Reduce Your Monthly Budget By 20% Using Simple Budgeting Strategies

Welcome to the world of "Budgeting"; a very important, yet widely neglected and misunderstood topic, in most households.

I am involved in several home-based businesses, but the most important of these by far, is managing my Monthly Household Budget. Notice that I used the word "business" to describe managing my budget. Unlike most people, I treat my monthly expenditures as a business-always looking to improve the services that I pay for by finding better deals, and reducing resultant costs. I always aim to get the best bang for my buck through increased services at cheaper costs. When I find a particular budget item that can save me $100 per month, I do not only look at this as a savings, but I treat it as if I just received a $100 per month raise, which translates into a $1,200 per year salary increase (assuming that it is recurring monthly). 

Yes, by being diligent and resourceful, I just gave myself a $1,200 raise for the year, which, by the way, is cumulative in effect, year-over-year. Wow! Now imagine if I can replicate this feat for multiple items in my budget, again and again. That is going to be some kind of hefty raise that I am giving myself. You see, by treating my monthly budget as a business, I provide myself with a means of increasing my disposable income and savings. I do not need a boss to give me a raise; through diligence and resourcefulness, I can give myself a raise, again and again, over and over, year over year. 

The long-term, cumulative effects of doing this can be quite staggering, to say the least, and one's overall net worth will increase substantially over the years, by putting this "business practice" in place.

I am an extremely compulsive and diligent budget person. Regardless of how large or small a household expenditure is, I record it in a tracking spreadsheet. I think my wife thought that she had married some kind of compulsive lunatic, when I implemented this system in my household. But, as time moved on, she recognized and understood the value of the budgeting system that I put into place in our household. Moreover, I have taught my 3 children the value of money and budgeting, and have attempted to interject these principles into their lives as much as possible. No doubt, that as adults, they will be much better off because of this.

I know exactly how much money I am spending in each category of expenditure on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. I can honestly say that I have no friends, family, neighbors, or acquaintances that are as diligent and passionate about budgeting as I am. As a matter of fact, most people do not truly understand the art of budgeting. Sure they use the words "not in my budget" in conversation; but few, if any, actually understand what their budget looks like, how much it costs them to live each and every month, and how much money is going out-the-door in regard to their bills and expenditures for goods and services that they have procured. Many people I know constantly waste their money on frivolous spending, and neglect basic budgeting techniques and practices. 

Some of these areas of budgeting can individually save them hundreds of dollars per month, if implemented.

I have broken my budgeting techniques down into a series of categories listed here. Each category should have one or more specific Strategy items associated with it, that you will need to come up with. Some categories should have more budget strategies listed for it than others. Some budget strategy savings ideas will be relatively small in nature, but please do not discount these. After all, these little items do add up, and the net effect of the sum of all applied budget savings strategies, is what counts. That said, here are my budget categories that require addressing: 

• Food
• Shopping
• Clothing
• Utilities
• Lawn/Garden
• Entertainment
• Household
• Weddings and Gifts
• Banking/Finance/Bill Paying
• Automobile
• Vacation
• Medical/Dental
• Other Insurance
• Taxes
• Education
• Mortgage
• Cost of Living

Next, I want you to develop a personalized Budget Action Plan while addressing each of these categories. I want you to buy a notepad (or alternatively, feel free to use a word or text editor on your computer, smart phone, or e-reader to accomplish the same purpose), and create 2 columns: 

• Category: Strategy
• Budget Action

Traverse each category, one-by-one, and start listing individual Budget Strategies for each category above. Concentrate very hard on how a designated category and budget strategy item can seriously be applied to your household budget situation. Keep in mind that some Budget Strategies may seem overly simplistic or obvious. If relevant to you (and most will be), write down the budget category and budget strategy item, and one or more budget actions that you need to implement to put the category and strategy into place, keeping your personal situation in mind. Continue to do this for every Budget Strategy, in every Budget Category. Again, make every attempt to apply each category and strategy to your situation. Do not ever dismiss a particular category and strategy item because it only saves you $10 per month-these small items add up fast, and the overall aggregate monthly savings, when all is tallied up, will simply amaze you! When you have completed your Budget Action Plan, review it, and start implementing your Budget Actions, one-by-one, on a monthly, or need-be basis. By the way, it would not hurt if you went through your Budget Plan multiple times. This may easily facilitate new ideas and additional Budget Actions that can be implemented in your Budget Action Plan.

If you are honest with yourself, extremely diligent about implementing these budget actions, and have the necessary discipline to stick with it, there is no reason why you cannot reduce your monthly household budget by 20% (or more) in a given year. This should be an on going process, year-after-year, as you continuously review your expenses annually, to obtain that raise that you deserve!

Douglas R. Hayman, known as the "Budget Surgeon" by friends, family, and colleagues alike, is a self-professed Household Budgeting expert. His Book, "Reducing Your Monthly Budget by 20% Using Simple Budgeting Strategies", is a unique, written-for-the-times eBook that takes a novel approach to Household Budgeting. It focuses on 90 well-defined, distinct strategies that can easily be implemented by anyone to drastically reduce one's household monthly budget by 20% or more.

Douglas thoroughly addresses all avenues of spending in this book, and most importantly, emphasizes that a monthly budget should be treated as a business, and not as a hobby.

Equally important, Douglas, known as the "Budget Surgeon" in familiar circles, highlights that the sum of the budget savings technique parts can have a profound effect on one's overall financial health, and can have a compounding wealth effect, year over year.

Douglas has a Master's Degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Stony Brook University, in Long Island, NY. Douglas has been self-employed for the last 9 years as an author, affiliate marketer, real estate salesman, B2B technical lead generation salesman, stock and futures investor and trader, and Information Technology consultant. Additionally, Douglas has over 19 years of corporate Information Technology (IT) experience, most of which focused upon technical management working for an international Fortune 100 company. At this company he managed multi-million dollar departmental budgets.

Let the "Budget Surgeon" provide you with Budgeting Strategies to help you Reduce Your Monthly Budget By 20%. Visit BudgetSurgeon.com for further details.

SOURCE

Earn Money From Home

So you want to earn money from home?

Today I want to take you through things you need to complete in your aim to earn money from home so that you can acquire the results you are searching for in addition to building a business which will continue to pay off, perhaps even when you're sleeping.

We are going to deal with the "Do's and Do Not's" of working to earn money from home. These particular steps I look at are going to be vital for your achievements and vital for you to understand so you do not crash straight into the barriers.

So let us start with the Do's: These usually are pretty standard. Most leaders who have been out there for quite a while will teach you most of these Do's to earn money from home, nevertheless often times there are some that may be missed.

1. Make sure you have got your "Big Dream/s" written down.

For me it had been shopping for shoes for my daughter, for my wife to be able to stay home to raise our kids (instead of a day care centre doing the work for us) and also to develop a feeling of achievement and really feel as if I could complete something worthwhile. Ensure this written down statement is in your wallet or handbag and carried around on you. Look over it daily, especially in your first year in network marketing. This will be a continual reminder of "why" you are doing, what you are doing.

 
2. Create your own dreams around your priorities.

Which means, ensure you determine what is most important to you prior to deciding your goals.

3. Specify your work hrs.

Have time put aside to build your business and time reserved to rest. I take Easter (1 week) and Christmas (four to six weeks) off at the moment. Also at the start of every new year I make a point of writing in my diary the times I work my business, but more importantly the dates of significant occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and dates with my better half.

4. Have a coaching system to plug into.

The simple truth is if you have no training system where you can easily check out to find the material you will need at any hour, everyday, and seven days per week, you're not progressing to be ready to build a business that can be duplicated. You are looking for a system to coach you tactics on both traditional in addition to internet strategies to develop your business so you can continue to earn money from home.

5. Be consistent with your endeavours.

The cash is made when you find yourself working your business continually, so in your first of earning money from home be sure to decide to put hours apart to be effective in your business each and every week.

6. Getting involved with a multilevel marketing or home-based business is an amazing way to earn money from home. In this field there exists one simple way you earn money from home, which is if you are getting another person started out in business or on your products, and when your team do the very same. Robert Kyosaki highly recommends the multilevel and network marketing way of business.

7. Work with an Organisation which will pay out well with and has a unique product range.

8. Be able to use an auto responder along with technology.

So let's cover the Do Not's with earning money from home.


1. Never deal with your business as being a hobby.

Keep in mind that hobbies and interests set you back serious cash. If you are not dealing with your business sincerely then you're not making money.

2. Don't fool yourself simply by stating that you're working your business when you're not really.

So many people say they are working when they are really in their Facebook account, checking e-mails or even chatting with pals regarding anything else apart from their business or products.

3. Don't believe you know everything.

Continue to be teachable. Get professionally skilled.

4. Don't be boring.

Grow a sense of self motivation, intention and enthusiasm. People need to hang around other people who are getting things done and are having fun...

Now of course there are numerous points we can consider with earning money from home, yet from my personal experience these are the most crucial. Remember, if you are fearful, doubtful, and concerned, this will all come through and will manifest as part of your results. Keep positive!

The best way to master and enjoy an incredible business that earns money from home, is to practice, do role plays, and set off to work. Continue studying and analysing your outcomes, change and learn from those experiences, and you will be successful.

BE SURE you treat your business seriously, and it will pay you seriously!

James Hannan is the owner of Work From Home Australia and Dual Networking
Widely recognised as one of the greatest "tacticians in business" he along with his wife have been in this industry for over 10 years helping 10's of thousands of people worldwide, using their system called Dual Networking. His books, CDs and seminars are used by some of the top income earners in the world. They are seen as Mentors in the industry.
His book Dual Networking and the training system that surrounds it, has become one of the hottest and most talked about training resources on the internet today.

SOURCE

Breaking Free From the Mold and Living Life to the Full

Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our hectic daily lives that everything seems to be routine to us. We take everyone for granted and we ignore the little things in our lives. For many people change is not an option, or at least they think it's not. But what if you didn't want to be mediocre like most people? What if you just wanted to break free from the 'normal' life we are all programmed to live?

Taking control of your own life and not settling just for mere existence requires you to have self respect and a passion to succeed in becoming something better than you already are. But it also means that you need to step outside the box and look at what you can change and what you should keep close in your life.

Here are a few suggestions in taking those vital small steps that will make a difference to changing, and living life to its full:

Be Unique - Everyone is unique in their own way, and that is a gift to us all. In this crazy world we live in, everyone is trying to 'mold' everyone else into something that they want. Just don't accept it. You are who you are and yes you are unique in your own way. Don't let people 'program' you into something you are not.

Appreciate People who Care About You - Sometimes we are so reserved by the lies that people tell us that we actually ignore the truth and honesty that we receive from people who actually care about us. You know who cares about you and who is jealous. Who are the people you would call if you were in trouble? Who would have nothing to gain from your downfall and who would take sacrifices to help you? We often take advice from the wrong people; usually people who are fun to be around instead of people who actually care for us.

Embrace Change in Your Life - People usually look at some form of change in their lives as a burden. Don't be afraid to experience change in any form since it has come to you for a reason. A new challenge or maybe a new opportunity you need to explore. You won't find out until you accept and tackle it making it work to your advantage. Life is a roller coaster with its ups and downs, and what you become is how you deal with it.

Enjoy the Little Things in Life - I am sure you have heard the phrase "the best things in life are free". Don't be materialistic and enjoy every moment with your loved ones. Look at the details and not just the whole picture. Don't take everything for granted and look at the small things because one day you might realize that they were actually the big things that made the difference.

Listen to Your Inner Voice - Choose to listen to your inner voice and not everyone else's opinions. Accept opinions but then you decide which road is best for you since it's your journey in life. Remember that the choices you make have an impact on your life. You will have good days that will give you great happiness and bad days that will give you experience.

Let go of the Past and Live the Present - Sometimes what holds us back from living the present and planning our future are the dreadful mistakes or consequences of our past. We all have regrets of the past but guess what; we are all given a 'present' of forgiveness which is called 'the present time'. Letting go can be difficult but sometimes starting all over again can be the best option, whether it's a career move, a new relationship, or just having a new perspective of life.

If today is the day that you want to change your lifestyle, then do it today, because the more you put it off until "Next Week", the less likely you are to ever start. Just take a quick look at this site today to get some free tips about living a better lifestyle www.whatyoucanachieve.com [http://www.whatyoucanachieve.com]

SOURCE

Design Guide: Creating the Perfect Home Office

Working from home is on the rise. Census. Gov states that in the last decade, the number of Americans who work from home at least one day a week has increased by a staggering 35% (that's 4.2 million Americans!) in the last decade. The importance of having a well-planned, well-designed, and well-organized home office space cannot be underestimated. Having a clutter-free, organized home office space integrated into your interior design can vastly impact your productivity, stress levels and overall well-being. Here is a practical guide to designing your perfect in-home office space

1.) Choose the right space:
The answer may not be as obvious as you might think. While, geographically, that corner in the living room may seem to make the most sense, its important to consider the level of distraction you may be facing in the future. Televisions, children, telephones, and pets can all come as unexpected distractions to your productivity. Choose a space with minimal traffic, minimal use, and minimal access to distractions.
Also, its important to be able to separate work life from home life- the ability to shut a door and "leave work" is absolutely crucial for reducing stress levels and reducing the risk of "burn out". Perhaps an unused dining room, or formal living room could be a better option than using a spare bedroom.

2.) Compliment, not Contradict:
Your home office should compliment the rest of your home. If your home has a traditional design with lots of warm tones- then stick with that. Your home office space should seamlessly blend into the design of your home, not scream "cold, soul-less cubicle". You also want to avoid clashing design themes- you may have that great desk your mother-in-law gave you- but if it clashes with the flow of the room, it may be worth the additional cost to avoid those architectural hiccups. After all, you want your home office to give you a sense of comfort and ease- not be a stark shock to the senses.

3.) Built-in storage:
It may seem like a superfluous or excessive expense to incorporate built- in organization or storage into a home-office when the option to run to a local store and purchase a desk or shelf (with assembly required) is always there, but adding furniture to a home can cause clutter- and when it comes to home office, clutter is the enemy. Talk with your designer about incorporating built-in shelving, cabinets, and drawers into your space. This will not only increase how seamlessly your home office space blends into your home, but will also avoid potential issues with purchasing organizational tools which inevitably add to the problem rather than solve it.


4.) If you invest in nothing else, invest in a good chair:
Likely one of the most crucial elements of any home office- the perfect office chair should be of utmost priority. When it comes to picking the perfect office chair- spare no expense. You'll be spending a huge portion of your time sitting in that chair, so make sure it is as comfortable and functional as possible.

5.) Disregard the Norm:
Make your space uniquely "you". Forget the muted, office beige (unless that's what works for you) and paint or accent your space a color you love. We've already had some discussion about how color can affect your mood, and when it comes to productivity in the office place- we all know how much mood can affect productivity. Set your space up to be relaxing, permanent, functional, comfortable, and is tailored to your needs and wants. Don't be afraid to be daring- as long as the space is functional,then who's to say you can't design your desk to have a built-in snack bowl, perch for your kitty to sleep next to you, or even something as radical as a place to put a patch of grass underneath so while you're working you can take off your shoes and feel the grass under your feet? If you're working from home, you have the distinct freedom to toss aside convention when it comes to design- use it!

6.) Don't underestimate a good view:
In an ideal situation- we could all build our home offices to overlook the skyline of our city, or overlook a white sand beach, but the reality is that we have to use what we can. Giving yourself something more interesting to look at during those brief moments when looking away from a computer will make you more comfortable. A window is ideal- but even a picture or painting you really enjoy can provide those mental breaks that are so important to a productive work environment. No one likes staring at a blank wall, so while most of us can't be afforded the perfect view, treat yourself to the best of what you can.


7.) Illumination:
Give yourself plenty of light. Of course natural light is preferred, but the daylight hours are limited- so make sure that your office space provides ample, bright light with a good hue. You will likely need more light than you'd anticipate- so adding additional light fixtures is an important consideration. Increased light will reduce eye strain and prevent those pesky headaches. Don't forget to choose a bulb that offers light in a spectrum that works for you! Pale, crisp light sitting nearer the blue side of the spectrum often offers added energy and produces ample light. Stick around 900 Lumens minimum (depending on space) and make sure that your light source is in easy access from a seated position.


8.) Ergonomics are your best friend:
We see this word a lot- but when you're setting up your home office design, make it priority. You can save yourself so much time and energy while avoiding serious long-term problems by making sure that your home office space is as ergonomic as possible. We spent hours a day at our desks, and studies show us more and more how negative being seated in the improper posture can wreak havoc on the body. Protect yourself, your safety, comfort, and well-being: make sure you do whatever you can to make your space friendly to your body.

9.) Greenery:
Consider incorporating office plants into your home office design. Adding a plant or two to your office space can have more of an impact than you may think. Studies have shown that having live greenery in a work space can improve air quality, make your room more comfortable, reduce stress, and increase productivity. A plant is a welcomed and reasonable distraction in the moments you take to care for it by watering or pruning- and besides, they look fantastic!


10.) Cable Management:
Often over looked and unjustly so. Nothing can create more of an eye sore in a home office than a nest of cables cluttering a desk or floor. Velcro cable ties are your friend! Talk with your designer about incorporating ways to hide a mess of cables. Make sure that your space is set up for any connection you might need, including adequate electrical outlets. Make sure to leave your equipment layout open to be altered- you never know when you'll be getting some new piece of office tech, or when you may decide to remove a piece of equipment. If the cables are hard to access, or difficult to add to- you'll end up at square one with a nest of cables. Increasing ease of access and efficiency is key!
In building a home office- you should invest as much as is comfortable for your budget. It cannot be said enough how important to mental well-being, productivity, and mood it is to have a working environment that entices you to be there and doesn't add any additional factors which may cause stress. You'll be spending more time in your home office than you will in most other spaces or rooms in your home- so make sure that your home-office reflects that and suits you perfectly. Experimentation is key- and with a great interior designer- the possibilities are endless

 

To read more articles on Interior Design, visit our blog: Leib Designs Blog
For more interior design ideas and inspiration, see our complete Portfolio
Leib Designs is a New York Based Interior Design Firm.


SOURCE
 

Bits of Wisdom to Live Life to the Fullest

Last Monday I had a sumptuous breakfast at the Shangrila Hotel, in Mactan, Philippines, courtesy of my daughter and son-in-law who had an overnight stay there and invited me to join them the following day.

It was one great breakfast worth writing about: It started with a glass of ice-cold, freshly squeezed orange juice under the hotel's palm-tree covered patio, then two large fried eggs, a few strips of bacon, and serving of corned beef, two slices of toasted wheat bread, a serving of mixed fruits, with a cup of warm, native black chocolate to go with it.

To aid my digestive process, I went for my favorite aquatic activity right after - snorkeling. What made it different this time was that I snorkeled in the hotel's marine sanctuary.

For the good of 20 minutes, I swam with tropical fishes of different colors, species, shapes and sizes. It was practically a kaleidoscope of living colors swirling all around me. They are so used to swimming with people that you can almost touch them; some had the audacity to nibble the calluses off my fingers.

After what seemed a lifetime of frolicking with marine life, I threw my flippers and snorkel on the beach and free-styled for two laps along the entire length of the sanctuary.

Later, as I sat on the white, powdery sand in the midst of opulent tranquility, and facing the dark blue seas, I fought the temptation of calling it "living life to the fullest."

I was happy, very happy in fact, on that fine and wonderful morning. But I knew that it was all temporary; I knew that had my daughter and her hubby not invited me over, I would never have had the chance of tasting a slice of a life of abundance.

I knew that when I drive out of the gates of the hotel, the environment, the breakfast, the snorkeling and the swim would all memorable experiences, soon to be buried beneath other experiences of the coming days.

It was nice, it was good; in fact it was awesome. But it was not "living life to the fullest." Living life to the fullest is made up of little pleasures that give our lives an even keel, a balance and meaning. It is not of temporary spurts of joy but of much longer sense of serenity and peace of mind.

Living life to the fullest is:

1. Appreciating the little things that come our way:

From the time we wake up in the morning until we sleep at night, our world is full of tiny little things that can make our hearts sing with joy - if only we take the time to notice them.

From the innocent look of your sleeping child, to the sweet aroma of the coffee your wife is brewing in the kitchen. It is to see the beauty of the flowers in your garden, and the butterflies that effortlessly flit from one to the other; it is to hear the hearty "good morning" greeting of a neighbor, or the soft rays of sunshine that caress your skin as you pick up you early morning paper.

Many more will come your way the entire day but these will large go unnoticed because our brains are naturally wired to see the curses, not the blessings in life.

2. Being realistic:

Living life to the fullest is to know yourself, your abilities and your talents, and what you are capable of. It is setting goals that make you sweat a little bit, make you push yourself a little higher than where you are now.

Maybe you need to bite more than you can chew, just make sure you won't choke to death. It is breaking the barriers you previously set for yourself and enjoying every minute of it.

3. It is letting go of the past:

Whatever you do, the past is past and nothing can bring it back. Rather than pine or be sorry for it, be thankful for the lessons you learned. Let it be the launch pad from you set yourself off to explore new territories, new heights.

Learn from it. Life is a constant process of learning, of evolving, of becoming a little bit better - inch by inch.

4. Not being obsessed with material things:

This is going to be a real challenge in this very materialistic world. It is going to take a herculean effort to go for what we need, not what we want; to desire, not to covet.

There is totally nothing wrong with materialism for practical reason, not to clutter our homes with things we really don't need.

You can only wear a pair of shoes or pants at a time. Why drive yourself crazy in wanting to have a closet-full of them?

Living life to the fullest is not of excesses but of simplicity. Happiness is not about what you have, but of what you are doing with them.

5. It is being friendly:

Several weeks ago, I received an email about motivational things which, I am sure, clutter your Inbox as well. It says,

"Send a silent praise to every person you meet today. Wish them well. Send a wave of blessings to every person you talk to and see what happens."

Pretty cool, isn't it?

6. Listening to your heart and soul:

This is called "mindfulness," the latest craze in finding oneself.

Set aside a certain time of the day to listen to your heart and soul. For 10 minutes or so, shut yourself out from the world and focus on that tiny voice, your inner self, and listen to what it is trying to tell you.

Various researches show that your heart and soul are always trying to communicate with you and they are seldom wrong.

This exercise can be the most beneficial thing you do in any given day.

7. Paying back:

We don't live in a vacuum. Each of us is connected to a community which shaped our thoughts, feelings, desires, and the choices we make. Our community helped us grow and become what we are today.

It is only proper to pay it back one way or the other, in any way you can. Not only is it an obligation, it will also make you a better person.

Studies show that unconditional generosity gives the highest form of happiness to the giver.

8. Never to give up:

Living life to the fullest is seeing things through, no matter how difficult or challenging they may be.

We all face obstacles every day. While some can be avoided or skirted around, some have to be faced head on. How you handle them is a test of your character. Will you run away or stand up and fight? Will you buckle down in surrender or stand up fighting to the last of your strength?

Life is replete with examples of ordinary men who gained fame by pursuing dreams deemed impossible by others. The prevailed because they did not give up.

The reason why the world is full of losers is not because they lacked the opportunity or the talent; it is not because they lacked the intelligence or the connections to push them up.

They failed because they gave up.

9. It is being happy:

Living life to the fullest is, first and foremost, being happy. Maybe not euphoric happy or wear a perpetual grin on your face.

Being happy is none of those. It is to have a deep feeling of satisfaction, not contentment, mind you, of not having so many hang-ups a lot of people do that rob them of their peace of mind, their self-confidence and the motivation to achieve their purpose in life.

Living life to the fullest is to live in constant expectation that no matter how bad things are today, the sunshine of the coming day will bring with it the hope that things will be a lot better; that no matter how bad your fall may be, you can still bounce back and do it all over again.

I believe that we all must strive to live life to the fullest. I believe that we all have the inherent ability to stretch our lives as far as it can be stretched, to go as far as our imagination can take us, and to dream dreams that can spur us to achieve what we once thought unachievable.

That even if we failed, it does not carry with the remorse and despondence failures always bring, but a smile on our face knowing that we have given it our best shot.

Joseph Dabon

I am a freelance writer and blogger. I write about a wide range of subjects,.e.g., self-development, health and fitness, success and happiness and elderly issues, http://elderlytalk.com/.

I am also an SEO content writer and copywriter and a website optimizer.

Email me at dabon.joseph@gmail.com or Skype me at joesfortune should you need some help in your writing.

SOURCE

5 Steps to Financial Freedom - Practical Tips to a More Passionate Life

Taking the necessary steps to financial freedom is something that a lot of people are after, but when you think about being free, are you just looking for a pile of money?

Most people just want a lot of money, because that, in their mind means true freedom, but in reality you do not need a pile of cash. Living within your means and building a passive income stream is simple. I know, because I have done it.

When you realize that you do not have to make tons of money it really takes the pressure off. The truth is that you CAN do what you love and make a living, you just have to be creative and be willing to try new things.

With all that said, here are 5 steps to financial freedom that are practical and easily implemented if you are determined.

1. Clarity is the absolute first step. Determining what your passions are and what you really want to do can seem overwhelming. I had this problem. The simple solution is to start doing something that you think you like and don't be afraid of making mistakes.

2. Goals come second. Set short-term and long-term goals because they will help tell your subconscious mind what you want. It will in this way help bring you closer to the things you want. Be open to possibilities that you did not expect, because they usually come in different forms.

3. Taking Action is the third step and one that many people have trouble with. Procrastination is a huge time waster. The reason people have trouble taking action is because of fear and not being able to trust their journey.

4. Trusting yourself and the path is essential. When you realize that you can go with the flow of life, even if negative things can happen sometimes, you realize that life is a game that is meant to be played with joy.

5. Enjoying life is something that a lot of people have trouble with. In the end, it is up to you how you interpret each external circumstance that comes your way. Two people can have completely opposite reactions to the same external reality.

Quick Summary
Discovering your passion and learning what you truly love is what it is all about. Now, if you're thinking that you aren't passionate about anything you're wrong, because we are all here for a reason and I promise you that when you dig deeper, you'll find the thing that truly sets you on fire and brings joy to your life.

If you want to learn more and discover how you can get paid to do what you love, please visit my website at http://www.wakeupcloud.com/.

SOURCE

Social Media Business

Everyone should be looking into Social Media right now because those who don't are going to get seriously burned, and regret not forward thinking. Social Media pushes the names of businesses out onto the web for discussion. It allows a business to connect with the community and advertise virtually for free. If a business doesn't want to get involved in Social Media there could be serious repercussions because other individuals and businesses can hijack brand names and use them in anyway they please.

For example a medium size company, let us call them Righto Inc., might be on the rise to discover there is a twitter account gaining followers, and using a similar brand name to redirect business to their own site. Righto Inc is going to have a certain percentage of their business going through their competition by mistake. Businesses have to think about domain names and social media accounts they wish to preserve so there isn't any complications in the future.

Branding is one of the most beneficial aspects to social media. When a business puts themselves and their logo all over the web it creates a virtual moat around the company protecting them and establishing the company in the public's mind. Nike is a great example of a company that has great well established brand. No one can encroach on Nike's business because their logo and advertising was really well done, making them well-know and visible. The future of Social Media Campaign is bright because they are inexpensive compared to commercial advertisements, which is how Nike originally got huge, by growing their brand and paying for ads, but now days with social media a business can reach an international audience with free social media platforms.

The best way to start a Social Media Campaign is to think long and hard about the domain and user names that should be associated with the business, since the names can never be taken back. The chosen names should really stand out.

Once the domain and user names are established it's important to select the social media websites which will be most beneficial for a business. Usually a business will want to go with big-name sites like MySpace, Twitter and Facebook; but in addition, as the popular ones dwindle down there are so many social media websites, a business might want to pick and choose between the most practical ones.

It is absolutely crucial once these sites are acquired to interact with the community. A Twitter or Facebook account won't help at all if the business is not involved. Social accounts should be following as well as being followed, and accounts should make connections with other individuals and businesses in their industry. Answering questions, promoting and re-tweeting your friends will bond you to your community and get others involved with your business's objective and goals.

It is important businesses design these profile sites with a call to action. Forms and news letters are a great call to action, because an interested potential customer might sign up with a company, so that the company can contact them later. It is also a good idea to have some kind of incentives to attract customers. For example, a business could create coupons so a web-surfer will sign up and get weekly emails about specials. I recently saw Voyeur, a local San Diego Club, do a promotion on Twitter for free concert tickets. The possibilities are endless and one can get creative.

Using a social media campaign is a powerful way to get an online fan base. Getting creative with social media will only help propel businesses forward.

I'm terribly open-minded... Food, travelling, whatever. For example, it is my goal, earlier than later, to live in Europe, Japan and NYC for at least a year in each. I attended a Japanese public high college for a year, so my Japanese is somewhat skillful. I also packed through Europe a few summers back for three months and it was awesome... Sight see in the day and party at night. Music is also important... Music tastes can tell a lot about someone. I like all kinds, from random eclectic indie to ol skool jazz to hiphop, but i guess you would just have to speak to me to work out exactly what.

SOURCE

Financial Freedom Tips - A New Perspective

Financial freedom is not easy to achieve. You need to know this before I share anything else with you. You have to learn concepts to change your current way of thinking to attain financial freedom.
Here are some tips for you to help change your thinking:

1) Stop blaming other people for your financial disaster. Pointing the finger at other people or circumstances only leaves you with three fingers pointing back at you. You have to take responsibility for your spending habits.

2) Write down your goals for your "net worth". You notice I did not say yearly income. If you want to truly be financially free you must start investing and saving. The amount you start with does not matter. Start somewhere!

3) Think of ways you can help thousands of people. Whatever you currently do for a living, take that and find a way to expose the idea to thousands. Think big. Get away from thinking small.

4) Make a list of the things you are grateful for. When we express gratitude we send our positive energy to everything around us and positive energy comes back to us. A good habit to get into is expressing your gratitude each morning when you wake up. That is a great way to start your day.

5) Read books about people who are financially free and wealthy. We have great leaders in our world who have already paved the path for us. Don't reinvent the wheel, just take what they have already done and build from there.

6) Promote your business or occupation with passion. Being passionate about your career is the best way become financially free. The more excitement you express to other people the more they will be willing to give you their money.

7) Hire a good financial planner. Make sure you find someone who has an excellent track record. Ask to see their performance papers. If they ask to see your portfolio and they are not willing to show you what they have accomplished go find somebody else.

8) Create a passive income. Get into businesses that you can set-up one time and make money repeatedly. These types of businesses are the best for creating passive income and setting you free.

9) Get out of your comfort zone. When you start to change your finances you will sometimes experience discomfort. This is normal. You will be uncomfortable until you get adjusted to the idea of managing your money properly.

10) Take action. Most people will only read these ideas and never change anything. If you are willing to take action then your financial future will be bigger than you ever dreamed.

Financial freedom doesn't have to be mysterious. Keep it simple, take action and reap the rewards. So come on and step out of your comfort zone. No one is going to do it for you!

Did you find those facts on financial freedom useful? You can learn a lot more about financial freedom from author, Kenny Perkins at http://myspace.com/mywebcamcoach

SOURCE

Start Your Own Home-Based Business And Get Financial Freedom

Who doesn't like an extra flow of money especially when people are facing pay cuts or have lost their jobs due to recession? Due to economic downsizing, almost all of us are facing difficulties in paying off our loans, mortgages and other debt. Managing even daily expenses has become a headache. What if you get an opportunity to start a home-based business and earn an additional amount every month? That's really great. Financial Freedom is one such company that offers you work from home opportunities and thus earns you an additional amount.

What Is Financial Freedom?

Financial Freedom, basically, is a company that helps people earn an extra amount of money by offering them new opportunities to work. The company helps you gain financial freedom so that you can live your life comfortably. It offers you useful information about how to start a home-based business and how to earn extra to gain financial stability. The good news is that anyone can take advantage of this opportunity and gain financial freedom.

How Does Financial Freedom Help You Gain Financial Stability?

Financial Freedom provides you the tools to earn extra to pay off your debt and meet your other obligations. It offers you new and interesting ways to earn more money that can be used in meeting up emergency financial expenses or paying off your utility bills like electricity, telephone, gas and water bills. In addition to this, it offers good opportunities to make money to mothers who have been staying at home to look after their kids.

Financial Freedom also helps you in living your life your own way. How many times do we actually think of doing something that we really want to? How many times do we make efforts to start our own business? But now you can do what you've always dreamt of. The company helps those who wanted to do something on their own but could never take a risk because of their demanding job and financial crunch.

Financial Freedom provides you the opportunities to change your entire life. A few easy steps to start your own business can help you achieve freedom from your financial crunch forever. The company has helped many people in gaining financial stability when they were out of jobs or wanted an extra income to meet their routine expenses. It offers you a chance to be your own boss and live your life your own way.

How Can I Start My Own Home-based Business?

Earning money with the help of work from home jobs is very simple. All you need to do is visit the website and sign up. Browse through the website and create your account. Fill out an online application form and give required information. Write your needs and requirements in the space provided and submit the form.

Within a few seconds, you'll be provided with complete information about the process of starting a home-based business. They also offer you many lucrative opportunities to work from home. Follow the guidelines and start applying for various jobs available. The best part is that you can decide on your working hours totally according to your convenience. It gives you freedom to work anytime and from anywhere.

Financial Freedom offers you good opportunities to gain financial freedom and live life king size. Now, you can take control of your life and start your own business. If you have any questions or need further assistance, drop them an e-mail. You'll be offered quick assistance.

Financial Freedom [http://www.outofdebtactionplan.com] helps people gain financial stability by offering new opportunities to work from home. The company also helps in establishing a home-based business so that you can live life your own way.

SOURCE

5 Steps to Financial Freedom - Practical Tips to a More Passionate Life

Taking the necessary steps to financial freedom is something that a lot of people are after, but when you think about being free, are you just looking for a pile of money?

Most people just want a lot of money, because that, in their mind means true freedom, but in reality you do not need a pile of cash. Living within your means and building a passive income stream is simple. I know, because I have done it.

When you realize that you do not have to make tons of money it really takes the pressure off. The truth is that you CAN do what you love and make a living, you just have to be creative and be willing to try new things.

With all that said, here are 5 steps to financial freedom that are practical and easily implemented if you are determined.

1. Clarity is the absolute first step. Determining what your passions are and what you really want to do can seem overwhelming. I had this problem. The simple solution is to start doing something that you think you like and don't be afraid of making mistakes.

2. Goals come second. Set short-term and long-term goals because they will help tell your subconscious mind what you want. It will in this way help bring you closer to the things you want. Be open to possibilities that you did not expect, because they usually come in different forms.

3. Taking Action is the third step and one that many people have trouble with. Procrastination is a huge time waster. The reason people have trouble taking action is because of fear and not being able to trust their journey.

4. Trusting yourself and the path is essential. When you realize that you can go with the flow of life, even if negative things can happen sometimes, you realize that life is a game that is meant to be played with joy.

5. Enjoying life is something that a lot of people have trouble with. In the end, it is up to you how you interpret each external circumstance that comes your way. Two people can have completely opposite reactions to the same external reality.

Quick Summary
Discovering your passion and learning what you truly love is what it is all about. Now, if you're thinking that you aren't passionate about anything you're wrong, because we are all here for a reason and I promise you that when you dig deeper, you'll find the thing that truly sets you on fire and brings joy to your life.

If you want to learn more and discover how you can get paid to do what you love, please visit my website at http://www.wakeupcloud.com/.

SOURCE

10 Tips to Clear Debt Faster

Clear debt and debt reduction advice is available from many places. In the current economic climate, it seems as though everyone is suffering with financial problems, and so the information is more readily available than ever before.
What can you do today to help clear your debts?

1 Budgeting - By accounting for every penny and pound, you'll know exactly where your money is going. Don't forget to budget for essentials such food, clothes, fuel and items your children might need.

2 Reduce Spending - Once you've written your budget you will be able to see where you can make savings. Do you really need to get your newspapers delivered? Could using public transport be cheaper than using the car and paying for the car park? What about walking or cycling those shorter distances?

3 Credit and Store Cards - Don't use credit and store card except in an emergency. By not carrying them with you, you won't be tempted to use them, and get further into debt. Also, the interest rate for getting cash out is usually much higher than the standard interest rate for the store or credit card.

4 Economise - Look at cutting down on the luxury goods and non-essentials that you buy each month. Instead of going to the cinema every week, why not go once a month, or watch some of your own DVDs for a change. Perhaps a quiet night in at the weekend will be much cheaper than a night at the pub, or on the town.

5 In the Supermarket - By dropping a brand, or choosing own-brand products, you can save a considerable amount of money. You will then be able to afford the products that you absolutely can't economise on, without feeling too guilty.

6 Debt Problems - If you are having problems paying off your debts, contact your creditors straight away, and they may be able to help you. The longer you leave it, or the more payments you miss, the worse it will be for you. If you need help sorting out your finances, you should seek help, before it is too late.

7 Credit Card Balance - By paying the balance off your store or credit card balance monthly, or paying more than just the minimum amount, this will help to reduce the length of time it takes to pay off the debt, and reduce the amount of interest paid too.

8 Unfair Credit Agreements - Under the 1974 Consumer Credit Agreement, any sort of finance agreement must be drawn up properly, otherwise it is not legally binding, and the consumer doesn't have to pay off the amount of credit owed. It has come to light that many credit agreements have not been drawn up properly and so are unfair, and unenforceable. If you have any loans, vehicle finance or credit and store cards, you may want to have your credit agreements investigated.

9 Unfair Bank Charges - There has been much media attention to Unfair Bank Charges. These are the amounts charged for being overdrawn or for a bounced cheque and so on. In a similar way to Unenforceable Credit Agreements, Unfair Bank Charges can also be reclaimed.

10 Payment Protection Insurance - Payment Protection Insurance may have been sold to you as part of a credit agreement. Many of these insurance policies have been mis-sold, and so you could get your payments back.

Now you know how you can clear debt with a bit of forward planning, and careful budgeting, isn't it time you reduced your debts?

by M James.

SOURCE

Why Internet Financial Freedom Is Within Your Reach

Many people dream of achieving internet financial freedom with an online business of their own. Some actually reach this goal and are successful starting and running an internet business.

However, there are many people that struggle and don't make their business a success. The difference between the people that succeed and the people that struggle is that the successful people understand what it takes to achieve internet financial freedom and how to make it happen for them.

So how do they know what to do and a lot of other people don't? Here is what they understand that you haven't figured out yet when it comes to an internet business.

One: You have to educate yourself. 

This will always be something that you will have to do even after you become successful because there are always new things coming out for home businesses. If you ever want to achieve internet financial freedom then you can't skip this.

You have to become smart on all of the different ways to promote your internet business. Learn them one at a time and when you are comfortable with one then add another. Don't try and learn everything at once or you will quickly get frustrated and confused.

Two: Advertise your business constantly. 

You have to advertise in a lot of different ways if you want to make money and be successful. If people can't find your internet business then you will never see success. This is why educating yourself is so important. So advertise, advertise and advertise some more.

Three: You have to want success bad enough. 

That may sound weird when it comes to how you can achieve internet financial freedom but it is imperative to your success. You are the only one that can make your internet business successful.

No one will be there to tell you what needs to be done or when to do it. You have to be willing to work hard, learn all you can, go over, under, around or through any obstacles that get in your way and don't ever give up no matter what. You will achieve financial freedom, and never fail, if you do this.

In order to achieve internet financial freedom these three things are not the only things that you will need to do or have. They are however the most important ones.

If you don't do or have these then you will always struggle to succeed. So make the choice that no one and nothing is going to stop you from being successful with your internet business and before you know it you will have financial freedom. 

by Lee Scutchings


Source