Not everyone is cut out for this sort of thing. Many people like the “stability” of being employed and getting paid each week. Personally I find more joy in doing it for myself and not relying on my boss for work. I know that no one can fire me and the only reason things won’t work is if I stuff up.
I have recently come across some great things to help build my blog and also other ideas for passive income. I have set myself some goals for where I would like my blog to be in the next month, 2 months and so on. I know where I want to be 3 months from now and will be working damn hard to achieve that.
Do you know where you want to be? What are you doing to ensure that happens?
I have been thinking and thinking about what I should do and then it hit me. The reason I cannot think of a job I should do is because employment is not for me. I am not saying I do not want to earn money, because I do. I do not want to go work for someone else, when I know I could earn much more on my own.
If I was working I would be getting paid less than I feel I am worth. I would be exhausted and I would not be able to build alternative income streams as easily as I can now. I would not have as much time to devote to building them up.
I am not earning huge amounts of money through my various projects yet, but that is because they are all in the baby stage. There is a lot I need to do to build them up, but once I have, I will be earning an income and then some.
There is so much information out there about how to go about building various income streams and I feel like I am only at the tip of the iceberg. I have so much to learn, but I am trying to spend as much time as I can learning everything I can.
Not everyone is cut out for this sort of thing. Many people like the “stability” of being employed and getting paid each week. Personally I find more joy in doing it for myself and not relying on my boss for work. I know that no one can fire me and the only reason things won’t work is if I stuff up.
I have recently come across some great things to help build my blog and also other ideas for passive income. I have set myself some goals for where I would like my blog to be in the next month, 2 months and so on. I know where I want to be 3 months from now and will be working damn hard to achieve that.
Do you know where you want to be? What are you doing to ensure that happens?
Book Voucher GIVE AWAY
Tonight I was looking at other blogs and what they give away and I came across this give away for Book Depository. There are so many ways you can get bonus entries.
The first prize is a $30 gift voucher for The Book Depository plus 3 books listed in her blog post.
The second prize is a $20 voucher for The Book Depository.
If there are any books you’d like, such as The One Minute Millionaire or The Richest Man in Babylon you should enter it. You never know, you might get lucky and get a cool book for free!
Hurry though, there's not long left.
The first prize is a $30 gift voucher for The Book Depository plus 3 books listed in her blog post.
The second prize is a $20 voucher for The Book Depository.
If there are any books you’d like, such as The One Minute Millionaire or The Richest Man in Babylon you should enter it. You never know, you might get lucky and get a cool book for free!
Hurry though, there's not long left.
7 tips for managing your time better
It’s taken me a while to realise what is most important to me and to arrange my time accordingly. I knew what was important but I was just not prioritising my time. Since implementing a bit of a routine here, things have run so much better and I feel like I get so much more done. I know I used to waste a lot of time and have learnt a lot recently so I thought I’d share some tips.
1.) Work out what deserves your time most then plan things accordingly. My daughters deserve my time the most, so I have planned my routine around them. I plan activities for us every day and in general I am just spending more quality time with them.
2.) Develop a routine. Mine is a very loose routine, more of a rough guideline, since things can change at any time. Basically the morning is spent going out, to the park or whatever. We come home for a nap, during which time I work. The afternoon is variable, sometimes we go out, sometimes we sing and read books, then we do dinner and the girls go to bed. Once they are in bed I work again. I have been getting much more done knowing I have a short timeframe in which to do things and I have been enjoying my daughters more.
3.) Combine tasks. When you do things, see if they can serve 2 purposes. For example, my daughters love to dance, so I dance with them. My eldest tells me how to do it and she is very active. I am now classing this as my work out, because it uses every part of my body and gets my heart pumping. So instead of going for a 1 hr walk or something, I am spending time with my daughters, but still exercising, so I save myself 1 hour.
4.) Get rid of the TV. There are so many reasons for this. I wrote about a bunch of them here.
5.) Ask yourself if it is worth your time. For a while there, I was doing all surveys and things that got sent to me. Most are not worth my time, so I pick and choose now.
6.) No guilt. I have decided not to feel guilty about saying no to things I do not want to do. If I don’t want to go to a cafe I won’t, if I don’t want to travel 3 hours to go to a party, I won’t. I do what I can, when I can, but I am not going to put myself into a spin trying to do everything for everyone.
7.) Don’t procrastinate. Procrastination makes things build up and take longer than they should have. Take cleaning a bathroom for example. If you do it regularly it is a chore, but shouldn’t take too long. If you leave it for a few weeks the mould, soap scum, toothpaste splatters and things build making the job take 5 times longer than it needs too. If there is something that needs to be done, just sit down and do it!
I am not perfect at this and I will never pretend to be, but since implementing these things my life has been running so much smoother and I am definitely less stressed.
1.) Work out what deserves your time most then plan things accordingly. My daughters deserve my time the most, so I have planned my routine around them. I plan activities for us every day and in general I am just spending more quality time with them.
2.) Develop a routine. Mine is a very loose routine, more of a rough guideline, since things can change at any time. Basically the morning is spent going out, to the park or whatever. We come home for a nap, during which time I work. The afternoon is variable, sometimes we go out, sometimes we sing and read books, then we do dinner and the girls go to bed. Once they are in bed I work again. I have been getting much more done knowing I have a short timeframe in which to do things and I have been enjoying my daughters more.
3.) Combine tasks. When you do things, see if they can serve 2 purposes. For example, my daughters love to dance, so I dance with them. My eldest tells me how to do it and she is very active. I am now classing this as my work out, because it uses every part of my body and gets my heart pumping. So instead of going for a 1 hr walk or something, I am spending time with my daughters, but still exercising, so I save myself 1 hour.
4.) Get rid of the TV. There are so many reasons for this. I wrote about a bunch of them here.
5.) Ask yourself if it is worth your time. For a while there, I was doing all surveys and things that got sent to me. Most are not worth my time, so I pick and choose now.
6.) No guilt. I have decided not to feel guilty about saying no to things I do not want to do. If I don’t want to go to a cafe I won’t, if I don’t want to travel 3 hours to go to a party, I won’t. I do what I can, when I can, but I am not going to put myself into a spin trying to do everything for everyone.
7.) Don’t procrastinate. Procrastination makes things build up and take longer than they should have. Take cleaning a bathroom for example. If you do it regularly it is a chore, but shouldn’t take too long. If you leave it for a few weeks the mould, soap scum, toothpaste splatters and things build making the job take 5 times longer than it needs too. If there is something that needs to be done, just sit down and do it!
I am not perfect at this and I will never pretend to be, but since implementing these things my life has been running so much smoother and I am definitely less stressed.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Give away reminder
Just a quick reminder that once I reach 70 followers on here I will do another give-away. So tell your friends.
If you have a business you’d like to promote and want to give away something on here let me know savvymumma at gmail dot com (use the @ sign instead of at and . instead of dot, trying to avoid spam here!)
Or if you have any suggestions for a good give-away, let me know what you’d like to see, just leave a comment!
Otherwise I have a few ideas...
If you have a business you’d like to promote and want to give away something on here let me know savvymumma at gmail dot com (use the @ sign instead of at and . instead of dot, trying to avoid spam here!)
Or if you have any suggestions for a good give-away, let me know what you’d like to see, just leave a comment!
Otherwise I have a few ideas...
7 reasons I won't be watching TV anymore
A few months ago I did a no TV month. It was so good. I found it hard at first as it was a boredom buster for me, but after I got into, I was really surprised at what I found.
1.) I seemed to have more time for everything. I was not wasting time watching TV so I had more time to work, to clean the house, play with my kids, everything.
2.) I wasn’t as tired. I was going to bed earlier, because I wasn’t watching things I didn’t need to watch.
3.) I didn’t miss any shows. There was not 1 program I truly missed or deemed as a must watch show. There are shows I like, but not so much that I would record them. This just proved what a time waster it was.
4.) I slept better. I think this partly due to going to bed earlier and also partly due to my mind not being overloaded with images, making it hard to switch off.
5.) I used to switch it on instead of reading. Once I had no TV, I read books that had been waiting a long time for me to pick them up.
6.) My house was cleaner. I am hopeless at keeping m house tidy. My kids don’t help, but I also hate doing the dishes and there is usually stuff piled up on top of my dining table and kitchen benches. When I wasn’t watching TV, I cleaned all that up.
7.) The consumer in me almost dies. Not being bombarded with ads and things blatantly used in programs to make me want them I don’t have the desire to go buy things I don’t really need. I am much happier with my lot in life when I am not constantly told I need bigger, brighter, better.
So there you have it. Our house is going to be pretty much TV free from now on. I have no idea why I turned the idiot box back on after that month, it was so much better without it.
Could you live without yours? Will you?
1.) I seemed to have more time for everything. I was not wasting time watching TV so I had more time to work, to clean the house, play with my kids, everything.
2.) I wasn’t as tired. I was going to bed earlier, because I wasn’t watching things I didn’t need to watch.
3.) I didn’t miss any shows. There was not 1 program I truly missed or deemed as a must watch show. There are shows I like, but not so much that I would record them. This just proved what a time waster it was.
4.) I slept better. I think this partly due to going to bed earlier and also partly due to my mind not being overloaded with images, making it hard to switch off.
5.) I used to switch it on instead of reading. Once I had no TV, I read books that had been waiting a long time for me to pick them up.
6.) My house was cleaner. I am hopeless at keeping m house tidy. My kids don’t help, but I also hate doing the dishes and there is usually stuff piled up on top of my dining table and kitchen benches. When I wasn’t watching TV, I cleaned all that up.
7.) The consumer in me almost dies. Not being bombarded with ads and things blatantly used in programs to make me want them I don’t have the desire to go buy things I don’t really need. I am much happier with my lot in life when I am not constantly told I need bigger, brighter, better.
So there you have it. Our house is going to be pretty much TV free from now on. I have no idea why I turned the idiot box back on after that month, it was so much better without it.
Could you live without yours? Will you?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Changes to my blog the post that wouldn't work
So this is the post that was doing my head in. The links wouldn't work, it would only show 1/2 the post, but here it is again, all fixed, I hope!
As you can see I have been playing around with my blog a lot. There are still a few more things I will be doing to it, like lightening the part where my posts are here in the middle (though this may or may not be done when you read this! Lol) I am also going to add a button and start adding pictures in my posts.
I have been using Aprils tutorials. They have been so easy to follow. I have also had the help of Miggles. She doesn’t specialise in it, she’s my sister and gets whingey emails from me going “I can’t do it, it’s too damn hard” and she goes “la la la, did it in 5 secs coz I’m awesome”. Ok, not exactly like that, lol, that’s how I FEEL about how easy it is for her, she has a natural talent in lots of things, as you can see in her blog.
I really prefer the 3 column blogs, and I think a different header and background to the typical Blogger ones will make your blog stand out more. It looks like you know what you are doing more than the standard Blogger backgrounds and headers.
I think if you are blogging seriously you need to spend the time researching how to do these sort of things to make your blog more unique. It’s also important to spend time commenting on other blogs, joining forums, signing up to different blogging networks and getting to know other bloggers, especially in your niche, as they will have like minded followers.
Twitter has been another big thing I have found. All bloggers seem to be on it, following each other, retweeting things from each other’s blogs and things. It gets the word out about your blog quite quickly and is part of the community mindset of blogging.
Another thing I am about to embark on is guest posting. I wanted to get my blog up to scratch before starting this. I wanted to be a little unique and also be in a position to be posting daily to keep people coming back before guest posting.
Guest posting is where you post on someone else’s blog, with a link to yours, which can drive a lot of traffic to your blog, so you really want to be ready when you go to do this.
I have still been going through all the different steps I have found for making your blog great, which has meant a lot of work in the background, but it is worth it. I love blogging and want to improve my blog as much as I can.
If you have any tips or ideas that you think would make my blog better, or things you’d like me to write about, leave a comment.
As you can see I have been playing around with my blog a lot. There are still a few more things I will be doing to it, like lightening the part where my posts are here in the middle (though this may or may not be done when you read this! Lol) I am also going to add a button and start adding pictures in my posts.
I have been using Aprils tutorials. They have been so easy to follow. I have also had the help of Miggles. She doesn’t specialise in it, she’s my sister and gets whingey emails from me going “I can’t do it, it’s too damn hard” and she goes “la la la, did it in 5 secs coz I’m awesome”. Ok, not exactly like that, lol, that’s how I FEEL about how easy it is for her, she has a natural talent in lots of things, as you can see in her blog.
I really prefer the 3 column blogs, and I think a different header and background to the typical Blogger ones will make your blog stand out more. It looks like you know what you are doing more than the standard Blogger backgrounds and headers.
I think if you are blogging seriously you need to spend the time researching how to do these sort of things to make your blog more unique. It’s also important to spend time commenting on other blogs, joining forums, signing up to different blogging networks and getting to know other bloggers, especially in your niche, as they will have like minded followers.
Twitter has been another big thing I have found. All bloggers seem to be on it, following each other, retweeting things from each other’s blogs and things. It gets the word out about your blog quite quickly and is part of the community mindset of blogging.
Another thing I am about to embark on is guest posting. I wanted to get my blog up to scratch before starting this. I wanted to be a little unique and also be in a position to be posting daily to keep people coming back before guest posting.
Guest posting is where you post on someone else’s blog, with a link to yours, which can drive a lot of traffic to your blog, so you really want to be ready when you go to do this.
I have still been going through all the different steps I have found for making your blog great, which has meant a lot of work in the background, but it is worth it. I love blogging and want to improve my blog as much as I can.
If you have any tips or ideas that you think would make my blog better, or things you’d like me to write about, leave a comment.
New Squidoo lens, more on finding money and a little vent.
I have no idea what is going on here today. I have tried doing some posts and only 1/2 of what I write shows up when I hit preview even though the whole thing is typed in. I have a whole post that just will not go up no matter how I type it, it is soooo frustrating. The other days my links wouldn't work in my posts, now they will, but the rest of the post won't show!
This is so frustrating. I have free time to work but can't, because nothing is working on here!
Ok, vent over.
On the upside, I did get a new squidoo lens up. It is an extended version of a post I did recently on finding money. I ended up with so many more ideas. I have found some money lately in really random places I did not expect.
I had an old car picked up by the wreckers and when I went there to collect my money, as I stepped out of the car and walked around to get my daughter out I saw 5c. So, it's not a huge amount of money, but I was still excited to see the super shiny coin in the mud.
I also found some money at church recently. When we went to Sydney my daughter would not sit still so we went for a walk on the grounds and there in the far corner in the grass was a 20c coin so dirty I nearly missed it.
The other money I have found lately has been in the gutter and on the foot path, so more "normal" spots.
I am making a concerted effort to go for a walk every day with my daughters. Not in the hopes of finding money, but to spend time together at the park and to help me lose weight. Any money found is a bonus.
Have you had any luck recently?
This is so frustrating. I have free time to work but can't, because nothing is working on here!
Ok, vent over.
On the upside, I did get a new squidoo lens up. It is an extended version of a post I did recently on finding money. I ended up with so many more ideas. I have found some money lately in really random places I did not expect.
I had an old car picked up by the wreckers and when I went there to collect my money, as I stepped out of the car and walked around to get my daughter out I saw 5c. So, it's not a huge amount of money, but I was still excited to see the super shiny coin in the mud.
I also found some money at church recently. When we went to Sydney my daughter would not sit still so we went for a walk on the grounds and there in the far corner in the grass was a 20c coin so dirty I nearly missed it.
The other money I have found lately has been in the gutter and on the foot path, so more "normal" spots.
I am making a concerted effort to go for a walk every day with my daughters. Not in the hopes of finding money, but to spend time together at the park and to help me lose weight. Any money found is a bonus.
Have you had any luck recently?
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Today
I have been trying to work on very little sleep. That results in less being done in a longer time frame. It also means not everything I do make sense. Tonight I will be getting a full night sleep so tomorrow should be productive.
I have managed to do a few things though. I have worked out a bit of a marketing plan for my book. I have worked on a Squidoo lens and come up with 5 more ideas. I have over 30 ideas for lenses now, which is exciting, I just need to get them done.
I am great at thinking up ideas. I get so many ideas I find it hard to sleep sometimes. I do love my mobile for that reason. When I can’t sleep because my brain is in overdrive I open my phone, list all my ideas in notes on my phone and it doesn’t wake anyone else up. Last night was a perfect example of that. My mind was racing, especially once I realised how far through this year we’ve come.
I had plans for now and having a debt was not one of them. Mind you, I did pay a nice little chunk off it today. I love seeing that number go down and can’t wait til it is paid off. I have no idea how people can be in debt all the time and be ok with that.
Thankfully my debt should be gone in a few months and I will be back on track.
I am hoping that since I have no kids tomorrow and other than getting my car serviced I am free, that I should be able to put another lens up tomorrow and hopefully get a good start on my new marketing plan.
I have managed to do a few things though. I have worked out a bit of a marketing plan for my book. I have worked on a Squidoo lens and come up with 5 more ideas. I have over 30 ideas for lenses now, which is exciting, I just need to get them done.
I am great at thinking up ideas. I get so many ideas I find it hard to sleep sometimes. I do love my mobile for that reason. When I can’t sleep because my brain is in overdrive I open my phone, list all my ideas in notes on my phone and it doesn’t wake anyone else up. Last night was a perfect example of that. My mind was racing, especially once I realised how far through this year we’ve come.
I had plans for now and having a debt was not one of them. Mind you, I did pay a nice little chunk off it today. I love seeing that number go down and can’t wait til it is paid off. I have no idea how people can be in debt all the time and be ok with that.
Thankfully my debt should be gone in a few months and I will be back on track.
I am hoping that since I have no kids tomorrow and other than getting my car serviced I am free, that I should be able to put another lens up tomorrow and hopefully get a good start on my new marketing plan.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Little set back
I am pleased to announce I have my emergency fund set aside. That was my first step. Problem is recently we took out a loan to finalise some things on our house and buy a 2nd car. The loan wasn’t huge, but I don’t like having it. Thankfully we didn’t use all of it and can put more than half straight back onto the loan.
This does mean that I have taken a step backwards, which makes me uncomfortable. Good thing is the debt isn’t mine alone and since we are selling our house this debt will be gone once our house has sold. So it is not a major issue. I have never had a loan through a bank like this other than my mortgage and I HATE it.
I can’t believe people do this regularly and don’t pay it of asap. If we only pay the minimum and let the loan run its course we would pay over $6,000 in interest! Seriously, who wants to pay out that kind of money for no reason?
Obviously through this I will be paying some interest, but we needed another car. Since we separated we have made do with 1 car, but he moved recently and it is just too damn hard with his shifts and stuff. We did get a bargain on the car though, and I LOVE it. It is an older model car, but it has seat warmers (awesome for our freezing winter) and other little things that make it so nice.
I have a plan of attack though and even if our house doesn’t sell this debt will be gone in the next few months, and my savings will be back on track.
This does mean that I have taken a step backwards, which makes me uncomfortable. Good thing is the debt isn’t mine alone and since we are selling our house this debt will be gone once our house has sold. So it is not a major issue. I have never had a loan through a bank like this other than my mortgage and I HATE it.
I can’t believe people do this regularly and don’t pay it of asap. If we only pay the minimum and let the loan run its course we would pay over $6,000 in interest! Seriously, who wants to pay out that kind of money for no reason?
Obviously through this I will be paying some interest, but we needed another car. Since we separated we have made do with 1 car, but he moved recently and it is just too damn hard with his shifts and stuff. We did get a bargain on the car though, and I LOVE it. It is an older model car, but it has seat warmers (awesome for our freezing winter) and other little things that make it so nice.
I have a plan of attack though and even if our house doesn’t sell this debt will be gone in the next few months, and my savings will be back on track.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
My day at the market
The markets were interesting. I sold a few books and had quite a bit of interest, lots of positive comments and people taking my business card.
Unfortunately I didn’t get to cook things from it like I wanted to, but I am hoping to go again in 2 weeks and cook then. I was thinking of making a few chocolate cakes to sell and sell slices of, as well as cookies and slices from my book. I was also going to have small samples to taste.
There weren’t many people around at the market. Probably because it’s winter, which means it cold and windy there. There weren’t many stalls either so not a lot to draw people in.
The markets don’t advertise at all either, so many people don’t know where it is. It’s the only Saturday one I know of, all the others are on Sundays, but I go to church and won’t work on a Sunday.
I had a good chat with a lady who does a really interesting business from home. She’s going to email me details I can share with you all.
I have found with markets people tend to look one week and buy later if they are locals. I should have a helper next time, and with selling the food and things I will be able to lay my table out differently and hopefully attract more people.
I was truly amazed at how many stall holders sit there reading a book and ignoring everyone who walks through. The best way to get people to stay and talk about what your selling is by saying “Hi, how are you?” and making small talk. If you are talking they will hover longer and you are more likely to make a sale. It’s not hard to do, but I was pretty much the only one doing it.
Hopefully I will get to go back. Just need to work out if my kids can be looked after and if I will have time to cook!
By the way, if you plan on selling food, make sure you have the right certification for your area or you can end up with big fines!
Unfortunately I didn’t get to cook things from it like I wanted to, but I am hoping to go again in 2 weeks and cook then. I was thinking of making a few chocolate cakes to sell and sell slices of, as well as cookies and slices from my book. I was also going to have small samples to taste.
There weren’t many people around at the market. Probably because it’s winter, which means it cold and windy there. There weren’t many stalls either so not a lot to draw people in.
The markets don’t advertise at all either, so many people don’t know where it is. It’s the only Saturday one I know of, all the others are on Sundays, but I go to church and won’t work on a Sunday.
I had a good chat with a lady who does a really interesting business from home. She’s going to email me details I can share with you all.
I have found with markets people tend to look one week and buy later if they are locals. I should have a helper next time, and with selling the food and things I will be able to lay my table out differently and hopefully attract more people.
I was truly amazed at how many stall holders sit there reading a book and ignoring everyone who walks through. The best way to get people to stay and talk about what your selling is by saying “Hi, how are you?” and making small talk. If you are talking they will hover longer and you are more likely to make a sale. It’s not hard to do, but I was pretty much the only one doing it.
Hopefully I will get to go back. Just need to work out if my kids can be looked after and if I will have time to cook!
By the way, if you plan on selling food, make sure you have the right certification for your area or you can end up with big fines!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Child free day
Today I have had no kids so have finally had time to concentrate and it has been wonderful. Not that I don’t love my kids, but being able to work without interruptions has been great.
Today I put up my first Squidoo lens which is very exciting for me. I have been meaning to do it for ages. I have more planned and now that I have done one I am sure I will be able to do the rest much quicker.
I have sent a few emails in regards to my book and various ways of promoting it. I have been meaning to do that for 3 weeks now but kept getting busy or chickening out.
I have consolidated money from various accounts into one. I still have to deposit some cash, but will be doing that next week.
I have also packed my bag for the markets tomorrow. I am nervous and excited about this. I have my float, my table, chair, snacks, drinks etc... I hope it goes well.
I’ve written out my list of things I need to do still and a time frame for it. I have also worked out a routine for my family. My girls are getting more restless being in a small place so we need to have a daily activity somewhere else. I’ve found when we do they go to bed earlier leaving me more time at night to work. So instead of grabbing time slots during the day I am going to concentrate on just working after they have gone to bed in a more focused environment.
I’ve been looking at homes online and seeing what I would like to buy. I am suddenly very motivated which is great because I have been a little flat for a while.
I am going to create more vision boards/walls. I am going to stick up more pictures, thoughts and quotes around my house to keep me focussed. I like the spot I am in mentally right now and would like to keep things this way. I am very positive and focussed and have been receiving a lot of support and encouragement.
I know I can do this. I know I can achieve my million dollar challenge. I also know I can do it in less than 5 years.
Today I put up my first Squidoo lens which is very exciting for me. I have been meaning to do it for ages. I have more planned and now that I have done one I am sure I will be able to do the rest much quicker.
I have sent a few emails in regards to my book and various ways of promoting it. I have been meaning to do that for 3 weeks now but kept getting busy or chickening out.
I have consolidated money from various accounts into one. I still have to deposit some cash, but will be doing that next week.
I have also packed my bag for the markets tomorrow. I am nervous and excited about this. I have my float, my table, chair, snacks, drinks etc... I hope it goes well.
I’ve written out my list of things I need to do still and a time frame for it. I have also worked out a routine for my family. My girls are getting more restless being in a small place so we need to have a daily activity somewhere else. I’ve found when we do they go to bed earlier leaving me more time at night to work. So instead of grabbing time slots during the day I am going to concentrate on just working after they have gone to bed in a more focused environment.
I’ve been looking at homes online and seeing what I would like to buy. I am suddenly very motivated which is great because I have been a little flat for a while.
I am going to create more vision boards/walls. I am going to stick up more pictures, thoughts and quotes around my house to keep me focussed. I like the spot I am in mentally right now and would like to keep things this way. I am very positive and focussed and have been receiving a lot of support and encouragement.
I know I can do this. I know I can achieve my million dollar challenge. I also know I can do it in less than 5 years.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Paying cash for a house
I keep reading about people saving to pay cash for a house and it has led me to wonder if it is really possible. Where I live house prices have gone up in the last year quite considerably, which makes me think it is not doable here, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
I have been watching house prices here and in the last 12 months I have seen some properties be bought at the start of that 12 months and be resold recently for $50,000 - $80,000 more. If they keep going at that rate I can’t see myself paying cash for a house here.
The idea of paying cash is awesome though. No interest on the house so the price you pay is really the price you pay, not 4 times more once you add in interest. No mortgage or account keeping fees, no running around trying to find the best mortgage deal. It makes a lot of sense if you can do it.
I would love to pay cash for a house and even though I don’t see it happening here, there is no reason I couldn’t do it elsewhere. There are plenty of other parts of Australia and the world that are still affordable. Sure, I won’t be living in it, but a rental where the only things you need to pay for the rent are insurance, rates, water and repairs is much more appealing than one where you only get $10 a week don’t you think?
I am so intrigued by this that I have set it as one of my goals. I would love to do it here, but I honestly know I would not be able to stand living in a 1 bedroom rental until I can afford it, so it’s not something I will be able to do for my home, but it is something I would be interested in doing at a later date for another property.
It begs the question though, what are you willing to sacrifice now to have no mortgage? Could you give up all take-away and eating out? Going to the movies, DVD hire etc... Would you live off porridge and lentils? How far would you and could you go without feeling like you are giving up your life?
I know there is lots I could do to cut back so I can save more for a house. I am just not always motivated enough. I've said before one thing I do for motivation is look at open homes so this weekend I am going to go to some open homes and stick the pictures up around my house to help me keep my eye on the prize.
Are you saving cash for a house? What are some of your tips? (thanks to all those who commented and left tips on my motivation post, great ideas!)
I have been watching house prices here and in the last 12 months I have seen some properties be bought at the start of that 12 months and be resold recently for $50,000 - $80,000 more. If they keep going at that rate I can’t see myself paying cash for a house here.
The idea of paying cash is awesome though. No interest on the house so the price you pay is really the price you pay, not 4 times more once you add in interest. No mortgage or account keeping fees, no running around trying to find the best mortgage deal. It makes a lot of sense if you can do it.
I would love to pay cash for a house and even though I don’t see it happening here, there is no reason I couldn’t do it elsewhere. There are plenty of other parts of Australia and the world that are still affordable. Sure, I won’t be living in it, but a rental where the only things you need to pay for the rent are insurance, rates, water and repairs is much more appealing than one where you only get $10 a week don’t you think?
I am so intrigued by this that I have set it as one of my goals. I would love to do it here, but I honestly know I would not be able to stand living in a 1 bedroom rental until I can afford it, so it’s not something I will be able to do for my home, but it is something I would be interested in doing at a later date for another property.
It begs the question though, what are you willing to sacrifice now to have no mortgage? Could you give up all take-away and eating out? Going to the movies, DVD hire etc... Would you live off porridge and lentils? How far would you and could you go without feeling like you are giving up your life?
I know there is lots I could do to cut back so I can save more for a house. I am just not always motivated enough. I've said before one thing I do for motivation is look at open homes so this weekend I am going to go to some open homes and stick the pictures up around my house to help me keep my eye on the prize.
Are you saving cash for a house? What are some of your tips? (thanks to all those who commented and left tips on my motivation post, great ideas!)
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Money from a tree
Oh, how I wish this post was about me discovering a tree that grows money, but it's not.
The other day I was walking my daughters back from the park and I noticed one of our neighbours had cut a tree down in their front yard. All the wood was all over the place. Immediately I thought of how you could turn that into money.
1.) Sell it was firewood. If you live in an area where people have fireplaces, you could offer to sell it to them.
2.) Turn it into woodchips for gardens to sell.
3.) Create unique wooden items, chopping boards, pen holders, coffee or side tables etc... You could approach a souvenir shop to see if they would be interested in buying them off you or selling them on consignment or you could go to a market.
These were the 3 ideas that immediately popped into my head. I am sure there are other things you could do with it. I am surprised by how many people just get rid of it without a second thought. I do realise that in a lot of areas you need to get someone who is qualified to come out and cut the tree down, so cutting down a tree in your yard is not a way to make money, but these ideas can help you recoup some of the cost, making it less expensive.
This also made me think about how many little things like that do we do that we could create money from without too much effort. If you have a pine tree in your yard you want to cut down, could you wait til closer to Christmas and sell it as a Christmas tree.
Do you have some beautiful flowers you could cut and sell? In one of the salons I used to work an elderly lady came around every week selling bunches of flowers from her garden for $10each.
What is at your house that you could make money from? Once you start looking and thinking you will probably be surprised at what you have and can do.
The other day I was walking my daughters back from the park and I noticed one of our neighbours had cut a tree down in their front yard. All the wood was all over the place. Immediately I thought of how you could turn that into money.
1.) Sell it was firewood. If you live in an area where people have fireplaces, you could offer to sell it to them.
2.) Turn it into woodchips for gardens to sell.
3.) Create unique wooden items, chopping boards, pen holders, coffee or side tables etc... You could approach a souvenir shop to see if they would be interested in buying them off you or selling them on consignment or you could go to a market.
These were the 3 ideas that immediately popped into my head. I am sure there are other things you could do with it. I am surprised by how many people just get rid of it without a second thought. I do realise that in a lot of areas you need to get someone who is qualified to come out and cut the tree down, so cutting down a tree in your yard is not a way to make money, but these ideas can help you recoup some of the cost, making it less expensive.
This also made me think about how many little things like that do we do that we could create money from without too much effort. If you have a pine tree in your yard you want to cut down, could you wait til closer to Christmas and sell it as a Christmas tree.
Do you have some beautiful flowers you could cut and sell? In one of the salons I used to work an elderly lady came around every week selling bunches of flowers from her garden for $10each.
What is at your house that you could make money from? Once you start looking and thinking you will probably be surprised at what you have and can do.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Winner announced of my give away!
My next give away will be when I reach 70 followers, so tell your friends about me! lol
I have not decided what it will be, but if you have any suggestions let me know. Or if you have a business you would like to promote and give away something on here, let me know.
So, I used the random number generator and got our winner!! I am quite excited, because she has followed me from the beginning (I’d be excited whoever won!)
ALICIA from One mums musings congratulations!!! You’ve won the copy of The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth
For anyone who hasn’t read this book, get it!! It is awesome and so inspiring.
So Alicia, if you’d like to email me your details, my email should be in my profile. If anyone wants to email me giveaway ideas or suggestions, feel free or leave a comment here!
Thanks everyone for entering. Glad you all liked it.
I have not decided what it will be, but if you have any suggestions let me know. Or if you have a business you would like to promote and give away something on here, let me know.
So, I used the random number generator and got our winner!! I am quite excited, because she has followed me from the beginning (I’d be excited whoever won!)
ALICIA from One mums musings congratulations!!! You’ve won the copy of The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth
For anyone who hasn’t read this book, get it!! It is awesome and so inspiring.
So Alicia, if you’d like to email me your details, my email should be in my profile. If anyone wants to email me giveaway ideas or suggestions, feel free or leave a comment here!
Thanks everyone for entering. Glad you all liked it.
Buying quality
Quality doesn’t always mean expensive. You can often find quality items at bargain prices if you are patient and know where to look. Too often though we are impatient and end up buying the cheaper item only to regret it later.
Sometimes getting the cheaper item to use now whilst we save for the quality item is necessary. If you have the money though, I would always go for the quality item. Sure it might cost more now, but if it really is a good quality item it will outlast 5 “cheap” versions and often have other benefits.
Take the printer I got recently for example. I needed a printer/scanner. More for scanning than printing. There was a machine there I really wanted and am saving for it. I don’t really have the space for it, as it was a printer/scanner/fax machine, so about twice the size of what I got and well and truly more than twice the price.
I do like my printer but it chews the ink. It uses ink like a Land Cruiser uses petrol. It chews through it. If I did a lot of printing, I would end up going through a lot of ink, about 5 times more to be exact. Combine that with the fact that it is only designed to last 1 year, whereas the model I wanted will last 7+ years (according to them) with industrial use, the more expensive QUALITY printer is clearly the better choice.
Clothing is another good example. I often see women wearing ill fitting clothes. Why? Because they can buy cheap tops in the cheap shops where the clothes are made in China and are really not designed for “curvy” women. 5 ill fitting tops for $50 is not a good choice. Whilst it may be cheap, are you really going to wear those clothes much? You probably feel uncomfortable and self conscience in it. You are much better off spending the $50 on a well fitting top that looks like it was tailor made for you, that you will get good wear out of than the 5 cheap tops that will probably fall apart after 5 wears anyway.
Whilst the initial outlay for quality items can mean a real hit to your savings, long term it is the better choice. But how do you know if it really is a quality item?
Ask friends and family their opinion.
Research it online.
Talk with various sales assistants. Some are just there to sell anything to you, but some of them are truly honest and do know their stuff!
Talk to experts. Do you have an IT expert at your work how could give you their opinion on the laptop you want to buy? Is someone from your church or sports club a professional photographer and can tell you about which camera to buy for your purposes?
There is lots you can do to ensure that what you want to buy is worth your money.
Sometimes getting the cheaper item to use now whilst we save for the quality item is necessary. If you have the money though, I would always go for the quality item. Sure it might cost more now, but if it really is a good quality item it will outlast 5 “cheap” versions and often have other benefits.
Take the printer I got recently for example. I needed a printer/scanner. More for scanning than printing. There was a machine there I really wanted and am saving for it. I don’t really have the space for it, as it was a printer/scanner/fax machine, so about twice the size of what I got and well and truly more than twice the price.
I do like my printer but it chews the ink. It uses ink like a Land Cruiser uses petrol. It chews through it. If I did a lot of printing, I would end up going through a lot of ink, about 5 times more to be exact. Combine that with the fact that it is only designed to last 1 year, whereas the model I wanted will last 7+ years (according to them) with industrial use, the more expensive QUALITY printer is clearly the better choice.
Clothing is another good example. I often see women wearing ill fitting clothes. Why? Because they can buy cheap tops in the cheap shops where the clothes are made in China and are really not designed for “curvy” women. 5 ill fitting tops for $50 is not a good choice. Whilst it may be cheap, are you really going to wear those clothes much? You probably feel uncomfortable and self conscience in it. You are much better off spending the $50 on a well fitting top that looks like it was tailor made for you, that you will get good wear out of than the 5 cheap tops that will probably fall apart after 5 wears anyway.
Whilst the initial outlay for quality items can mean a real hit to your savings, long term it is the better choice. But how do you know if it really is a quality item?
Ask friends and family their opinion.
Research it online.
Talk with various sales assistants. Some are just there to sell anything to you, but some of them are truly honest and do know their stuff!
Talk to experts. Do you have an IT expert at your work how could give you their opinion on the laptop you want to buy? Is someone from your church or sports club a professional photographer and can tell you about which camera to buy for your purposes?
There is lots you can do to ensure that what you want to buy is worth your money.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Give Away! One minute millionaire CLOSED
I am giving away one copy of The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth because it is one of my favourite financial books.
I found it really inspirational and it was easy to read. The left hand pages are all fact and the right hand pages are a fictional story, so you can read the book as a story or just the facts, however you like.
You can get a few entries by doing any or all of the following
1.) Post a comment below
2.) Put a link to this post as your Facebook/Myspace/Bebo/Twitter status and leave a comment below
3.) Join to follow this blog and leave a comment below
4.) Sign up to me on Twitter (See the link to the right and post a comment to let me know
Entries close 5pm Monday 10th May, Australian Eastern Standard Time. It is open to anyone that Amazon posts too.
This truly is an enlightening book so make sure you enter!
because it is one of my favourite financial books.I found it really inspirational and it was easy to read. The left hand pages are all fact and the right hand pages are a fictional story, so you can read the book as a story or just the facts, however you like.
You can get a few entries by doing any or all of the following
1.) Post a comment below
2.) Put a link to this post as your Facebook/Myspace/Bebo/Twitter status and leave a comment below
3.) Join to follow this blog and leave a comment below
4.) Sign up to me on Twitter (See the link to the right and post a comment to let me know
Entries close 5pm Monday 10th May, Australian Eastern Standard Time. It is open to anyone that Amazon posts too.
This truly is an enlightening book so make sure you enter!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Home office
Having a specific area for work is just as important as having a specific time. I live in a 1 bedroom unit, so do not have the space for a proper home office, but I have created a mini office. Whilst I don’t get to sit at a desk and work, it contains all my work things. I do have to pull things out as I need them and work on my dining table, but it does mean I am more organised.
So, what do I have in my home office?
- My laptop and modem. To me, these are my most important items.
- My printer/scanner.
- Various folders for various things such as all my house records for tax time, all my blogging records, important papers etc...
- A few notebooks, pens, paper, high lighters, tape, stapler, ruler etc... You know, basic stationary supplies.
It is all kept in a cupboard locked away from the tiny hands in my house that like to destroy things. It is not as awesome a having my own proper room or space to have constantly set up as a home office, but I like it all the same.
When I have a room I will be getting a new printer/scanner/fax machine, Voip, a desk, chair and a few other bits and pieces. I am very excited about having my own space one day. A whole room for work that can be locked and kept safe! Oh, the possibilities! One day it’ll happen, hopefully one not too far away.
So, what do I have in my home office?
- My laptop and modem. To me, these are my most important items.
- My printer/scanner.
- Various folders for various things such as all my house records for tax time, all my blogging records, important papers etc...
- A few notebooks, pens, paper, high lighters, tape, stapler, ruler etc... You know, basic stationary supplies.
It is all kept in a cupboard locked away from the tiny hands in my house that like to destroy things. It is not as awesome a having my own proper room or space to have constantly set up as a home office, but I like it all the same.
When I have a room I will be getting a new printer/scanner/fax machine, Voip, a desk, chair and a few other bits and pieces. I am very excited about having my own space one day. A whole room for work that can be locked and kept safe! Oh, the possibilities! One day it’ll happen, hopefully one not too far away.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What I did when I had my mobile hairdressing business and what I would do differently
A few years ago I started my own mobile hairdressing business. It was good. I quickly picked up new clients and I learnt a lot. Then I fell pregnant, had my nieces come to live with me and ended up moving interstate so I stopped. There are many things I would do differently if I were to do it again. To start with I’ll tell you how I started.
My first step was get an ABN and register my business name.
Next I set up accounts with suppliers and purchased hair colours etc... I got a package which came with free colour chart, capes, bowls, brushes etc...
I also got a mobile basin, which surprisingly to me made a lot of people go “Wow!” I thought it was a basic item to have, but apparently not.
Next I notified my clients, most of whom were friends and people I knew from church and their friends and told them I was branching out. I set my prices and let them all know how much I would be charging them.
I did a flyer drop in my local area to get more clients.
Then it was just a matter booking in my clients and doing the work.
I kept spreadsheets on what I earned and what I spent, as well as a log book for travelling, as I was using our family car. The records I kept weren’t great and if I did it again I’d do it better.
All in all, I am happy with how I did it, but there are quite a few things I would do differently.
1.) I would get a separate car. Ours was too small and it was a hassle having to load and unload all the time.
2.) I would get signage on my car. I had planned on selling my car so never did it. I think proper signage looks more professional than the magnets.
3.) I would use a plastic box to store all my products in so they are easier to see and it is cleaner.
4.) I would buy a machine (can’t remember what it’s called) that makes the hair colour develop faster, so instead of it taking 30 – 45 minutes to develop, it takes 15minutes. It costs a few thousand that to start with I did not have.
5.) I would set my prices higher and cut some of the services that weren’t really worth it. Perms and sets that the older ladies get are not worth the money. They are time consuming and the ladies don’t want to pay what it really costs to do it. It ended up just being frustrating trying to explain to them why I wanted to charge x amount. So I would just not do them at all if I did it again.
6.) I tried to do too much to satisfy too many people. I should have set what I wanted to do; the things I knew would generate an income and just say no if I didn’t want to do it. I understand in business that you need to give the customer what they want, but I was trying to do too much. I should have streamlined a lot more and not done the things that didn’t make me much money.
7.) I would have set more definite hours. I was a little too flexible with my working times and if I were to do it over I would have more definite times and not bend on them.
I am glad I had this experience, I learnt a lot and am grateful for that. I earned more doing it than if I had been working a normal job.
If I were to have a business again, it would not be one where it relies solely on me. I would buy a business I did not have to work in; otherwise it is just like trading one job for another, which is not the ideal way to run a business.
Just a few extra tips...
When you are looking into a business, discuss it well with a good business accountant. They will be able to tell you what you can claim on tax, what to do in regards to record keeping etc... It is money well spent.
Make sure it is something you love and have an interest in. If you don’t love it, you won’t enjoy it. If you are looking at it as purely an investment that you essentially have nothing to do with this won’t matter so much, but if you have a bit to do with it you need to like it.
Research it well. Do market research to see if it is worth it. If you are buying a business, check the books, suss it out properly, what comes with the price, just the business or the stock as well etc...
My first step was get an ABN and register my business name.
Next I set up accounts with suppliers and purchased hair colours etc... I got a package which came with free colour chart, capes, bowls, brushes etc...
I also got a mobile basin, which surprisingly to me made a lot of people go “Wow!” I thought it was a basic item to have, but apparently not.
Next I notified my clients, most of whom were friends and people I knew from church and their friends and told them I was branching out. I set my prices and let them all know how much I would be charging them.
I did a flyer drop in my local area to get more clients.
Then it was just a matter booking in my clients and doing the work.
I kept spreadsheets on what I earned and what I spent, as well as a log book for travelling, as I was using our family car. The records I kept weren’t great and if I did it again I’d do it better.
All in all, I am happy with how I did it, but there are quite a few things I would do differently.
1.) I would get a separate car. Ours was too small and it was a hassle having to load and unload all the time.
2.) I would get signage on my car. I had planned on selling my car so never did it. I think proper signage looks more professional than the magnets.
3.) I would use a plastic box to store all my products in so they are easier to see and it is cleaner.
4.) I would buy a machine (can’t remember what it’s called) that makes the hair colour develop faster, so instead of it taking 30 – 45 minutes to develop, it takes 15minutes. It costs a few thousand that to start with I did not have.
5.) I would set my prices higher and cut some of the services that weren’t really worth it. Perms and sets that the older ladies get are not worth the money. They are time consuming and the ladies don’t want to pay what it really costs to do it. It ended up just being frustrating trying to explain to them why I wanted to charge x amount. So I would just not do them at all if I did it again.
6.) I tried to do too much to satisfy too many people. I should have set what I wanted to do; the things I knew would generate an income and just say no if I didn’t want to do it. I understand in business that you need to give the customer what they want, but I was trying to do too much. I should have streamlined a lot more and not done the things that didn’t make me much money.
7.) I would have set more definite hours. I was a little too flexible with my working times and if I were to do it over I would have more definite times and not bend on them.
I am glad I had this experience, I learnt a lot and am grateful for that. I earned more doing it than if I had been working a normal job.
If I were to have a business again, it would not be one where it relies solely on me. I would buy a business I did not have to work in; otherwise it is just like trading one job for another, which is not the ideal way to run a business.
Just a few extra tips...
When you are looking into a business, discuss it well with a good business accountant. They will be able to tell you what you can claim on tax, what to do in regards to record keeping etc... It is money well spent.
Make sure it is something you love and have an interest in. If you don’t love it, you won’t enjoy it. If you are looking at it as purely an investment that you essentially have nothing to do with this won’t matter so much, but if you have a bit to do with it you need to like it.
Research it well. Do market research to see if it is worth it. If you are buying a business, check the books, suss it out properly, what comes with the price, just the business or the stock as well etc...
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Slight change of plans
Throughout this challenge I have been keeping my personal finances separate from any money I have made from my challenge. That was before I became single.
Recently there have been a few things that have made me dip into my challenge money which has been a bit of a setback. Not nice, but it was necessary. Because of my current circumstances I have been trying to decide what is the best way for me to manage my money.
Am I better off still keeping it separate or should I put money from all sources, including any I save from my pension towards it as well.
I finally decided tonight how I would be proceeding and it does mean that my initial goal outline will be changed slightly. I have decided that money from all sources will be put towards my challenge, including my pension. I am not going to include the money from the sale of my house because I started my challenge in September 2009 and I had already had the house for a while then, so it doesn’t count.
I will be placing an amount into 1 account as an emergency fund, which I will add to each time I get paid. The rest of my savings will be going into another account to act as my challenge money.
I feel that since my life has changed since starting this challenge that I am better off doing it this way. Life changes and sometimes we need to change our goals to suit that.
Recently there have been a few things that have made me dip into my challenge money which has been a bit of a setback. Not nice, but it was necessary. Because of my current circumstances I have been trying to decide what is the best way for me to manage my money.
Am I better off still keeping it separate or should I put money from all sources, including any I save from my pension towards it as well.
I finally decided tonight how I would be proceeding and it does mean that my initial goal outline will be changed slightly. I have decided that money from all sources will be put towards my challenge, including my pension. I am not going to include the money from the sale of my house because I started my challenge in September 2009 and I had already had the house for a while then, so it doesn’t count.
I will be placing an amount into 1 account as an emergency fund, which I will add to each time I get paid. The rest of my savings will be going into another account to act as my challenge money.
I feel that since my life has changed since starting this challenge that I am better off doing it this way. Life changes and sometimes we need to change our goals to suit that.
House on the market
I am quite excited. I have just started the house selling process. I own a house with my husband in Sydney and the money I make from it I wont be using towards my challenge, but I thought what I have learnt so far would be good for others anyway.
It was quite a process. Talking to real estate agents, getting a feel for them before getting them to appraise the house.
There were a few things we were looking for in an agent.
1.) They had to be confident and know their stuff. The first one we went into, the guy seemed very nervous and didn’t really know the area (the office was in the same suburb as our house!). He did not seem confident in his selling ability. He also had no clue about house values and put our brick house in the same category as fibro homes. (There is a significant price difference).
2.) They had to list everywhere we would look for a home and have good advertising.
3.) They had to charge reasonably, not over the top.
4.) They couldn’t be pushy or try to hard sell why we should go with them. 1 guy did this and I asked 3 time show much it was going to cost me, “Oh, well first I’ll show you our packages...” Yeah, I have worked in sales and understand the steps, but if I ask you 3 times for the price TELL ME THE PRICE!!!! When I did get the price it was almost double everyone else, for not much difference, other than the hard sell.
A lot of how we chose was done by gut feeling as well. We quickly narrowed it down to 3 and they came out to our house and did appraisals. 2 suggested the price we were thinking and the 3rd was much lower. So we were down to 2.
It took quite some time to decide between the 2. The prices and advertising packages were the same. They were both nice and we felt comfortable with them both. Both said they would take care of our tenants.
In the end it came down to both of us feeling in our guts to go with the guy. We were tossing up between a guy and a lady. We didn’t choose based on sex or age, but just felt the guy was right.
We went to the solicitor we used when we bought 4 years ago and amazingly she remembered us! How cool is that. It took 5 minutes, she took our details and will have the sales contract done in 2 days (usually it takes up to 7). So it is all happening now. The property should be listed in a week, once the contract has been done and the agent has gotten the photographer to go out.
We are hoping an investor buys it so the tenants can stay, but ultimately decided that if it means a sale for us, we were happy whether they were an investor or not. We’d like the house sold.
Wish me luck.
It was quite a process. Talking to real estate agents, getting a feel for them before getting them to appraise the house.
There were a few things we were looking for in an agent.
1.) They had to be confident and know their stuff. The first one we went into, the guy seemed very nervous and didn’t really know the area (the office was in the same suburb as our house!). He did not seem confident in his selling ability. He also had no clue about house values and put our brick house in the same category as fibro homes. (There is a significant price difference).
2.) They had to list everywhere we would look for a home and have good advertising.
3.) They had to charge reasonably, not over the top.
4.) They couldn’t be pushy or try to hard sell why we should go with them. 1 guy did this and I asked 3 time show much it was going to cost me, “Oh, well first I’ll show you our packages...” Yeah, I have worked in sales and understand the steps, but if I ask you 3 times for the price TELL ME THE PRICE!!!! When I did get the price it was almost double everyone else, for not much difference, other than the hard sell.
A lot of how we chose was done by gut feeling as well. We quickly narrowed it down to 3 and they came out to our house and did appraisals. 2 suggested the price we were thinking and the 3rd was much lower. So we were down to 2.
It took quite some time to decide between the 2. The prices and advertising packages were the same. They were both nice and we felt comfortable with them both. Both said they would take care of our tenants.
In the end it came down to both of us feeling in our guts to go with the guy. We were tossing up between a guy and a lady. We didn’t choose based on sex or age, but just felt the guy was right.
We went to the solicitor we used when we bought 4 years ago and amazingly she remembered us! How cool is that. It took 5 minutes, she took our details and will have the sales contract done in 2 days (usually it takes up to 7). So it is all happening now. The property should be listed in a week, once the contract has been done and the agent has gotten the photographer to go out.
We are hoping an investor buys it so the tenants can stay, but ultimately decided that if it means a sale for us, we were happy whether they were an investor or not. We’d like the house sold.
Wish me luck.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A much needed realization
I have been procrastinating a lot of things lately. I have a huge list of things I have wanted to do to improve my blog and just haven’t. Recently I discovered I was in the top 500 on wisebread. I watched myself go from 465 to 468 which was not the direction I wanted to go.
I have since improved my ranking to 456 and hope to go much further up the list. All I did was one small thing. I got on twitter as you can see to the top left. I had signed up a while ago but done nothing with it. Once I started tweeting my ranking jumped.
This was what I needed to see that those things I have been meaning to do really matter. I will be doing more to change my blog and plan to be blogging more.
I’ve realized that I need to manage my time better. I need to prioritize more and set better ground rules for working. I enjoy blogging and always mean to have a set time to do it, but I tend to just squeeze it in around everything else I am doing.
Seeing my blog go down then up made me realize how important it is too me and how by focussing on it more and doing a few little things I can make a big difference.
So bear with me whilst I implement some changes, learn about twitter and things. Hopefully I’ll get it all done quickly.
I have since improved my ranking to 456 and hope to go much further up the list. All I did was one small thing. I got on twitter as you can see to the top left. I had signed up a while ago but done nothing with it. Once I started tweeting my ranking jumped.
This was what I needed to see that those things I have been meaning to do really matter. I will be doing more to change my blog and plan to be blogging more.
I’ve realized that I need to manage my time better. I need to prioritize more and set better ground rules for working. I enjoy blogging and always mean to have a set time to do it, but I tend to just squeeze it in around everything else I am doing.
Seeing my blog go down then up made me realize how important it is too me and how by focussing on it more and doing a few little things I can make a big difference.
So bear with me whilst I implement some changes, learn about twitter and things. Hopefully I’ll get it all done quickly.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)