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4 Easy Apps to Find Free Furniture!
Furniture can be expensive. Here are the ways we got free furniture for our house and how to maximize each!
The post 4 Easy Apps to Find Free Furniture! appeared first on Modern Frugality.
8 Brilliant Tips on How To Get Paid To Lose Weight
Itâs that time of the year where many of us make — and later break — a new yearâs resolution to lose weight But what if you could get paid to lose weight? Would making money incentivize you to stick with it? Get Paid to Lose Weight in 2019  We all know weight-loss is big […]
The post 8 Brilliant Tips on How To Get Paid To Lose Weight appeared first on Incomist.
5 Printable Budget Planners That Can Save Your Finances (and Your Sanity)!
The top 5 budgeting methods turned into simple and easy printable budget planners. Just print & go! I find that so many times, I read about a good idea, something I want to try, and I end up making it a lot harder than it needs to be! I see a recipe for the best […]
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The post 5 Printable Budget Planners That Can Save Your Finances (and Your Sanity)! appeared first on Money for the Mamas.
5 Ways Mint.com Helps at Tax Time
5 Ways Mint.com Helps at Tax Time The Super Bowl is over, and the groundhog has predicted six more weeks of winter. Furthermore, the April 15 tax deadline looms menacingly. Whether you settle up with Uncle Sam yourself using tax…
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The post 5 Ways Mint.com Helps at Tax Time appeared first on MintLife Blog.
How Does the Federal Reserve Interest Rate Affect Me?
Learn how to get an edge on your saving, spending and borrowing strategies when rates rise or fall.
The post How Does the Federal Reserve Interest Rate Affect Me? appeared first on Discover Bank – Banking Topics Blog.
A Sad Photo Essay That Sums Up What It’s Like to Sell Your Housewares Online
Selling items online can become oddly addicting. Make some cash, free up some space, but don’t imagine there aren’t any pitfalls.
The post A Sad Photo Essay That Sums Up What It’s Like to Sell Your Housewares Online appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
5 Tips for Building a Side Business
You’ve probably noticed that people are embracing entrepreneurship like never before. Due to the widespread availability of technological business tools, there’s never been a better time to become your own boss. With an internet connection and a smart-phone or laptop, you can work from just about anywhere on the planet.
If you’ve been dreaming of quitting your day job to start a business, you might be wondering if taking such a big leap is worth it.
While there’s nothing wrong with holding down a W-2 job and getting a steady paycheck, having income from your own business comes with many upsides. But if you’ve been dreaming of quitting your day job to start a business, you might be wondering if taking such a big leap is worth it.
The good news is that there are incremental ways to become self-employed that are stable and reduce your risk, instead of plunging abruptly into a precarious financial position. In this chapter excerpt from Money-Smart Solopreneur: A Personal Finance System for Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, and Side-Hustlers, you’ll learn practical strategies for building a solo business while keeping the security of a regular job.
Tips for building a business on the side
Becoming your own boss may seem glamorous from the outside, but it can have stressful pitfalls, such as little pay, no insurance benefits, and unpredictable clients. However, you can avoid or minimize some of the downsides by maintaining a reliable day job while you grow your solo business.
Having the security of a job and the excitement of becoming a solopreneur gives you lots of upside with much less risk. A steady paycheck may give you the confidence you need to take business risks—such as buying more advertising, equipment, or software—that will make your venture more profitable.
Having the security of a job and the excitement of becoming a solopreneur gives you lots of upside with much less risk.
Aside from maintaining a reliable income stream, being both an employee and an entrepreneur can make you a better worker. In my experience, growing a side business also builds skills and experiences that make you more effective at your regular job. You may even find your side hustle revives an appreciation for your day job. There’s a lot to like about having a salary, benefits, and other perks, after all.
Whether you decide to be both an employee and your own boss for weeks or years, it will take some juggling to manage successfully. Here are five tips to face your career fears responsibly and prepare for the future by adding entrepreneurship to your resume on the side.
Define your vision for success
Before changing your job or making the transition from employee to self-employed solopreneur, take the time to define what you truly want to achieve in your career. Sometimes your ideas about success come from other people, and they can cause you to follow a career path that never truly fulfills you.
Maybe your boss thinks you should regularly work late so you can climb the corporate ladder, or a parent says you should go to graduate school. You might take a lucrative job in a field you’re not crazy about because that’s what your friends are doing. But if that job requires frequent travel when all you truly want is to start a family, care for aging parents, or spend time enjoying where you live, you’ll never be happy.
Never let external markers of success, such as a big paycheck or a fancy job title, become more important than your heartfelt calling and goals for your life.
If you don’t pause periodically to reflect on what success means to you, it becomes easier to follow other people’s priorities when it comes to your work. If your decisions aren’t purposefully leading you toward a life that excites you, you’ll likely wander away from what you genuinely want.
Never let external markers of success, such as a big paycheck or a fancy job title, become more important than your heartfelt calling and goals for your life.
That said, getting in touch with your real desires isn’t always easy, and you might have to listen carefully to hear your inner voice. Try incorporating some quiet time into your daily routine. When you first wake up or when you’re settling down at bedtime, think about what you’re grateful for—but also what you’d like your life to be. Consider your definition of success and any changes you’d like to make to your life in the near and distant future.
Ask yourself the following questions to better understand your values and get clarity on your unique vision for success:
- What type of work makes me happiest?
- Where do I want to live?
- What types of people do I want in my work life?
- What does a good life mean to me?
This exercise isn’t something you do once to figure out the arc of your entire life. You need to come back to these fundamental questions during different seasons of your life and career, because the answers may change, sometimes repeatedly.
Over time, your working life is sure to change, in both good and bad ways. When you find yourself getting restless or feeling like you want more from your job, slow down and become more introspective. It can reveal a lot about what your next career or business move should be.
RELATED: How to Create Your Own Self-Employed Benefits Package
Create a side gig
Even when you’re clear about what you want, one of the fastest ways to ruin your financial future is to take a flying leap from a steady paycheck. Jumping from a day job into an uncertain, full-time venture too early could mean trouble. You might face significant financial struggles and even get into debt. Many businesses take years of hard work before they’re profitable enough to support you.
If you slowly add entrepreneurial experience to your career, you’re likely to gain a variety of skills that will make you more valuable to employers.
Hanging on to your day job gives you the financial security you need to try out new business ideas, especially if you have a spouse, partner, or kids who depend on your income.
The best side gigs combine work that you’re excited about with something that you’re uniquely positioned to provide. These businesses may also come with a large existing customer base or appeal to customers who are willing to pay you well for the skills and experience you offer.
I was a part-time entrepreneur for a decade before I said goodbye to my employer. I enjoyed having a mix of job stability and entrepreneurial upside. Plus, I found that expanding my career by adding self-employment to a W-2 job made me much better at both.
If you slowly add entrepreneurial experience to your career, you’re likely to gain a variety of skills that will make you more valuable to employers. It may be easier to experiment with business-formation ideas when you have less financial stress or know a side gig could actually complement your existing career.
The bottom line is that creating a business on the side protects your income, diversifies your network, and improves your skills, instead of leaving you financially vulnerable. If you enjoy your entrepreneurial work and find that it pairs well with your day job, the benefits and personal growth can really pay off.
Negotiate your job flexibility
If you plan to start a business on the side, or you already have, you know you’ll be working more, perhaps a lot more. You might need to work early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends to fit it all in. That could stress your relationships or cause you to burn out if you don’t take some precautions.
Consider some different ways that you can tailor your business for your day job, and vice versa.
Once you’re confident about your business idea or begin seeing increasing revenues, you may find that you need more flexibility in your schedule. At that point, consider some different ways that you can tailor your business for your day job, and vice versa.
In 2008, my employer began feeling the financial pinch of the Great Recession. My podcasting and blogging career had started to take off by that point, so instead of allowing my position to get downsized, I proposed a solution that my boss liked. I’d work four days a week for a couple of months and then go down to three days a week for the rest of the year. Then we’d reevaluate where the company stood and discuss whether he could still afford to keep me on as an employee.
My employer would save money by paying me less, and I’d have more time to work on creating content, partnering with brands, and writing my first book, while still having a regular paycheck coming in. If I hadn’t suggested that solution, my company wouldn’t have known that I was willing to cut my hours. I didn’t offer to tell my boss what my plans were for my newfound free time, and he didn’t ask.
You may be able to negotiate with your employer for more schedule flexibility.
You too may be able to negotiate with your employer for more flexibility. You might ask to work fewer hours, to maintain the same total number of hours but work fewer days per week, or to work from home a day or two each week.
If you have a long commute or spend a significant amount of time getting ready, packing a lunch, and getting out the door in the morning, working remotely could save a lot more time than you think. Then you can invest that saved time in your side business.
Find more time in your day
If you can’t get more flexibility or you worry that even asking for it could put your day job in jeopardy, there are other options. One is to structure non-negotiable time for your business into your day. For instance, make a rule that you’ll step away from your desk for a solid hour (or longer if possible) during lunch to accomplish something meaningful for your business.
Find a nearby cafe or reserve a conference room in your office where you can work and eat undisturbed. I did that for many years, and it’s incredible how much you can accomplish in 45 minutes if you truly focus. If you can’t find enough quiet or privacy in your office, you could even work in your car.
It’s incredible how much you can accomplish in 45 minutes if you truly focus.
If working on your business during your lunch hour isn’t possible with your day job, consider coming to the office an hour earlier or staying later. You could also work on your business in a nearby coffee shop or a co-working space (where drop-in memberships can often be had for the same price as joining a gym) before or after your job. The idea is to create a routine that builds in regular time to focus entirely on your venture and to complete essential tasks.
Another option is to outsource a portion of your work. If you can afford to delegate tasks to freelancers, that can help you balance your to-do lists.
When your day job is so unpredictable that it prevents you from working on your side gig for long periods, consider getting a different job with a more reliable schedule. If you’re truly committed to getting your business off the ground, you may need a position with more flexibility so you can do both more easily.
Have a solid exit strategy
Having an exit strategy is a common concept in the business world. Partners and investors want to know what will happen after clearly defined milestones are reached, such as taking a company public or selling it after a certain profit margin is achieved.
But employees should create exit strategies, too. It’s a great way to force yourself to think about the future and what you would or should do next. With a W-2 job, you never know what’s around the corner.
It’s wise to start every professional relationship with an idea of how it could end.
Your company could suddenly downsize after a merger or an unexpected loss of market share. Your department could be reorganized after new leadership begins. All these scenarios have happened to me at some point in my career.
It’s wise to start every professional relationship with an idea of how it could end. This ensures that you’re never caught entirely off-guard. Knowing that you’ve thought about the end of a job or a business partnership can make you feel more secure about a potential split.
If you’re unprepared for an interruption in work or business income, it can be devastating to your emotional and financial life. So whether you’re laid off or you voluntarily quit, prepare for it now.
If you have a financial runway to find new opportunities or you’ve built an income from a side business, quitting or getting fired can be a positive experience. Having a good exit strategy can make the difference between feeling crushed by a job loss or becoming empowered by it.
How to Spend Less on Clothes (and Build a Better Wardrobe)
Clothes are a basic necessity that also express your style—but building a good wardrobe can be expensive. According to Statisticbrain.com, the average American spends about $120 a month on clothes. No matter if you’re way above or below that number, the challenge is to get the most out of every piece that you bring home.
In this article I’ll give men and women eight smart tips to spend less on clothes and build a better wardrobe at the same time. You’ll learn how to create a wardrobe strategy, know what’s a good deal, how to get deeper discounts, and how to care for what you buy the right way so it lasts longer.
Tips to Spend Less on Clothes and Build a Better Wardrobe
Use these tips to build a great wardrobe for less and protect your purchases so you can enjoy them for years:
Tip #1: Set a “one in, one out” rule
A few years ago I noticed that I kept running out of clothes hangers and my big walk-in closet kept getting more and more crammed. I was adding new items but rarely purging old ones and it was finally catching up with me.
So I created a rule that every time I buy something new, something similar has to go. For instance, if I buy a new pair of shoes, I better be ready to sacrifice an old pair that I haven’t worn in a while. Or if I buy a new sweater, I need to throw one out that doesn’t look so great anymore.
If you want to be aggressive about paring down your wardrobe to essentials, get rid of 2 items for every new one that you bring home. This strategy will really make you reevaluate what you like and wear often versus what’s just taking up space in your closet.
If you truly have a gap in your wardrobe—like no black boots or running shoes—that’s one thing. But in general we tend to buy more and more of what we already have. And the more stuff that’s in your closet or drawers, the easier it is to forget about the good pieces you already have because they get buried.
Decide why you need another top or pair of jeans before you buy it. Is it because what you already have doesn’t fit, is out of style, or just looks shabby? Be clear about why a piece in your wardrobe isn’t working and make the decision to donate it to Goodwill or throw it away before or immediately after you replace it.
Be clear about why a piece in your wardrobe isn’t working and make the decision to donate it to Goodwill or throw it away before or immediately after you replace it.
Tip #2: Create a clothing baseline
While I can’t tell you the exact number of garments you should have in your wardrobe, I recommend that you create a clothing baseline. This is the total number of items in your closet.
I settled on my hanging wardrobe baseline when I got rid of all my mismatched hangers and invested in Huggable Hangers. These amazing hangers are thin so they save space, and have a curved shaped with a non-slip, velvety surface. This prevents the shoulders of tops from getting stretched out and keeps clothes from falling off.
If you saw the 2015 movie Joy, starring Jennifer Lawrence, it tells the story of Joy Mangano who invented Huggable Hangers and many other products that sold millions on the Home Shopping Network and QVC.
These hangers make my closet look more uniform and organized, but they also keep me honest. If you only have 100 special hangers, then you can’t exceed that amount of hanging garments.
For items you typically fold, like jeans, sweaters, or t-shirts, decide how many is reasonable and stick to it. If 10 pairs of jeans is more than enough, make a deal with yourself to throw away any unused pair before expanding your wardrobe to 11 pairs.
The baseline and “one in, one out” strategy helps me stay away from mindlessly buying sale items. Even if something is at a rock-bottom price, I remember that I’ll have to give something up in order to bring it into my wardrobe.
Tip #3: Buy quality basics
I’m a big believer in buying better quality basics. Think about the foundational pieces you wear over and over, like black pants, black shoes, suits, long-sleeved white shirts, or a black sweater.
These wardrobe staples won’t last or look good for very long if they’re cheaply made. A pair of shoes that are trendy, but not well-made or don’t fit well, won’t give you any satisfaction or value and will probably gather dust in your closet.
It’s better to buy trendy items cheaply because they’ll be out of style very soon and just end up taking up space in your closet. So consider buying fewer trends and investing a little more in your basics so they last longer and prevent you from having to constantly replace cheaper versions. That saves money, time, and hassle in the long run.
Consider buying fewer trends and investing a little more in your basics so they last longer and prevent you from having to constantly replace cheaper versions.
Tip #4: Buy clothes that fit now
Never buy clothes that don’t fit you perfectly right now. I always feel like I should be a few pounds lighter than I am. But I know that I’ll feel and look better in clothes that are the right size when I need them.
If you’re in the middle of a big weight loss program or are starting a new exercise program to lose weight or build muscle, I don’t recommend buying key clothing pieces. Wait until your weight and body size stabilizes before investing a lot in your wardrobe and purging items that don’t fit anymore.
Tip #5: Never pay full price
One way to afford better quality clothes is to never pay full price. There are so many sales at top retailers and ways to get discounts online, paying full price should be the exception and not the rule.
If you find a wardrobe staple or something you need right away for a special occasion that’s a perfect fit, color, and style, then I might consider buying it. But it’s likely that you could find the same item or something similar on sale.
If you’re in a local store, don’t be shy about politely asking for a discount if an item isn’t perfect. Any damage that you or a cleaner could easily correct—like a loose or missing button or a stain that probably isn’t permanent—is fair game for at least a 10% reduction.
When I try on clothes in a store or see a handbag that I love, I typically wait and buy it online instead. Not only does that give me time to think about whether I really need the item, but it typically allows me to buy it for less.
When you start your online shopping at free sites like Ebates and Giving Assistant you get cash back. Ebates sends you a check or makes a deposit in your PayPal account for your rewards every quarter. Discounts vary depending on the retailer, so find all the major stores that sell the item you want, and then purchase it from the store that offers the best cash back offer.
Another way to avoid paying full price is to buy out of season. You probably know that if you buy a heavy coat at the beginning of winter, you’ll likely pay much more for it than at the beginning of spring. That’s because season-specific clothes—like bathing suits, summer shorts, and winter coats—hit the shelves about a month early and then are likely to go on sale about halfway through the season.
Retailers have to turn over merchandise frequently in order to make room for the next batch of incoming items. So keep the big picture of the retail industry in mind and resist the urge to pay full price for the coming season. Instead, buy quality pieces after they’re marked down, but that you can still wear.
I know that it can feel strange to buy a wool sweater when it’s hot outside or sandals when there’s still snow on the ground, but filling gaps in your wardrobe in off seasons and using online discounts are the best ways to build a quality wardrobe for less.
Tip #6: Buy easy-care clothes
The more clothing you can buy that doesn’t require expensive, professional cleaning, the better. In fact, many clothes that say “dry clean” can actually be washed at home, if you’re willing to do it carefully.
The more clothing you can buy that doesn’t require expensive, professional cleaning, the better.
I routinely wash wool sweaters, silk tops, and linen items in a cold delicate cycle with a gentle liquid detergent, like Woolite. Never put them in the dryer; let them dry naturally.
You can speed up the process by laying out an item out on a bath towel and then rolling it up, pressing moisture out as you go. Then unroll the towel and reshape the garment on a dry towel or hang up lighter pieces where they can air dry.
Some fabrics, like silk and linen will need to be ironed after they’re dry. Items that I really love are tops that have the look and feel of silk, but are polyester. They can be tossed in a cold, delicate cycle, hung up to dry, and don’t even need an iron to look perfect.
Now, certain types of clothes, like suits and party dresses, must be dry cleaned in order maintain a crisp look and to avoid shrinking. Leave woven wool fabrics or any clothing with delicate stitching, beading, or sequins, to the professionals.
Tip #7: Extend time between cleanings
No matter if you send out clothes to a cleaner or wash them yourself, remember that cleaning stresses fabric and can cause clothes to wear out faster. So forget the idea that you need to wash everything you wear every time you wear it. Extend the time between washes by spot cleaning pants, jeans, shirts, jackets, and dresses.
One trick I use for jackets and blazers is to turn them inside out, spray on a fabric refresher, and let them naturally air out. This works perfectly when the item is basically clean, but just has a little armpit odor.
Febreze is the best known fabric deodorizer and it’s not just for couches and carpets—it works great on clothes. Lysol and Dreft also make fabric refreshers and there are eco-friendly products like Biokleen and Eco Breeze.
Woolite has a product called Dry Cleaner’s Secret, which is an at home dry cleaner for delicate items, like silk, linen, and cashmere that works in the dryer. I’ve never tried it, but it claims to remove odors, stains, and body oils in about 20 minutes.
Another tip is to wear an undershirt or a basic, thin cotton t-shirt under shirts and sweaters. Men usually do this, but women should do it more often when possible.
A short sleeve shirt that covers your armpits is better than a tank or camisole so you really protect clothes from sweat stains and smells. You wash the t-shirt, but may be able to skip washing the garment you wore over it.
See also: Cool Tips to Save Money on Utility Bills
Tip #8: Take care of what you buy
There are many ways to make your clothes last longer and still look great. In addition to washing them less, you need to launder them the right way. Follow laundry basics, of course, like washing like colors together and not over-stuffing the machine.
When you get a stain, the trick to making it disappear is to treat it as quickly as possible with a stain stick, spray, or liquid stain remover. Clorox 2 is one of my favorite detergents because even when I’m sure that a stain has ruined something, if I follow the instructions, it always comes out.
Another tip is to keep clothes with elastic or spandex—like underwear, athletic shorts, yoga pants, and bras—away from dryer heat. Let them tumble on a low setting for a short period of time or lay them out to air dry. Using the dryer less protects your clothes and saves money on your utility bill!
Also make sure that any item with a zipper—like pants, skirts, and hoodies—are completely zipped up before they go in the washing machine and dryer. Zipper teeth can easily pull and destroy other garments in the same load.
If an item that you love does show damage or wear, have it repaired by a professional. Missing buttons, a small run in a sweater, or a worn heel are easy to fix and cost less than buying a new item. I’ve had quality boots re-heeled and re-soled many times and they come back looking like new.
Missing buttons, a small run in a sweater, or a worn heel are easy to fix and cost less than buying a new item.
How you store clothes is also really important for making them last longer. With dry cleaning, remove the plastic bags before putting them in your closet.
Cleaning chemicals can cause fabrics to yellow and weaken over time, so let your dry cleaning air out. For long-term storage for suits and dresses, choose garment bags made from natural fibers like cotton or canvas that can breathe easily.
How to Build a Better Wardrobe
Building a better wardrobe is about picking pieces that reflect your personal style, are appropriate for the type of work you do, and complement your lifestyle when you’re not working. You’ll get the most bang for your buck when you choose items that can be worn interchangeably with everything else.
Clothes don’t last forever—even when you care for them meticulously. As you need to replace old pieces, it’s a great opportunity to invest in affordable basics and update your look at the same time.
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