Solutions to Missed Package Deliveries

A missed delivery brings so much frustration to both sender and recipient. If you are an eCommerce business or any business that requires package delivery to its clients, you know how hard it is to speak to an angry customer because of a missed delivery. Add to that, more problems arise if the package gets lost or is damaged because it was left lying somewhere. Technology has also addressed this concern. Carriers now use email and text messages to inform clients of a delivery. Here are three carriers who take customer satisfaction to the next level.
UPS Store
If you don’t want to receive your packages at home or at work, you can use your local UPS Store as a delivery address.  You can also enroll to My Choice, a customer program of UPS that increases the chances of a package to be delivered on time and to the right hands. My Choice is free. You only need to sign up to get started. You then choose your preferred delivery features. Next, you wait for a text, an email or a voice message alerting you that your package will arrive the following day. You can then log on to their website to track your package. You can also reroute or reschedule your delivery. Finally, you can authorize a release for your delivery.  Choose from any of these options that fit your lifestyle.
Gopost
Another option is the Gopost from USPS. You need to register online and then you get an ID. You also get a pickup code. You can choose the size of locker that you need. You can then use this address to inform your shipper of your delivery address. You will receive an email or text to inform you if your shipment has arrived. You then go to your chosen Gopost, give your ID and enter your pickup code to a machine. You will then be directed to your locker.
 Amazon Lockers
If you’re an Amazon fan, Amazon has made receiving packages easy and convenient for you. An Amazon Locker is basically a self service station located anywhere – malls, drugstores, convenience stores, groceries, etc. near you.
After making a purchase on Amazon, you can search for a locker via the ‘proceed to checkout’ button. Just follow the instructions. When your package arrives in your locker, Amazon will send you an email informing you that your package is ready for pick up. Take note of the pick-up code. You will need it to get your package. When you get to your pickup location, enter your pick up code into the touch screen and the locker with your package will automatically open. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
With all these pickup and delivery options, you are guaranteed an easy, convenient and secure way of receiving your packages. As for shippers, review your current logistics model. Your supply chain management might be in need of a few changes. Consider outsourcing an order fulfillment service to improve customer satisfaction.


If you want a professional order fulfillment company to handle your supply chain management, consider sykes fulfillment. To know more, visit sykes-gala.com

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Make Smartphones Work for Your Business

In today's mobile world, maximizing the potential of mobile technology for business profit gains in importance everyday. From marketing to communications, optimize your business potential by your mobile devices, including your smartphone, to their utmost capabilities. However, remember to categorize and avoid overlap whenever possible to heighten efficiency.

Separate Professional from Personal
While some overlap of business life into personal life is often unavoidable, minimize that encroachment as much as possible. You might consider an answering service for after-hours messages, for example, if your customers dislike leaving messages in voice mail that is retrieved the next business day.
Also, if you give your customers or clients a contact number for you, purchase a separate mobile phone for business, keeping your personal mobile number apart from business communications. Notify your client base of the number's contact hours, and be sure to record a business-oriented outgoing message that includes your business hours.
You can review those messages at any time, but return calls outside business hours sparingly. Answering your business mobile after hours gifts permission for indiscriminate contact, which can boomerang if you do not answer a client's call at midnight. Instead, set the calling hours from the start, and do not give your clients your personal number or email address.

Business Apps
On your business smartphone, concentrate your apps downloads toward business and efficiency apps. Ensure you have document creation and editing capabilities. Consider document formats and shared projects.
If you are a sole proprietor, the shared document concept can still apply. Store important documents or ongoing projects in a cloud-based environment, ensuring you can access those documents away from your office. Utilizing electronic documents instead of carrying hard copies constantly can reduce bulk and weight and can increase document security.
If you do need a hard copy, simply send the document to a printer. If direct connectivity isn't possible or convenient, send the electronic document via email attachment which can be downloaded to a local computer and printed at will. Sending a copy of the document to a disk or external drive can also enable on-demand printing at a local shop if needed.

Time Management
Take full advantage of the calendar and voice memo features within your business mobile handset. Each is easy to use and can keep you targeted and on time. If desired, download an appointment app that can be specifically tailored for your business use.
Consider social networking apps as well that can spotlight points of contact, your business fan page or even those of your competitors. Don't, however, bookmark personal pages in your business equipment. The mixing of personal and professional uses can greatly reduce or negate tax advantages for your business.

Contact List Entries
In your business handset, ensure you store all available entries for your contacts. Include not just name and contact  number but email addresses, fax numbers, business addresses and even handy information like spouse or child information. Sending a polite anniversary or birthday message to your business contacts can help keep your business in the forefront of their memories.

Mobile Marketing
Ensure when you create and initiate a mobile marketing campaign that you enroll your business mobile in each campaign. You see first hand how your ads are presented, which enables quick adjustment or testing of ad variations.
Don't rely on just “doing.” Guarantee with “viewing.”

by Jaye Ryan, a freelance author who likes writing about mobile technology applications for business on behalf of MobilePhones.org.uk.

Photo By denharsh on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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Affiliate Income: How can You Increase It and Become More Valuable?

Every day millions of dollars in affiliate commissions are paid all around the world. People from all walks of life are increasing their affiliate income by doing a few simple things anyone can learn how to do!
Let's talk about a few ways you could increase your income with affiliate marketing and develop a more valuable affiliate business. These are not difficult or expensive which should be encouraging if you are willing to follow them.
1. You make more with less.
Oftentimes people start out in affiliate marketing thinking they need a lot of websites and a lot of products to make money.
You would be smart to focus on your favorite affiliate product and figure out more ways to promote it so you can increase your commissions. If you don't have a favorite affiliate product right now you need to find one.
Focusing is smart because it allows you to do the things that successful affiliate marketers do even when they are promoting more than one product. It also allows you to develop your marketing system for one specific product that you can then branch out into multiple products in the future with.
When you are making money with the affiliate product you are focusing on you can then start to promote a second product. Over time you will have numerous websites with numerous products you are making money with. Just remember to focus on a product, make money on it, and then add a new product.
2. Build your list. 
 You see this talked about all the time, yet when you go on websites you don't always see a sign-up form on it.
The big advantage to having an email list is the opportunity it gives you to continue to sell products after they have joined your list. This includes making that first sale to someone, and it includes selling more affiliate products to them in the future.
You don't necessarily have to have a large list to make a lot of money in affiliate marketing either. What you do need is a responsive list. The way you do that is by interacting with them and developing relationships with them as people.
This only takes a little time to do yet the financial rewards can be enormous. There is an old adage in sales and marketing and it goes like this, "people buy from people", and it applies to affiliate marketing as well.
3. Multiple streams of income.
This is one of the really great things about affiliate marketing.
There are many ways to make money on a webpage. If you've ever seen Google Adsense ads on a website that affiliate marketer is earning money when somebody clicks on an ad. This is known as pay per click affiliate income.
Another popular way to make money is with cost per action programs. This is primarily when you get leads for companies and they pay you for those. Believe it or not there are affiliate marketers earning six and seven-figure incomes just with this income stream by itself.
Of course another way to increase your affiliate income is to sell more products. You are basically looking at selling information products or selling physical product.
You can find niche specific affiliate programs to join. A good place to look for these is in an affiliate network such as Commission Junction.
You can also join large affiliate programs and promote their products. Two of the best for this are Amazon and ClickBank. All of these affiliate programs are free to do join.
Follow these easy and inexpensive tips to increase your affiliate income and the value of your affiliate business.


Payon B. is a writer for Ukritic.com. If you want to learn more about where you can make money online by writing product reviews, take a look at this site.

Photo By casperam on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

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Advantages of Online Real Estate Marketing

In the past decade, the climate of real estate market has shifted significantly toward the online world. There are multiple reasons why this shift has occurred; with the largest contributing factor being a rise in internet usage and the fact that nearly everyone has access today. Marketing a home today is entirely different than how things were done in the past. The reason is that most people start their home search using the internet in a variety of different ways. Realtors must concentrate marketing efforts on getting homes listed and seen in as many places as possible in order to grasp the attention of prospective buyers.
The cost advantage
The advantages of online Real Estate marketing are numerous. First, the cost is significantly lower for the agent and in turn, the seller. Most Realtors are member of websites where they can list homes for sale without significant cost. They also know of websites where home listings are automatically added via MLS information, created by the Realtor. This means that there is maximum exposure for the home. So the second advantage of online marketing is that many people come across the listing and can view the details of the listing.
Obviously, if the Realtor is spending less money and potential home buyers are able to access detailed information about a home for sale, the Realtor will field fewer phone calls from individuals seeking information about the home. Certainly, there will still be phone calls from people who drive by the home. But, generally people will see a home and then look it up online for the details before they make a call.
The time advantage
The advantage here, is that Realtors are now able to maintain more listings successfully. They also have the time it takes to really sell a home. The seller benefits from this as well, knowing that their house is visible to people who might be interested and the Realtor is committed to getting the home sold. In the past, selling a home could take many months of constant showings after waiting for someone to notice the home. This meant that seller needed to constantly keep the home in pristine condition, in the event that an agent called to request time to show the home. Juggling cleaning, working, taking care of children and all of the other life responsibilities can be difficult.
To summarize, there are many advantages that work together to get a home sold quickly and efficiently when a Realtor utilizes online marketing tools and the internet to sell homes that they list. There is a significant cost savings involved. There is an even larger time savings involved. These two things are complementary and they definitely help to get homes sold. Because home buyers have changed the way that they look for a new home, Realtors who keep up with this trend are finding that they can sell more homes faster. And sellers can rest assured, knowing that their Realtor is doing everything possible to get exposure and to close the sale.

Citations:

• photo taken from flickr, with CC license. Author: sherwoodrealestate

Benjamin Ben Sawyer is an Internet Marketing analyst more than 5 years. He developed some very successful strategies for various clients, helping them to establish their online presence. and improve their rankings. In this article, Ben shares some useful tips which he used in online marketing campaign for http://www.arvernebythesea.com, New York real estate company.

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5 Most Inspirational People of All Time

What makes for an inspirational individual? Obviously, someone who can bring hope to others, either through diplomacy, thoughtful sayings, or having lived through a major struggle in life. Five of the most inspirational people of all time include: Winston Churchill; Nelson Mandela; Bill Clinton; Deepak Chopra; and Barack Obama.

Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill is most memorable for having a strong personality. He is the person who said, "When you're going through hell, keep going." He had the type of character that is seen very rarely in a person's lifetime. Churchill is most famously known for having been the only British Prime Minister to have received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Many people may not know that, in addition to being a great writer, he was a historian and an artist. He's best known for his diplomacy during the two terms he served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and then again from 1951 to 1955. Churchill was in charge of Britain since the inception of World War II until Nazi Germany was finally defeated in 1945. Overall, his legacy is a great one and will stand the test of time.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was the first South African to ever be voted into office of President in a democratic election in that country. He served as President from 1994 to 1999. Prior to that, Mandela had been an anti-apartheid activist that had been jailed for 27 years, while South Africa was still segregated. After he was released in 1990, Mandela worked in order to ensure that he could unite South Africa to become a democratic society in which the political parties could come closer together. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Bill Clinton

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is a larger-than-life figure for many, as he signed into law many important pieces of legislation. He left the United States with a huge budget surplus at the end of his two terms as President, including having helped families of all income levels having put into effect several policies, as well as various types of legislation that was passed and signed into law during his Presidency. He has received several honorary Doctorate of Law degrees as well as the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra is an American medical doctor and a prolific writer. He's written at least 65 books, 19 of which have become New York Times Bestsellers. He has taught at several prominent medical schools. He's a very inspirational person who tweets words of wisdom to his followers via Twitter.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama was the first African-American to be elected President of the United States. He is a gifted writer, rhetorician, and politician, most famous for instituting health care and capturing terrorist Osama bin Laden.

Richard is an Entrepreneur from Sydney, Australia. He finds inspiration in many people but particularly admires these five because they have changed so many lives. Richard also finds inspiration from Professional Speaker, Brett Kelly, who is also from Sydney, as well as other local Speaker's whose events he has attended.

Photo By on The Story Lady Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/deed.en

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How to Start Your Own Lawn Care Business

Now that the summer is finally here, there are many yards that need to be mowed. There are weeds to be pulled and flowers to be planted. Some people want to have a gorgeous garden but do not have the time to keep up with it themselves because they are working or have other things to do. Many people start lawn care businesses for these reasons and make great money doing what they love. If you’re out of school for the summer and you are looking for a way to make some money for when you go back to college in the fall, you may have been considering starting up your very own lawn care business. If you have, here are a few things you should know.

How to Start Your Own Lawn Care Business

The first thing that you should consider if you are thinking about starting your own lawn care business is whether you have the things you will need to do your job. You should have a lawn mower so that you can mow grass and you will probably want to have a weed eater as well. You can let your potential customers know that you have your own equipment. They may prefer that you use a lawn mower that they have and that is fine too. You will want to advertise your business and perhaps start out working for people that you know. If you do a good job, they will probably tell people they know about your newly started business and you will get more customers by their word of mouth. You should have set prices for the jobs you do. Make sure that your prices are reasonable, or you may lose out on business.

What You Can Do

When you have your own lawn care business, you should be able to mow grass. There may be a lot for you to mow, but it’s not a big deal. You will also want to be able to weed as well and use a weed whacker. It is important for you to know how to properly trim shrubbery and how to plant flowers. You should know how to water flowers and you should be able to trim limbs on trees. You should also know a few things about landscaping in case someone wants their entire yard made over.
You would really be surprised at how many people want to have lovely gardens but simply do not have the time to maintain them on their own. Now that college is out for the summer, you can make some extra money doing what you love and helping other people to enjoy their gardens. There is great money in a lawn care business and there is no reason why you cannot start one of your own. With this in mind, find someone you know and see if they need their lawn cut. The better a job you do, the better things people will say about your work and the more customers you will get.

Delia G. is a writer for http://www.mybusinesscareers.com/. If you are interested in a career in business, this site has valuable insight to what you need to do to get a real career in business.

Photo By Thirteen Of Clubs on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

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7 Quick and Easy Ways To Earn Extra Cash In A Pinch

We have all been there… you need an extra $100 in the next month or two. You REALLY want to go on an upcoming vacation but need an extra few hundred dollars. But where to start? Well, the fact is, there are numerous ways to make extra cash on the fly. Consider these:

1 – Look For Quick Jobs On Craigslist

Many times, you will be able to find quick and temporary “odd jobs” on Craigslist. Maybe someone needs help moving. Maybe someone needs some temporary manual labor.

Craigslist can be a great way to find some temporary but effective income streams.

2 – Sell Old Items

Speaking of Craigslist, why not consider cleaning house and selling a few of the old items laying around your living space. You never know if what you consider junk might be considered of high value to someone else.

Try posting items that you don’t care about on Craigslist or eBay. You might be surprised at how effective this can be.

3 – Do Freelance Work

There are TONS of sites online where you can offer to do freelance work for cash. One of my personal favorites is oDesk. They match contractors with business owners.

If you are a decent writer or a skilled and organized person, you should consider checking out oDesk to see if there is a job that interests you. It is free to create an account, so if anything, you can at least see if there is an interesting opportunity available.

4 – Take Paid Online Surveys

There are numerous companies that are willing to pay you for your opinion. You fill out short surveys or questionnaires and are rewarded in return. Of course, be sure to do your due diligence and figure out if the companies that you are signing up for are legitimate before jumping in.

Also – once you are sure of the legitimacy of certain companies, consider signing up for multiple survey panels. Any one panel is not going to be particularly rewarding, but by signing up for multiple sites you can start to maximize your earnings.

5 – Have A Garage Sale

This relates to point 2. However, instead of going online and selling items one by one, consider having a big garage sell where you sell everything extra that is laying around.

Have the garage sale on the weekend so more people can come and be sure to be very flexible on your pricing. Invite all of your friends and family to the event to maximize the earnings.

6 – Have A Car Wash

This is good for groups that need extra money. Of course, you will have a hard time making money if it is you alone washing cars, but if you can rally a few friends together that are looking to pocket extra cash as well, you might find success with this strategy.

The key is finding a good location. Higher traffic areas are going to result in better earnings.

7 – Ask Friends and Family About Odd Jobs

Chances are, your friends and family need some stuff done that they just don’t want to do. For example, cleaning out a garage, or mowing the lawn. If you convey to them that you are looking to make some extra cash with a temporary one time job, you might be surprised at how many responses you get.

Consider posting something on your social networks to see if you get any responses.

Conclusion

As you notice, there are actually several ways to make extra money in a pinch. The key is thinking about what your strengths and weaknesses are and which of these ways would work best for you.

Maybe it is one, or maybe it is a combination of a few. Analyze your choices, make your decision, and get to work! You won’t make any money if you don’t take action.

Did I miss something? Is there a way you enjoy making money? Please share in the comment section below.

Jason is a guest poster from Survey Examiner, a website dedicated to providing honest and accurate reviews of paid survey sites. To view the types of reviews provided, check out one of the latest posts: ePoll Review and Rating: Legitimate or Scam?.

Photo By BlatantWorld.com on Fickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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5 Dinners for Under $5

With today's high prices at the grocery store, it might seem impossible to make a healthy and nutritious dinner for less than $5. The truth is that with a little planning and some careful shopping, you can make dozens of different dinners for under $5. All of the suggestions listed below require minimal effort to prepare and will satisfy your appetite.

1. 8 Ounce Grilled Burger, Mashed Potatoes and String Beans

Cost of Ingredients: Ground Beef - $2.00, Mashed Potatoes - $1.00, String Beans - $1.00 - Total: $4.00

Make a hearty and filling meal by sautéing some onions with a juicy beef patty. Whip up some mashed potatoes with butter and salt and add some string beans to complete the meal.

2. Garden Salad with Baked Chicken

Cost of Ingredients: Bag of Fresh Salad - $2.50, One Boneless Chicken Breast: $2.00 - Total: $4.50

Eat healthy tonight by baking, instead of frying, a plump chicken breast. Season the chicken with paprika or some other spices you like. Once the chicken is cooked, cut it into bite-sized pieces and add to the bag of salad. Add a few extras like tomatoes and cucumbers, mix well and top with your favorite salad dressing.

3. Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Tater Tots and Toast

Cost of Ingredients: 3 Eggs - 0.50, 3 Slices of Bacon - $1.00, Tater Tots - $0.50, 2 Slices of Bread - $0.40 - Total: $2.40. Who said you can not have breakfast for dinner? In a pinch, this is a very cheap way to fill up and satisfy your hunger.

4. Philly Steak and Cheese Sub with Chips and a Pickle

Cost of Ingredients: 6 Ounces Sirloin Steak - $2.00, Pepper and Onion $1.00, Swiss Cheese - $0.50, 1 Sub Roll - $0.50, Handful of Potato Chips - $0.25, Dill Pickle Wedge - $0.10 - Total: $4.35

Cut up your steak into small strips. Cut up your green pepper and onion. Splash a few drops of oil in a heated frying pan, add the ingredients and then place the cheese on the almost cooked concoction. In about five minutes you will have a delicious cheese steak sandwich.

5. Fried Chicken with Coleslaw and Potato Salad

Cost of Ingredients: Two Chicken Breasts with Ribs Plus Batter - $ 3.00, Coleslaw and Potato Salad - $1.50 - Total $4.50

Make sure the oil is hot before you dip your batter-coated chicken breasts into the frying pan. Get you plate ready by spooning out the coleslaw and potato salad. Remove the chicken, drain and enjoy!

This guest post was contributed by ezCater. Learn more their Hartford catering solutions at ezcater.com.

Photo By 401(K) 2012 License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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Thinking Of Taking Out A Payday Loan? Have You Considered Other Financial Aids First?.

Payday loans can be a great short-term aid when you find yourself in a difficult financial situation; they are quick and easy to apply for and are widely available these days. These short-term loans are not the only financial facility available to those enduring a rough economic spell. However recent research from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) and Turn2us would suggest that most people are not aware of this, or simply choose to ignore other financial resources and turn to payday loans instead.

Statistics from the CCCS and Turn2us study have revealed that:

-          27% did not look into any other financial solution before they applied for a payday loan

-          48% who are not currently employed  have not checked to see if they are entitled to welfare benefit before taking out a payday loan even though unemployed people are twice as likely to take out payday loans than anyone else

-          51%  later regret their decision to take out a payday loan

-          30% are worse off after taking out a payday loan

The survey also claimed that of the 13m people living below the poverty line in the UK, only 7.6m are claiming state support- meaning that over £19m in benefits is not being claimed. So if you fall into this category and are struggling financially, your first port of call should be checking your eligibility for welfare benefits before you start researching other financial aids.

There are also a number of alternatives to payday loans or things you can do to help your economic woes:

-          Talk to your creditors about extending your payment dates

-          Ask your employer for a payday advance (similar to a payday loan but without the excessive interest and fees)

-          Take out a small loan from your bank (if you have a steady income and good credit rating/history)

-          Extend your bank account overdraft

-          Use savings or your emergency fund if you have any

You should also revisit your monthly budget for your household, thoroughly examining your incomings and outgoings for each month to see if there are any regular purchases or bills that you could cut out to save money.

If you find yourself in a difficult financial situation you should always seek independent financial advice before you apply for any economic relief. Organisations like Citizens Advice, National Debtline and Consumer Credit Counselling Services (CCCS) all offer free impartial advice concerning financial matters.

Cost is an online comparison service for all your insurance, finance, travel and utility needs

Photo By rinkjustice License By http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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Streamline your Space and Make Extra Cash: Getting Rid of Junk

Got a treadmill covered in clothes, or a juicer that you’d use if it weren’t so hard to clean? Perhaps you’re a passionate knitter with more cute creations than you have room for – point is, we’ve all got stuff around the house collecting dust. You can get rid of the clutter and earn extra income by selling your items online. Check out the options below for beginner and intermediate sellers, and get going!

For Beginning Sellers and Those that Just Don’t Want to Look at the Mess Anymore

Beginning sellers can start by posting ads on Craigslist.org. It’s common for those with a lot to sell to post one ad listing everything. While this is a great option for those who want to exert minimal effort, you’ll get more views if you post one ad per item in the appropriate category (i.e., furniture, electronics, clothing). Check out ads for similar items to get a feel for an appropriate price range, and be prepared to haggle.

If you’re more concerned with de-cluttering your house than earning extra income, consider donating your unwanted items to a charity or posting an ad on Freecycle.org, a site for giving away stuff to those who need it in your local area.

For Intermediate Sellers

For those that want the maximum return possible on their items, eBay.com is the place to go. While you need to pay a small fee per listing, your item will reach a much wider audience, so the online marketing costs are worth it. Make sure that you provide an enticing description and several photos of the item (the first photo is included in the listing price, while additional photos are available for a tiny fee).

Most sellers use eBay as an auction site, allowing buyers to bid on the price. For items of low or average value, you’ll want to start low and allow the price to rise. For high-value items, you may want to set a reserve, or minimum bid price. You can also set a fixed price for the item, called the “Buy it Now” option. Be sure to monitor your listing closely for any new developments!

For Those Who Want to Sell Their Own Creations
If you’re an artist, craft maker or woodworker, you likely have unique creations sitting around that deserve a good home. While you can try your hand at eBay, many artists prefer Etsy.com, a site similar in function but very different in look and feel. Catering to independent creators, Etsy has a warm, cozy design and fosters a supportive community among its users.
If you want to customize the look and feel of your online store beyond what’s offered at these sites, you’ll want to look into web development pricing – perhaps you should purchase your own domain!

Whether you choose Craigslist, Freecycle, eBay or Etsy, be sure to put your social networking tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to good use as a space to advertise your goodies for sale. It only takes a minute to post a link to your listing, and who knows – that friend from high school who now has seven cats may be in need of your old coffee maker!

This guest post was written by Michelle, a marketing enthusiast who enjoys blogging about everything from earning extra income online to web development pricing.

Photo By epSos.de on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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Earning Extra Cash With Paid Online Survey Sites

If you aren’t already aware, paid survey panels can be a great way to earn a little extra cash on the side of your full time income. You shouldn’t expect a full time income from your participation, but if you are looking to add some extra savings for your next vacation or purchase, surveys can be a really great option.
In this post, I want to show you how you can maximize the earning potential from various survey sites.
Here is the step by step process many people use to earn more than average from paid survey panels:

1 – Set Up A Separate Email Account For Paid Survey Participation

The first step is to establish a separate email account for anything related to paid survey. That way, you will be organized and effective when filling out your surveys. I would suggest using Gmail and signing up for an account. You might call it something like johnssurveys12@gmail.com or surveyjessica@gmail.com.
This is going to be helpful for staying organized (more on this later in the post.)

2 – Learn How To Distinguish “Good” Survey Sites From “Bad” Survey Sites

Although paid online surveys are a legitimate business model, there are some sites that are a little sketchy and that you should certainly try to avoid. Here are some tips for identifying these sites:
1. Do your research. There are plenty of reviews online for paid survey sites. Read these reviews and study these rankings. If you see a trend of bad reviews for a particular survey site, it might be your clue to stay away. If you see a trend of great reviews, obviously, you may want to consider that option more closely.
2. Avoid making initial payments. One great tip is to avoid signing up for any survey panels that ask you to provide an upfront payment for being a member. While all of these sites aren’t scams, it is something that I always recommend avoiding. Why? Because you won’t be able to truly get a trial period. If you don’t like the process or decide that it isn’t for you, you will have lost your initial payment. By sticking to free to join sites, you will guarantee a risk free trial.
I would suggest signing up for 3-5 sites minimum to get started, so that you are guaranteed enough surveys to make your time worth it.

Step 3 – Try To Find Sites That Pay Through Paypal

Another good tip is to find survey sites that pay through PayPal. This is not a necessity; it is just something that I personally prefer. Rather than having to wait for a check to be mailed and deposited, receiving payment through PayPal streamlines the process.
Again, this is not a necessity, but you will find that it will make your life a lot easier.

Step 4 – Be Organized and Batch Your Survey Taking Time

Batching refers to grouping your tasks together to increase speed and effectiveness. This is essential if you want to maximize your paid survey earnings.
You should set a specific time of day or day of the week when you are going to do the surveys so that you are “in the zone” and focused. By signing up for multiple sites you will be more likely to have an abundance of offers for survey participation. This means that when you sit down to complete the surveys, you will be more speedy and effective.
Again, you shouldn’t expect a full time income from these surveys. They are not meant to replace your online job. However, if you are between jobs or just want to save some extra cash for a new item or upcoming vacation, they can be a really great option.
You can also feel a sense of worth, as you are contributing to market research and projects by providing you valuable opinion on various aspects of life.
If you have been hesitating to give surveys a try, you should stop the hesitation. Try them risk free and see how much profit you can make.

This was a guest author contribution from Jay at Survey Examiner. Check out the site to view ratings and reviews from the numerous online survey panels. To see a sample of the types of reviews provided, check out this HotSpex survey panel review.

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The Reality of Overbuying

Many people go shopping and see lots of things that they would like to own. Some of these people also find that they have some extra money in their pockets so they decide to buy everything that they like without even thinking twice. This is okay if you plan to wear or use all of what you bought more than once but as you will notice, when you overbuy, you cannot possibly get to wear everything you own and you may find yourself getting rid of things that still have their tags attached. If this sounds like something you have done in the past, you probably overbought. Here are some things for you to consider.

Don’t Waste Your Money

You probably work really hard for your money. With that being said, you simply cannot afford to throw it down the drain without a second thought. Why would you waste that hard earned money on clothes you will never wear or on items you will never use? When you go into a store and you see something you really like, you might not think twice about purchasing it at the time. If you see a shirt you like, you may want to own it, even if it is a bit impractical. You have the money, so you buy it but once you buy it you find that you have nothing to even wear it with. This can lead you to either want to go out and spend more money to have something to wear it with or it can cause you to give it away or donate it to someone else with the tags still attached. Someone else will benefit by getting at item you paid full price for less than half of the price. Don’t waste your money.

Not Getting Used, Not Getting Worn

When  you overbuy, you probably have more things and clothes than you even know what to do with. You’ll walk into your closet thinking you have nothing to wear, when in reality, you have too much to wear. That’s why you have trouble picking at outfit. It’s because you have too many options. You do not want to spend your money on things you won’t ever wear or use, so don’t. If you know that you need something and you know you will wear it or use it, buy it. Otherwise, think twice.
Many people are guilty of overbuying. Whether something was on sale or you just had some extra cash in your pocket, you probably overbought and splurged at one point in time or another too. Everyone does it but if you are thinking of buying things you may not need, think about all of the things you have at home that are not getting used or worn. It will remind you that you do not need to spend your money in such a way and you will feel better about your decision. You will have more money in your pocket and less things sitting around.


Terri G. is a writer for AspiringNurse.com. If you want to learn more about a career in nursing, take a look at this site: http://www.aspiringnurse.com/licensed-vocational-nurse/lvn-salary/

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Buying Shoes and Boots on a Budget

Due to the credit crunch and the uncertainty of global finances, households the world over have had to make cuts to their budgets and keep their purse strings tight. One thing, however, that it is hard to totally remove from shopping lists, or class as a luxury, however are shoes! As a fashion item they can instantly transform an entire wardrobe’s worth of clothes and, on a more practical level, we always will need things to wear on our feet! As a compromise, the best thing to do is look for ways to get on trend shoes but which won’t break the bank – here are some tips for getting chic footwear styles which will not stretch your spending too far.

Penny Loafers
   Penny Loafers are an old design which are set to become a big trend this autumn. Jumped upon by a number of in vogue designers looking to put their own personal touches to the shoe including stacked and skinny heels, Penny Loafers are set to no longer belong to the preppy type of dresser. As well as providing a cool look for relaxing in the sun, these shoes can also be combined perfectly with office attire to give prep to an outfit. The great thing about loafers too is that, whilst their designer ranges are likely to cost a large amount of money, it is possible to find versions of this style for relatively cheap.

Year Round Boots
   As the year begins to get cooler boots can seem more and more appealing. Yet, with the right purchase, it is possible to get a pair of boots that can ultimately save money by being wearable the entire year round. Whilst high-heeled lace up boots and knee high variations are both amongst the most eye catching, it is possible to get ankle boots which provide more variety in their style. Like Penny Loafers, ankle boots are great top wear around the office and can be worn in the winter with longer trousers just as well as they can be teamed with Daisy Dukes and cut-offs in the summer. By buying one pair of shoes that can suit the entire year’s weather, money is saved from the alternative of investing in two separate pairs.

Second Hand Oxfords
   Oxford shoes have, for a long time, been associated with male snappy dressers. Recently, however, the shoes have been appropriated by the likes of Alexa Chung and have become the ultimate pair of androgynous shoes for any burgeoning female fashionista. Whilst many designer ranges have begun to capitalise on this trend by releasing Oxford lace-ups with added metallic, studs and snakeskin print, the most popular style for this footwear trend is going retro. And what better way to go retro and to save money at the same time than looking for second hand purchases? A tip for making sure that the best value for money is achieved is looking for shoes which are labelled as “second hand” rather than “vintage” as this differentiation can make a huge difference in the ultimate cost!

Kieron is a fashion writer who blogs for Barratts about all the latest available styles and boots online.

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Understanding Commercial Properties for Rent

What’s commercial property?

Commercial property generally refers to all property that is not listed as residential. Commercial property may thus include office space, retail, multipurpose buildings, and industrial units amongst others. Perhaps an understanding of these various kinds of commercial properties is crucial. Basically, office space includes all those places available for use as offices. Retail space involves outlets that serve as stores, mostly standalone shops.
On the other hand, multipurpose properties combine both commercial and private uses.
This can be demonstrated by buildings that host both business premises on the lower floors and residential properties above. Industrial units refers to space that is meant for manufacturing. This generally includes space targeted for light or heavy industrial uses.  Industrial units may also include space meant for warehousing, research and development amongst other commercial industrial uses. Commercial property also includes other spaces such as hotels and motels. Each country has its own classification and zoning mechanisms for commercial properties.

Investing in commercial property

The rewards for investing in commercial property are attractive. But breaking into this line of investments can seem difficult if not impossible. All investors are profit seeking and want to invest in properties that bring in the returns fast and good. But unfortunately, this is not always the case! Investing in commercial property such as industrial units is a high risk game. Fortunately it is not as riskier as investing in residential property. For both of them, finances can be limiting. Investing in industrial units requires sufficient cash backing, but lending from banks isn’t as easy.

The lending criterion has been getting tougher by the years. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eventually secure a loan. After securing the finances, most often investors have to adopt a wait-and-see attitude with rates. This wait-and-see game can last for months, before you are ready to jump the gun! But of course all these can be overcome with some little bit of thorough planning. Investing in commercial property is really no different from investing in stocks or an idea. It is all about proper planning and timely execution.

Benefits of commercial property

As an owner of commercial property, for instance industrial units, the rental yield can be quite handful. Perhaps this is what differentiates residential property owners and commercial landlords. Commercial landlords take home a bigger chunk than residential property owners at the end of the month. Typically, rent from let units can be as high as 8 per cent of the capital value of the building! For long term superb yields, it is recommended that you only let to long term leasers.

The other advantage with commercial property is the fact that there is flexibility in renting arrangements. You can affordably let to major corporate or small businesses. Understanding commercial property basics is crucial to making informed investments. You can only invest better if you know what options you have in terms of the various commercial property types. But if running a business and looking to let, be sure to consider important factors such as location.

Harworth Estates are one of the largest landowners in the UK. They provide residential and commercial properties, office space, development land and industrial units to let.

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Disadvantages Of Fixed Rate Mortgages

A fixed rate mortgage is an agreement which states you will make the same repayment amount each month during a certain period (called fixed rate period/term). When this initial period comes to an end you will then start making repayments based on your lenders’ Standard Variable Rate (SVR). This mortgage type has benefits of course, like standard set fees which can be a great help when budgeting or saving money and can provide much-needed economic certainty and relief.  
All mortgages are serious financial agreements and should not be entered into without serious consideration. Anybody thinking about taking out a fixed rate mortgage should know the following drawbacks and disadvantages that these mortgage types entail before they start researching them:
The first disadvantage is that due to the nature of this mortgage type (that it does not rely on or vary because of interest rates) you will not benefit from cheaper repayments when the Bank of England’s base rate is low and interest rates are therefore more favourable. Therefore you will not profit from favorable economic conditions as you are paying a standard flat (fixed) rate each month.
Fixed rate mortgages will almost always include a charge for paying off your mortgage early. Usually called an Early Repayment Fee, you will most likely also be charged for remortgaging during the fixed rate period.
The best fixed rate mortgages will more often than not charge a high arrangement fee (also called booking fee, completion fee or administration fee). This fee can be anything from several hundred pounds to a couple of thousand pounds so be sure to look out for these as many are hidden or disguised by the cheap mortgage deal presented.
Besides the standard fixed rate mortgage type, there are ‘flexible’ fixed rate mortgages which may be a better option depending on your circumstances. The main difference with the flexible mortgage type is that there are no charges incurred if a customer wishes to make a series of overpayment on their mortgage- you would only be charged if you wanted to repay the mortgage in full (Redemption Penalty).
If you are not so cautious with your money and you’re always seeking the best deal or a bargain, a fixed rate mortgage may not be the best mortgage for you. You may wish to research a variable rate mortgage if you want to enjoy cheaper repayments when the country is also enjoying better interest rates.

Cost is an online comparison website that specialists in all insurance, finance, travel and utility needs.

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The Comeback Of The Sub-Prime Credit Market

When the great recession of 2008 hit, sub-prime borrowers, meaning those considered as “high-risk” clients, where shunned down of credit card accounts, student loans and financial loans. Heck, even people with great credit ratings were denied of loans. But as lending companies were paid and their losses were recovered, they are opening their doors again for sub-prime borrowers, who are generally defined as people with credit scores of 660 and below.
Some of the companies which are opening their doors for those who were once considered as high-risk customers are GM Financial and Capital One. Testing the waters and trying to follow suit are JP Morgan Chase and HSBC.

Fantastic figures

In December 2011, credit card companies approved accounts for 1.1 million users with sub-prime credit. The dramatic increase in rate was 12.3%, compared to the new credit cards released in December 2010.
As for auto loans, 23% of those granted money in the last quarter of 2011 were high-risk consumers, a  far cry from the 17% who were given the opportunity to make car loans in 2009. Despite these impressive figures mortgage loans remain closed for sub-prime borrowers.

Why do business with sub-prime clients?
So why are lending companies knocking on the doors of sub-prime consumers once again? Industry experts believe that it’s because with their credit scores, they have to get used to paying higher interest rates – as much as 29 percent. They also pay additional fees when they go beyond the due date.
Because of these projected profits, most credit card and lending companies are sending flyers and invitation letters to people who were not able to pay them in the past – inviting them to apply for credit and auto loans, among many others.

Concerns

While financial experts worry that this leniency in lending will result to the nightmare that was the 2008 credit crisis – lending companies assert that they have learned from the mistakes they made in the past. For example, JP Morgan Chase is carefully evaluating borrowers to determine if they can pay the fees or if they’ll just run away and change their names and addresses.
As for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, as long as banks’ lending money to borrowers are conscious of the standards and the risk of transacting with high-risk clients, there’s no problem in catering to the needs of these individuals.

Sign of an improving economy

While some experts worry that extending credit to high-risk individuals can bring about another credit fiasco, some industry leaders believe that it’s a sign that the American economy is improving.
Despite the high unemployment rate, borrowers, especially those from the sub-prime bracket, have done their best to pay off at least some of their debts. Because of the decreased rates of delinquency and auto loans, banks feel that they can cater to customers who were shunned during the recession. Lenders also believe that they will miss out on the clients which will bring them some profit if they just focus on the people who pay their debts well and on time.
With these great promises, economists can do nothing but hope that this will give sub-prime consumers a chance to capitalize on the opportunity, which might help strengthen America’s economy once again.

This article is provided courtesy of Bad Credit Loans Direct, a consumer finance website providing information and tools on small loans for bad credit and other personal credit services.

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How To Avoid Loss in Trading Commodities

Well if at all there is a better way of trading commodities then one of the few strategies that will work are those that reduce the chances of loss to zero. When you start trading commodities you must be patient and avoiding overly risky and  bad investments should be you top priority.If at all you can avoid loosing you can keep trading even if you do not make profit.In commodity trading it is important to-keep in mind that it is more of long-term investment than a short one and that means in the end of it all, the final objective will always be to stay in the trade as much as you can. So how doyou avoid loses in trading commodities? Here are some important tips.
Set an amount that you can loose in a day (stop loss order)
Astop loss order is actually a set amount that a trader sets such that incase the loss amount is reached then they close all activepositions in the day’s trade and call off the day. Here you need to get it right when you are setting your stop loss order. The amount you set should be that amount that even if you loose, you will have the chance to trade another day. In other words this should be a loss you can recover from easily. Theproblem withmany traders is that they do not withdrawactivepositions when the stop loss is reached with the hope thatthings are bound to get better.
Trade professionally as possible
Trading professionally in the commodities markets is essential in making the right calls when need be. A professional tradingapproach should be based on realities in the markets and not hopes and feelings. Assessing the market involves known variables and that point well noted it is in the best interest of your portfolio that you are able to approach trading with that professional touch. In case you are not a financial expert or for that matter lack experience,you can source some of the best managers at easy processes or better still get the best brokerage firms in the industry. The importance of professional trading is that it allows you to make right decisionno matter how unpopularthey might be.
Be disciplined in you trade activities
Disciplined trading is very important in meetinggoals as far as financial and commodities trading areconcerned. In disciplined trading,you just stick with the strategy as it is. The reality many traders have very effectivestrategiesbut the hope ofmaking more than expected drives them to deviate fromtheir initialapproach. This in any case will affect your trade and in worse cases itcan reallyinfluence how much you earn. Disciplined trading should be a personal commitment on your part that you should strive to uphold.

Michael Hastings is an editor at HowToTradeCommodities.com. He specializes in gold and silver trading.

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How To Manage A Small Business Cash Flow

Money makes the world go round. That is especially true in any business, more emphasis on small businesses that is. Cash flow in a small business is crucial to keep it afloat. Cash management should be your number one priority if you want to be successful. If you are experiencing some difficulty in getting a continuous cash flow, read on.

Get your clients to pay on time

Do not delay sending bills to your clients. If you’re doing this through snail mail, send the bills out earlier. If you’re having a hard time preparing your bills, invest in a franking machine. You can either rent it or buy a brand new machine. There are franking machines made for small businesses so you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars. You can finish preparing your bills in seconds with the use of a franking machine. You also get discounts from the post office for sending properly franked mail.
Send out email reminders at a set date every month. Assign someone to keep track of your client’s balances and account status. Do not tolerate negligent clients. A bad paying client will eventually kill your business. It might be better to just let them go if they refuse to adhere to your paying standards. Find clients that are responsible with paying their bills.
Always send an invoice the same time you send out products to your customers. If you have an arrangement with your client such as ‘buy now, pay later’, sending an invoice with their order gives them an idea of how much they owe you and when they should pay.

Hold on to your money for as long as you can

Be wary of paying bills earlier than the due date. Sometimes, if you overlap credit card payments, instead of your bank thanking you for the advanced payment, they will charge you for ‘late’ payment for your next bill. This is because they will credit your second payment to the current month’s bill. So, it would look like you didn’t pay for your next bill when in fact you paid in advance. To avoid confusion, just pay your bills on the date printed on your invoice.
The same works for other bills such as overhead bills (electricity, rent, etc) and invoices from suppliers and vendors.
If you are allowing your staff to get a salary advance, stop that practice right now. Not only are you teaching your staff to mismanage their money, you are giving away money that can be invested in more supplies, raw materials or inventory.
Do not buy more than you can handle. Again, this works for office supplies and inventory. Do not buy boxes and boxes of pens or several reams of paper on one go unless you get some very good savings by doing so. As for inventory, it’s no good if it just sits on your shelf. That’s stagnant money. Try to assess the current market so that you can make good decisions when it comes to re-stocking.

Make the most of every day your business is open
Motivate your staff to sell as much as they can on any given day. Again, if there’s inventory sitting on the shelf, that’s sitting money. If you are having a hard time getting rid of old stocks, hold regular sales. If you can afford it, offer a 50% off sale.  What matters is you get back your investment and have the money rolling again.
Analyze your accounting reports. You might find some more ways to keep your cash flow moving and increasing.

If your business sends more than 5 items of mail daily, you can also save money with the use of a franking machine. With this machine you print your postage directly to the envelopes and thus are entitled to a discount. For up to date costs, please visit this site.

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Tips To Become A Successful Contractor

So you finally quit your job and decided that it’s time for you to go freelance. Or, you are still thinking about giving it up and just be a contractor? Being a freelancer/contractor can be a very rewarding experience if you do it right. But, who says you can do it right the first time? There will be things that are out of your control and they can change the way you run your business. You will make some mistakes and you will also learn. Here are a few tips to guide you to become a success in your chosen field.
Is it for you?
Ask yourself this question. Are you willing to forego the security of a monthly salary, the benefits, etc.? Can you finally stand up on your own? Do you have a Plan B in case this does not work out? Or are you willing to do everything to make it work? These are just some of the questions that you need to answer in order to build a successful business.
Be honest
First of all, you must be honest in everything you do. You must be honest to yourself, to your staff and most importantly, to your clients. Being honest with your clients will lead to relationships that will last. You will have return customers when they know that you value honesty in your work. If you can’t do the work, tell them. It is better to set your customer’s expectation right the first time around.
Be flexible
Change will surely come to your business so be ready to adapt. Do not have a “que sera sera” attitude towards your business. Place matters into your own hands. Make the necessary decisions. Learn from your mistakes. Do not stop learning. You need knowledge to be able to survive.
Keep yourself motivated
Now that you are not working in an office, you can easily be distracted and lose focus on your business. Now that you don’t have a boss, it’s easy to just take the day off whenever you want to. But that will hurt your business. You may not see it right now but it will eventually. It’s okay to take one day off or even take the weekend off but skipping work in the middle of the week is wrong. You need to finish what you started. Do things that motivate you go on. Surround yourself with people and things that inspire you to become successful.
Have a plan
Always have a plan. From the start of your business to its end, have a plan. How are you going to start your business? How are you going to grow it? What is your contingency plan? Are you willing to sell your business? Are you going to develop a new business once you sell it or are you going to make branches?
Be accountable
You are now responsible for your business and your staff. You must be accountable for every action that you make. Teach your staff to become accountable for their actions too. Everyone must know their responsibilities and be accountable for it. Your actions may lead to consequences so be careful with what you say or do.
 If you had the guts to make it this far, then have faith in yourself that you can make your business successful. Just keep these tips in mind and you are on your way to making it big.

This article has been brought to you by contractor money, the contractor mortgages specialists.

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How a Mobile App Can Help Your Business

Facebook page? Check. Twitter? Check. Mobile app? If you don’t have a check next to that one, it’s time for a change. Anyone can develop an app, and your business can also create a stellar app to benefit (and market to) your customers. Here’s how a mobile app can help your business.
Direct Connections

A mobile app is a very direct, intimate way to connect with your customers. They’ve demonstrated a real interest in your business by downloading your app onto their phones. Your app serves as a direct portal between you and your customers. With one click, they can connect with you, and you have a way of reaching them through your app that has the potential to be more effective than your website or social media. Your app helps you develop the connection you want with your customers.
Customer Loyalty

Lots of the people who download your app will already be loyal to your business. If your app offers them really great content, it will solidify their opinion of your business and encourage them to continue being your customers. At the same time, a really great app can also convince the customers who are on the fence that you are the superior business in your niche. In addition, if your app makes it very easy for your customers to make a purchase from you, they’re likely to continue using your app rather than bother with downloading a competitor’s app or visiting a competitor’s website.
New Business

Hopefully your current customers aren’t the only ones who download your app. If your app offers something that’s exclusive to members, however, it might be. But most good apps can appeal to many different people. They’ll be helped or entertained by your content as the primary reason for their downloads, but hopefully many of those people will turn into customers after being impressed by your app. If not, you’ve still introduced them to your business and your brand.
Coupon Distribution

People sure love coupons, and many people will download apps that will save them money. Your app could offer coupons as one feature of it, or coupons and discounts could be its sole purpose. Either way, you have a lot of options for using your mobile app to distribute coupons. It could be as simple as posting coupons to print or show in your store or coupon codes for online checkout. You could get a little fancier and use a loyalty program that allows people to earn discounts through your app, such as by playing a game or checking in at your store using the phone’s GPS.
Data Collection

Your mobile app also gives you a great way to collect data about your customers. You can give them the opportunity to opt-in to your email list, for example, and you can ask them to provide a little bit of their demographic information. You can also make it an easy way for people to give you feedback on their experiences with your business. Don’t overdo it, however, or they’ll tire of it quickly.

This and many other educational articles helping web professionals understand the challenges of the web have been prepared for you by Travis Lee thanks to SEOMap - the keyword strategy experts.

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Three Great Ways To Make Spare Cash On The Road

As everyone knows, traveling can get very expensive. Whether you are traveling to a far away country or just on a road trip to visit some family, the price of travel really starts to add up.
That’s why I thought I would share this post. In it, I will explain two fantastic ways to earn extra money, even while driving, flying, or riding on a train.
Let’s begin:

Method 1 – Freelance Writing

Freelance writing can be a great way to make extra money, even while working remote. Two great services to get started with are Odesk and Elancer. They make it very easy to set up an account and begin finding freelance writing jobs.
The great thing about freelance writing jobs is that you can complete the work virtually wherever you want. Whether you are driving, flying, or riding on a bus or train you could be typing away at your latest project. As long as you stick to getting your work in on time, you should have success with finding repeat jobs.

Method 2 – Become A Virtual Assistant

You can use the same freelancing services I listed above to get involved with a virtual assistant program. This is essentially when you provide assistant services to someone but strictly online.
This might be anything from doing data research to sending out a few emails. It can actually be very easy and rewarding work for the pay.
If you have any questions or are just curios, go onto Odesk or Elancer and create your free account. Then, look through some of the job offers that are available. Who knows, maybe something will pique your curiosity and you can apply!

Method 3 – Take Paid Online Surveys

OK, I am a bit biased to this one because I own and operate a survey panel rating website. However, this is actually a fantastic way to make extra money from just about anywhere.
Here is how legitimate survey panels operate:
1. They have contracts with big time companies that frequently need market research conducted.
2. They have a group of participants that get sent emails of these surveys when they become available.
3. They get paid by the big companies and pass the payment on to the survey takers.
It is actually a very legitimate business model and a great way to make a little extra cash. I wouldn’t necessarily rely on this for a full time income, but it is a great way to add a little extra cash.
Also – a great method many people use to make a little more cash than average is by signing up to NUMEROUS survey sites rather than just one. That way, when they are ready to take surveys they have a large list available and can make way more money than if they were simply relying on just one.

Wrapping Up

Just because you are travelling or on the go doesn’t mean you can’t be adding a little extra cash to your bank account on the side.
If you are struggling with money or just trying to save up for something special, you should definitely consider these options for making spare cash while on the road.

This was a guest contribution from Jason from Survey Examiner, a site devoted to providing useful reviews and info on paid survey panels online. Check it out now to learn how you can make money, whether you are a stay at home mom or looking for online jobs for 14 year olds.

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Extreme Couponing : How it Works

There's probably a good chance that you have turned on TV and saw that extreme coupon show. If you haven't, it's basically where people can buy hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for as little as a few dollars using coupons. Yes, while this can happen, it takes a lot of work to do so. Now, while you don't have to be too extreme, there are some things that you can do to get started with saving the big bucks at your local grocery store with coupons. Let's take a quick look at how you can get started:
Store Policy
Before you even begin, it's important to know your local store's coupon policy. Every single store out there is going to widely vary with their policy. Some stores will only accept two identical coupons while others will take more than 20. If you don't know their policy, you can find the information either online or by calling them.
Finding the Coupons
There are a few different ways you can find coupons for your grocery shopping ventures. The two most popular ways include the Sunday newspaper and printing them online. There are stores that also have shopper cards that can help you save as well. Again, each grocery store is different. It's important that you at least attempt to get a Sunday paper each week so that you can have a fresh supply. If you don't have the paper, keep in mind that you can buy coupons online.
Start with Resources
When you're ready to shop, there are many great websites online that can help you save money. These resources include CouponMom and AFullCup. What they will do is take all the sale items for the week and match up coupons. So let's say that a box of crackers is on sale for $2. That $2 box of crackers has a coupon in the paper for $1 off. This means that you can get the box for $1. These sites will list all of these deals for you.
Making the List
After finding all the sale items and matching them up, it's important to make a list. What you're going to find is a lot of things that you want. If it's something that you can stock up on such as deodorant, soaps or paper towel, you may want to buy 10 to 20 at a time. Remember, only do this if you're going to use it and if you have the adequate storage. You don't want to become a hoarder.
While this is the beginning of your extreme coupon experience, keep in mind that it's going to take some time. By taking these baby steps noted above, you can be saving hundreds on your trip each time you head to your local store.

This article was written by ezCater.com. Save on Portland catering and many other locations nationwide with ezCater.com.

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What You'll Need In Order To Get A Business Loan

So, you have this brilliant idea for a new business, and you are chomping at the bit to get started.  You have your website, your business cards, a small home office, and your two week’s notice letter ready to hand over to your boss, but you have just one small problem: you don’t have the money to get your business started.  You know that you need a loan of sorts, but how can a small business owner actually get a business loan.  Well, here a few things most lending institutions are going to want before considering you for a loan:

Prior Year’s Tax Returns

If you are a new business owner, it is going to be very difficult to get a loan against your business because it has no financial history, so, if this is your situation, then you will want to get the loan against your personal profile.  The bank or other financial institution will probably ask for the last two to three years of your tax returns, so make sure that you have those handy and organized.

Check Your Credit Report

Know what your credit score is, and get a copy of your recent credit report.  Make sure that everything is accurate.  If you’ve closed or paid off accounts in the past, but it is not updated on your credit report, make sure that you contact the creditor to get that resolved.  You want to make sure that your credit history is as clean as possible and that your credit score is as high as possible before applying for a loan.

Give a Clear Idea of Why You Need the Money

Obviously, you need to have an idea of why you need x amount of money, and the lending institution is of course going to want to know why as well.  Make sure you have a clear answer.  It would also be helpful to have a business plan prepared in case they ask for you.

For Existing Business Owners

If you have owned a business, then you may be able to get a loan against your business.  In this case, the procedure is roughly the same, but if your business has its own credit history, like with a corporation, then you can borrow against that instead of your own personal credit history.  Typically banks and other lending institutions will lend you 10%-20% of your gross annual income which could certainly help to grow your business.

Brandon Jones enjoys covering small business help topics.

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Why You Should Sell Real Estate in Texas

So, there are you sitting at your desk worried about being fired, or at the very least, having to endure another pay cut.  The feeling comes over you to consider other career options but because the economy is in the toilet at jobs are much scarcer, you come to the realization that this is just your lot in life.  Then, all of sudden, it hits you, “I could move to Texas and become a realtor!”  Suddenly your life has new meaning, and you live happily ever after.

If you are someone who is in need of a change, you really need to look at selling real estate in Texas.  You may have never been self-employed before, but do not let that stop you.  There is one main reason why selling real estate is hot in Texas right now, and that is because people are moving to Texas in droves.  There are a number of reasons for this, and here are a few:

The Cost of Living is Much Much Cheaper

The main thing that is cheaper in Texas is the cost of real estate.  No matter where you live in the country, for the most part anyway, you can probably find cheaper real estate in Texas.  In fact, I know of at least one family, who sold their home in another state and bought two homes in Texas for the same price!  This is the main reason many people are moving to Texas

You Don’t Pay Any State Income Tax

That is correct.  Texas does not have any state income tax.  So, look at your most recent pay stub and see how much is taken out of your paycheck.  You can now consider that amount as savings when you move to Texas.

The Weather Is Nice

Now, I’ll admit that Texas does not have optimal weather like Hawaii or California, but you don’t have to deal with snow or ice (usually).  For some people that is good enough to move.

So, that you have a few reasons why so many people are moving to Texas and buying homes, I hope that you can begin to see the need for more realtors.  The great thing is, if you decide to pursue real estate in Texas, is that you do not have to be in Texas to actually get licensed.  You can actually take the courses and get licensed in Texas right from your home computer.  Just do a search.  There are a number of sites that offer these courses.

Brandon Jones enjoys writing about real estate courses.

Photo By Bob.Rosenberg on Flickr License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

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Babies on a Budget: How to Make Having a Baby Affordable

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), roughly one out of every three pregnancies are unintentional. That's a lot of babies that haven't been prepared for financially. Just because a pregnancy is unplanned, that doesn't mean it's unwelcome. Having a new baby is one of the most exhilarating events in a person's life. Unfortunately, it's easy to be swept up in the excitement and then make some unwise financial choices.
Instead of allowing yourself to splurge on unnecessary purchases for your infant, take the time to think critically about the things you buy and use the money that you save to start a college fund or pay for things that your child will really appreciate later in life.
The Cost of a New Baby
Babies are undeniably expensive. From doctor's visits before and after birth to regular expenses like diapers, formula, toys and clothes, new parents have a lot to budget for. Nevertheless, a survey by the Associated Press suggests that new parents go overboard by spending over $7,000 on supplies like cribs, clothes, nursery room decor and other items.
It doesn't make much sense to pay an exorbitant amount for most top-tier baby items. Infants grow quickly, and soon all of the money you spend on car seats, strollers, cribs and clothes will be wasted when you have to buy larger replacements. The infant certainly won't notice or care if you furnish the nursery in pre-owned furniture, and the money that you save now can go toward longer-lasting and more meaningful investments.
Ways to Trim a Nursery Budget
Setting up your baby's new room should be a joyful experience, but it doesn't have to be costly. Here are a few tips for setting up a room on a budget:

• Buy used items from Craigslist and thrift stores
• See if friends, family and coworkers have hand-me-downs you can have, borrow or buy from them
• Be specific when asking for shower gifts so that you get the things you need rather than having guests come up with their own ideas
• Whenever possible, get furniture that can be used for a long time, like a crib that converts into a bed
• Consider using cloth diapers instead of disposable ones; they're better for the environment and much more economical
• Don't go overboard buying toys; newborns won't care for them and even older infants and toddlers will be easily satisfied with simple things

By shopping creatively, you can reduce your costs and still get everything that you need. You might be surprised at how many items you can get as donations from friends and coworkers once they realize that you need things, and used baby items are often in excellent condition because they've only been used for a few months.
Of course, it's smart to focus on top quality for certain things. For safety reasons, it's a good idea to buy new car seats. You may also want to purchase new breast pumps, diapers, bedding and mattresses if you're concerned about hygiene issues. Otherwise, however, buying second-hand should be perfectly safe and affordable, and you can use the money you save for other expenses down the line.

Citations:

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One way to protect your hard-earned dollars is to do a background check on a childcare provider before you hire. Check on your potential sitter at NannyBackgroundCheck.com.

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4 Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store

Shopping at the grocery store can be a long, tedious process. Not only that, but it can be very costly. Many people walk into grocery stores only wanting to buy one thing, then, they end up buying a dozen or so items. Grocery store companies know this and design their stores to entice people to spend more money. But, with the right tools and mindset, you can save a lot of money at the grocery store. Here are four basic tips to get started at saving money in the grocery store.

1- Buying in bulk can save a lot of money. Many people year in and year out buy a lot of the same staples at the store. Whether it be toilet paper, toothpaste, or their favorite canned foods. When these items go on sale, it would be a great idea to stock up on them. Of course, items that will not go bad. Any canned food or toiletry would be fine. This could yield substantial savings, and make it easier on subsequent trips if you have a lot of the staples already.

2- Using coupons may see obvious. But, they can offer substantial savings on items you are already going to buy. Many grocery stores double or even triple coupons up to a certain amount. If you have multiple grocery stores and get coupons. You can really maximize your savings, and even get stuff for free during some promotions.

3- Avoid the middle of the store. Most of the important items are around the edges and in the front and back. The pre-packaged foods are in the middle usually. Prepared meals are more expensive, and less healthy. If you go around the edges, you will find all of the healthy, and necessary foods. Such as meats, and vegetables and fruits. This will help in avoiding buying things you do not need.

4- Have a list. If you can walk into the grocery store with a purpose, and know what you are buying, you are way ahead of the game. Planning meals, then planning your shopping list will save a lot. Just about everyone in the store buys more than they intend. By having a list, you will not do this, thus saving a lot of money in the process.

There are many other ways to save money in the grocery store, but if you follow these basic tips you are well on your way to saving money at the grocery store. While also saving time.

This post was contributed by ezCater.com. Find and order Portland catering or choose from thousands of other caterers nationwide and save with ezCater.com.

Photo By redjar License By  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

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