Category: Financial Literacy and Money

Taking The Best Care Of Your Finances During A Bad Financial Patch

A key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money. Everyone will fall upon some financial hard times. The key is navigating that rough patch and coming out healthy on the back end whether that be saving money or finding another job. The following contributed post is entitled, Taking The Best Care Of Your Finances During A Bad Financial Patch.

* * *

Photo: Unsplash

Managing finances is often a difficult task. Even more so during these turbulent times of Covid-19. One of the worst situations that causes economic crises is unemployment and the current case is no exception. Crises do not warn and often catch people off guard and without a plan of action. Hence the importance of having, among other things, an emergency fund and a plan to reduce some non-essential expenses. However, Covid-19 among all the bad has left us many lessons for humanity, and has made us realize that no one is guaranteed anything. While we can’t control losing our jobs, we can control our financial situation in that scenario. In this article we will give you some recommendations to take care of your money if you are going through a bad financial patch.

1. Make a survival budget

First of all, if your income has decreased or stopped, you must immediately reduce the expenses that are not essential. Keep those that are essential for your day to day. This budget should not be a regular budget, like the one you used to do when you had a fixed income, where an impulsive purchase was possible. Now, it is crucial to think only about what is essential to live as food and shelter. You can also reduce some services such as cable or the gym and look for low-cost fun alternatives such as free events on social networks. This budget should last you for at least three months. This will give you enough time to steady yourself and get things back on track.

2. Be aware of what is coming in and going out

Oftentimes we have credit card repayments, other bills and utilities and may not be fully aware of what they all are. We may have signed up to a subscription years ago and we are still paying the monthly fees for it. Go through everything with a fine tooth comb. This is vital for finances. You may see something on your statement such as Best uber technologies and want to double check what this is. Each item can be broken down so you are on top of your outgoings.

3. Actively seek sources of income

Looking for a job is a full-time job and requires a lot of discipline. Remember that doesn’t mean you have to spend all day sending your CV everywhere. You can opt for alternative jobs while you find the opportunity you’re waiting for. For example, offer your services as a freelancer. Do consultancies or if you have the possibility, undertake. In addition, you can take advantage of the “free” time studying, developing your skills or doing activities that help you enhance your resume in the meantime.

4. Your assets can help you

If the situation gets complicated and debts increase, one option may be to liquidate some of your assets to get the cash you need to cope with the crisis. You can consider non-essential goods that allow you a respite for the time being. Rest assured, when you are in a better situation you will be able to recover them.

5. Claim what’s yours

Finally, this might be the time for you to seek what you’re owed. It might be the case that you’re entitled to workers compensation from a previous employer. If you have been in a position where you feel that’s the case, you should claim what’s yours. This could really help you out of the stressful situation that you’re in right now.

Get “Reel!” How Fishing Can Really Improve Your Life

Two focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. Fishing is underrated sport many people have no knowledge of. It can fuel the competitive spirit and provide therapeutic benefits as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Get “Reel!” How Fishing Can Really Improve Your Life.

* * *

Pixabay – CC0 License

It’s one of those pastimes that is tranquil and challenging in equal measure. Fishing is good for you in so many ways. Let’s show you some of the benefits of fishing, and why you should start bringing this very simple thing into your life.

It Improves Your Concentration

There’s a lot at stake when you go fishing. You start to take notice of the environment; you need to make sure that you are in the right spots to get a catch, but also, you start to think in a more lateral sense. You are trying to ensnare a fish using a multitude of gadgets, not just rods and bait, but fish lights, dock lights, lures, bobbers, sinkers, and the list goes on! When you invest in the various tools it takes to trap a fish, it forces you to start thinking differently. And in a very basic sense, when you spend time in nature, it’s going to make changes to your brain and improve your levels of concentration. Who would have thought that fishing can make you cleverer?

It Keeps You Fit

We think of fishing as this solitary, yet lazy pursuit. However, it is one of the great ways to give your muscle groups a workout. You could make things a bit more challenging for yourself by choosing a fishing spot that is far away from the car, which gives you an aerobic boost but also the tasks of setting up the gear, casting off, and winding in fish require you to strengthen up. And this is just for the smaller fish. If you are trying to reel in a pike or a carp, you’ve really got to engage your back, arms, legs, and core or you won’t get anything! If you are someone who doesn’t really like hitting the gym, just go fishing every day, because it’s a fantastic way to strengthen that mind-muscle connection, developing strength that everybody has within them. While it won’t give you definition on your muscles, that’s something that you can fix later on, you’ve got to have the strength first if you really want to get fit, so get fishing!

It Teaches You New Knowledge and Skills

Fishing and activities on the water can consistently widen your knowledge and improve your skills in various areas. You’re going to have to learn a lot to maintain a boat, sail it out onto the water and to actually catch a fish. From understanding ultrasonic antifouling to which bait is best, this is going to be one big and exciting learning curve. It will prove greatly rewarding in the end.

It Improves Your Self-Esteem


Probably the most important reason we should all go fishing is about setting up goals in life. Fishing is the very essence of setting yourself a challenge and meeting the demands. When you achieve those goals, you are going to improve your self-esteem. Because it’s a wonderful skill that you learn and improve on, combined with solitary practice, it helps you to work through certain emotional problems in your life. And when you spend time with someone you love quietly on the water, it becomes a shared experience that promotes feelings of well-being and security.

Your mind is as important to your health as your body, and if you are looking for some form of pastime that is away from the gym, gives you challenges, mentally and physically, fishing is undoubtedly one of the best out there. It’s not just for people on approach to retirement! If you find yourself struggling with the modern world, unplug, suit up and get reeling!

7 Creative Ways To Get Your Business Noticed In 2021

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When running a business, one of your goals is to get your business noticed and to keep it noticed. The following contributed, 7 Creative Ways To Get Your Business Noticed In 2021.

* * *

No matter what business you are in, there are always bad days. Such a time is the perfect opportunity to review your strategies, and what better way than marketing. Regardless of the size, making your business get noticed is essential for its success. It makes people find and hire you. However, the current business environment is very competitive. So, how can you get your business noticed in 2021? Let’s dig in.

Pixabay – CC0 License

Be Unique

If all businesses are going right, turn left. It is always advisable to find a unique niche and avoid copying what every person does. Being different is already a value proposition that every client would love. The best way to be different is by figuring out what other businesses are not providing. For instance, you can do your research to determine what customers want but missing in the market.

Start a Challenge

Do you know of a better way to interact with potential customers than to create an online challenge? You should consider a web challenge that gets people closer to your brand. The best way to do this is by finding out what customers love and using it for a challenge. For instance, if customers like a specific product, create some online quiz about that product and reward customers that get the questions right.

Create Social Media Profiles

Social media campaigns are an excellent marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes. However, you should ensure that you connect with potential customers the right way without bothering them with too many ads. You should also consider outsourcing services to experts like Unruly Agency to help you manage your social media campaigns with greater success.

Create a Newsletter

Publishing newsletters regularly is a great way to connect with customers. With their permission, you can constantly update your clients about new products and services. This is an excellent way to keep the business on customers’ radar.

Use Email Signature

Creating content that links to your web helps you drive traffic to your business. However, you can also add a signature to all your social media posts and emails. This allows customers to notice your company logo and business. This is an opportunity to remind potential customers what your brand is about.

Sponsor a Community Event

The easiest way to get your business noticed is by getting involved in community projects. Social work offers an opportunity to raise your profile and brand name.

You should consider sponsoring a sports tournament every year or a fundraiser to help develop the community. For instance, using a tournament to raise money for a community hospital makes you a darling in society. Customers are nowadays more aware of socially responsible brands than ever.

Create a Network

Partnering with other businesses can be the perfect way to promote your business. Networking helps you establish connections that raise your company profile in the market. Partnerships will also help you share your posts and links to your website using other businesses.

There are many ways of promoting your business regardless of its size. Implementing these tips will help your business get noticed and attract new clients. Additionally, you may need to invest in other marketing methods for better results.

3 Effective Ways To Encourage Customer Loyalty

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. No matter what you business is, you want to maximize your customer retention. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Effective Ways To Encourage Customer Loyalty.

* * *

Image Credit: Free-Photos from Pixabay.

The goal of any business is to sell products and make money. Traditionally, that’s been done by selling to anybody willing to buy your products. Over the past few years, however, the concept of customer loyalty has become increasingly prominent.

That’s because focusing on it can reap quite a few benefits, notably increased business from repeat customers. As a result, an increasing number of companies have been focusing on it. Other firms are still on the fence, though, and aren’t completely convinced about it.

Should it be something you focus on and, how can you actually increase customer loyalty?

Why Is Customer Loyalty Important?

Customer loyalty improves the chances of customers coming back to your business. As a result, it could mean repeat sales over time as customers begin seeing you as a preferred brand. With that, you will generate more sales and make more profit over time.

How To Build Customer Loyalty

Have Loyalty & Referral Programs

As the name would suggest, customer loyalty programs are an effective way of encouraging repeat business. That’s also the case with referral programs, which can help build trust with your potential customers. There are quite a few customer loyalty solutions that you can use to that end.

These typically have a few terms and conditions attached. For example, customers might have to buy X number of products per month to qualify for a small prize. For the customer, they’ll be getting a surprise, while your company gets that increased spending.

Through this, your customers will also repeatedly come back as a force of habit. That will continue to encourage brand loyalty over time.

Play To Your Values

Customers gravitate to brands whose values reflect their own. That also means focusing on what makes your company stand out amongst its competitors. What makes it different, and why should potential customers pick it?

Play up these strengths while working on any weaknesses, and customers will start to see you as reliable and trustworthy. Over time, this opinion of your business will become increasingly more positive, especially if you keep to your word.

In turn, that means giving customers a positive experience each time they interact with your brand. That will then help convince customers to keep coming back.

Encourage Feedback

Your customers want to feel value. One of the easiest and most effective ways of doing this is by asking for their feedback. By listening to them and acting on their opinions, you show them that you care about them. There are a few ways that you can do this.

On your product’s packaging and website, for instance, you can provide directions on how customers can contact you. Explicitly ask them for their opinion. While not every customer will take you up on the offer, enough of them should so that you can find actionable improvements to your brand.

The practice also means that you can find areas of improvement that you might not have thought of before. It allows you to adapt to your customers’ needs.

By implementing the above, your company will be well on its way to developing a loyal and active customer base. The profits that this can generate will make the efforts well worth your while.

5 Unique Outdoor Ideas That Improve Your Property’s Value

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. There are many aspects to properties. Some of them are outdoor while others are indoor. It turns out that there are numerous things you can do to the outside of your property to raise its total value. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Unique Outdoor Ideas That Improve Your Property’s Value.

* * *

Image Credit: Pexels

Even the best-looking homes have room for improvement. With the real estate market on a forward gear, the value of a property can change in the blink of an eye. Your home price one year ago can be significantly higher or lower, depending on the steps you take to improve different quarters within the household.

If you want your property’s value to rank among the best in the market year after year, these four outdoor improvements should be a necessary investment.

Make Your Outdoor Fun and Functioning

Your outdoors should be enticing enough to capture people’s interest but functional such that external processes run smoothly.

To improve your home appeal and value takes more than planting flowers by the gate or nurturing a garden. Instead, consider making these minor adjustments to get the most of your land.

Erect a Storage Room

An outdoor storage space saves you from keeping outdoor equipment inside the house. It also improves your outdoor functions as you can easily trace back items to the room.

A storage facility such as a barn where you can keep your equipment is a worthy investment if you farm. You’ll, of course, have to get a pole barn contractor to do a survey and determine where the structure can fit.

Outdoor storage can also efficiently serve as an extra room when you have many guests in the home.

Invest in Quality Furniture

If you have a small outdoor space, you may not be able to do significant construction. However, you can make simple renovations like adding quality outdoor furniture to illuminate the area.

Outdoor furnishing goes beyond having a built-in bench in your backyard, as it also includes having multifunctional pieces that serve multiple roles for space management.

Maintain the Landscape

Whether you have a large, average, or small outdoor area, landscaping techniques can help improve its image and value.

By doing simple tasks such as mowing the lawn, pruning the overgrown plants, and planting different trees, you drastically improve your property’s value as many homeowners ignore this part of the house.

If you have a garden, look for species that can survive within the existing environmental conditions to avoid having dead plants all over.

Ensure there’s sufficient lighting, especially at night, as a well-lit landscape looks more beautiful, and it also reinforces the home’s security.

Take Good Care of the Driveway

Regardless of how small the traffic your driveway gets, it may develop dirt from falling leaves or tire marks left over time. This is why it is essential to clean your driveway at least once every week and do a routine check for potholes that may develop on the surface.

Fix the Broken Pieces

Exposure to the environment can cause wear and tear to some of your outdoor features. You can have broken windows, a hole on the fence, or dull paint.
You must identify such weaknesses on your terrain and know whether you can fix the problem yourself or ask for professional help.

Conclusion

The fate of your property’s value rests as much on the exterior as it does on the interior. It would be best to focus on improving the outdoor space for your home to have the right appeal and command the highest value before moving to the interior spaces.

The Lesser Discussed Areas Of Health You Need To Think About

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. There are parts of our health that we all think about but there are others that are neglected. The following contributed post is entitled, The Lesser Discussed Areas Of Health You Need To Think About.

* * *

There are the things that we always talk about when it comes to health, and then there are the things that we don’t talk about so much. It’s essential that you have a good understanding of all areas of your health, rather than just the general ones that you hear about every day. That’s why we have written this article, so down below you are going to find the information that you need. Keep reading to find out!

Joints

Image Location – CC0 Licence

The first thing that we are going to look at are your joints. You might not think that the health of your joints is important, but we can promise you that it is. Your joints are one of the things that allow you to move so easily, and if these are not working properly, trust us when we say that you are going to know about it. You will often hear people say things like ‘I can feel that in my joints’ or ‘I think my joints need oiling’ and that is because they aren’t working exactly like they should. If you experience any kind of prolonged pain in your joints, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

Mouth

Your mouth is important. People see it every single day, you use it every single day and it is an essential part of your health. However, people are scared of the dentist, and it’s for this reason that a lot of oral health suffers. Not everyone is scared of course, but there is quite a large percentage of people that are. These people often avoid going to seek help even if they are in pain because they don’t want someone poking around in their mouth. However, if you don’t get help, the problem is only going to get worse and you will end up seeing a dentist anyway.

If you want to prevent things from happening to your mouth, make sure that you are brushing twice per day, flossing where you can, and avoid any kind of dental trauma if possible.

Mental

Source Image – CC0 Licence

The final part of health that we want to talk about might be a little more talked about, but still isn’t widely accepted. Mental health is something that a lot of people struggle with, and it needs to be discussed. If you think that your mental health is declining, you need to know that there are people that you can turn to. But, you need to first recognize the signs that things are starting to slip, and address them. Once you understand the signs, it becomes far easier to avoid certain aspects.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and that you now understand a little more about some of the lesser discussed areas of your health. In order to take control of your health, you need to make sure that you understand as much as possible about all of the different parts that make up your health. We wish you the very best of luck!

Cheap Ways To Market Your Company Right Now

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One the most important aspects of your business is its marketing. The following contributed post is entitled, Cheap Ways To Market Your Company Right Now.

* * *

Pexels – CCO Licence

Marketing is something that is vital to your business. It allows people to see your brand, to see what you can offer, and know who you are. However, marketing can be expensive, and when you want to try and bring money in, you may be worried about how much you spend out.

The good news is that marketing your company doesn’t have to be that expensive; in fact, there are many ways that you can do marketing not only work for you but be as cheap as possible.

Make the most of SEO

SEO or search engine optimization is something that you will hear about as a business owner, it may seem like it is too good to be accurate, but we can promise you that it really does work. SEO allows you to look at the content you create for your company (across all platforms) and ensure that it is targeted to bring the most people in as possible and get your name out there to as many people as possible. Not only is it incredibly effective, but it is relatively low cost too and can really be a sound investment to make.

Sponsor a local sports team

Are you a fan of your local sports team? This could be football, baseball, or basketball. The choice is yours. The main thing is that you are sponsoring them by paying for a custom rugby kit or something else that you can put your logo on, for example; that you are showing that you support them and that you want them to achieve their goals. The bonus is that because your company name will be on their kit and on their signs around where they play, you will be getting constant promotion around your local area, which is excellent news for you.

Pexels – CCO Licence

Master social media

You should never overlook social media if you want to get ahead with your business. It is easy to use, it is fast to get to grips with, and it is also incredibly, incredibly effective too. Especially if you are able to create posts and content that is shareable. That other people who may already be a part of your network, want to share on to their network. Best of all, if you use it in its most basic way, it can also be cheap to use too, even free, which means that you will be saving yourself a considerable amount of money, without worrying about it not giving you any return.

Use email

Email marketing is another form of marketing often overlooked and seen as a low-yield option. However, there is a reason that email marketing has been around for some time. It is not only simple to use, but it is also effective. Your message, whatever that is, goes directly into the inbox of your audience, crying out for them to read it, which means that you are increasing your chances of being seen and getting what you want to say out there.

Hopefully, we have inspired you to find cost-effective ways to market your company. To bring in those all-important clients and to ensure that you are a success, all whilst not having to invest too much money in the first place.

How To Keep Your Big Business Successful For Years To Come

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’ve started a successful business, you will eventually want to consider how to keep it successful for years down the road. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Keep Your Big Business Successful For Years To Come.

* * *

If you have faced moments of doubt regarding your big business, then you have to remember that you are not alone with this. So many people are in the same situation as you are in, right now. Unfortunately, as your business gets bigger, so does your risk. If you want to make sure that you don’t end up falling behind, then this guide will help you to find out everything you need to know.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Keep your Big Vision in Sight

A big vision will certainly take you far. It may not always be the course that you imagined originally, but your vision will be your north star. It will help you to navigate your way through the toughest of times and it will also give you the motivation to carry on when you truly need it. Your vision will be the foundation of your business and it will also be your compass when it comes to making decisions.

Fuel your Vision

With your vision, you also need to make sure that you have perseverance. You need to keep on moving forward and you also need to make sure that you use your wisdom to your advantage. Sometimes, as an entrepreneur, things get challenging. With that in mind, you have to challenge yourself to move forward, regardless of the fear or the discomfort that you feel.

Invest in your Company

One mistake that a lot of big business owners make is that they stop investing in their company. If you want to make sure that you do not end up making this mistake then you have to make sure that you are willing to continually fuel what you have worked for. If you have a parking lot, invest in parking lot maintenance or if you work in the tech sector, make sure that you are continually investing in the latest upgrades on the market. If you can do this then you will soon find that things become easier for you. Small business owners often inject a lot of cash into their idea, but when you hit the big leagues, you may find that this stops, because you are bringing in enough profit and you no longer need to. With this in mind, it’s vital that you don’t let this get in your way.

Don’t Overlook your Finances

Another thing that you have to do is make sure that your finances do not fall to the wayside. You have to ensure you do what you can to make sure that you are monitoring the money you have coming in and you also need to make sure that you are not overspending if possible. If you do overspend then you may not notice it right away, but eventually, it will catch up with you and this can put you in an incredibly bad situation. If you want to get around this, then you need to hire a good accountant, as well as monitoring your sales as much as you would if you owned a start-up. Only then can you guarantee success for your future.

How To Create A Business Plan

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the traditional components to starting a business is creating a formal business plan. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Create A Business Plan.

* * *

If you want to start a business (or even if you already have, but you’re a little lost and don’t know what to do next), writing a business plan is something you will definitely need to do. A business plan will assist your business ambitions in a plethora of ways that range from securing the investment and funding you need to begin (or grow) to finding partners to work with to simply knowing what business decisions to make and when.

Yet despite how crucially important a business plan is, it’s not something that everyone does before they launch their company. This is likely to be because the very idea of writing a business plan is off-putting; it’s hard to know where to begin, and it’s easier to simply make a start and see what happens. However, it is always better to spend the time you need creating a business plan; it could be the difference between success and failure. Read on to find out how to get started and what you should be thinking about.

Image from Pixabay

Tailor It To Your Audience

Whatever the reason for writing a business plan might be, you must ensure that it is tailored to your audience. Think about who will be reading the plan and why they will be reading it. When you understand this, you can ensure that the plan meets their needs as well as your own. A business plan to attract an investor might be different from what a potential business partner wants to see. The information within each will be the same, however, each plan will have something different highlighted as being the most important aspect, the thing you want the reader to see first.

Be Realistic

There is no point in writing a business plan that is full of lofty ideals and huge figures that you’re not going to reach – at least not yet. Think instead about what you intend to achieve over the next 12 months. When you do this, you will still have plenty of goals to reach, but they are much more likely to be realistic ones. Not only will anyone reading through your business plan have more confidence that you can do what you set out to do, but you will be able to follow the plan more closely and ensure that you do reach the goals you have set for yourself.

You will also need to ensure you include all the details about what you want to spend any funding on. Again, this will help lenders make a decision, and it will show you what is most important in your own mind. It could be that payroll outsourcing is something you’re very keen to pay for right away, in which case that needs to be stated in the plan.

Do Your Research

When you write a business plan, you need to find out as much about the marketing you are working in as possible. That includes knowing your competitors, who your target audience is, what kind of marketing attracts the most customers, what price point is sensible when it comes to your goods and services, and even what obstacles you might come up against when you head toward your goals.

Understanding the different strengths and weaknesses of the business you’re building and including them in your business plan shows that you have thoroughly understood not just what you are doing, but how to become better.

Four Things You Need At Your Next Trade Show

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending on the industry that you are in, trade shows can be critical events to make positive impressions at. The following contributed post is entitled, Four Things You Need At Your Next Trade Show.

* * *

There is so much that you have to get organized if you’re planning to be a part of your industry trade show this year. It’s a big job to prepare for a show because your business is going to be showcased in front of industry experts and others interested in what you have to offer, so you have to be on your A-game to show off in the right way. From the best trade show materials to show off your booth, to the funky lighting and stand-out decor, your booth has to be the best to capture the right people.

What is your aim for your booth this year? Are you looking to gain new customers? Are you hoping to gather information and email addresses from the people who stop by? No matter what it is that you are looking to achieve, you need to do all that you can to attract new people to your booth and get them interested in what you have to offer. So, with this in mind, here are four things that you need to have at your next tradeshow, so that you can get it right!

Image Source: Pexels

● You Need Banners. Even when you have the best sound system and the smartest light show powered by an app, you need to call the experts to help with your fabric graphic installation system. Yes, you need banners. People are attracted to large, colorful signage and fabric banners are the perfect addition to the booth to get the job done. They’re big enough for people to see across the exhibition floor, and they’re going to encourage a flock of potential customers.
● Pamphlets, Leaflets, Booklets – Oh My! While you may not be a fan of paperwork, pamphlets that you hand out will end up at the bottom of bags and in pockets. While this could sound like a waste, you have to consider the possibility that someone who shoved away a pamphlet will likely find it in a few days and remember that your business was exactly what they needed!
● Printed Business Cards. It’s nice to get people to sign up to a mailing list to allow you to send out digital business cards, but it won’t get you far if people have you on their junk mail list. Business cards still have a place in the world today and you can ensure that you are able to advertise your business to anyone who wants to know about it. A full box of cards should be brought along to any trade show and you can then give one away to every single person you meet. Pair it with a chocolate bar or a cookie to make it irresistible to take one!
● Product Information. Is there any point in being a part of a trade show if you’re not going to show off what your products can do? Whether you choose to give demonstrations or not, you need to give people product information and show off what you have to offer.