Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Avoid wasting precious time

That's time where you're not earning anything, which for many professionals is sadly wasted time. While leisure is fantastic, and online is a great place to find it, it'd be even greater to know that you could enjoy yourself online and also make a great online income.

We all want more money and more peace of mind in our lives, especially given all the uncertainties in the world today. The more chaotic the environment, the more we naturally want security and peace. We can have this and more. However, it means giving up old familiar ways of how we think about security. Letting go of what we know can be a tall order for some of us; even if it is the key to getting what we want.

If a prospect has remodeled before, was it a pleasant or unpleasant experience? If they claim that everything went well, ask why they're not using the same company again. If the experience was awful, find out what went wrong so that you can explain how you'll make sure the same things don't happen this time. This could be an important selling point

The last several months have been a chaotic time economically. Chaos can bring with it new understanding and awareness, though. It has been a time to weigh decisions about money more deeply. We have all been directly impacted on some level by the current economic situation whether it is from increased prices at the grocery store, a drop in our 401Ks or having to make different choices about what we purchase and when.


No matter how we look at it, the current economic climate has raised our consciousness about money, how we spend it and our relationship with it. Some of us are tightening our belts while others are jumping in on the bargains to be had in real estate and the stock market. An optimist will see the current “crisis” as an opportunity; a pessimist will see it as a bleak and dreary time.


If I said that there is an abundance of all we need right now, many people would probably think I was living in a different country. However, there really is an abundance of all we need; it’s a universal truth. It is just a matter of changing perspectives. Generally, we tend to view abundance and prosperity in terms of quantity not quality. We have been conditioned to believe that the more we have or own the more abundant and prosperous we are.


Prosperity and abundance are not about having more money or things. Prosperity and abundance are a way of being, a consciousness and a connection to the wholeness of creation. We all have the potential for prosperity and abundance in our lives; it is the natural order.


When we think in terms of quantity—more of something—it can set us up to come from a place of lack, a belief that we don’t have enough. When we feel that we don’t have enough, we will cling to whatever it is we think we don’t have enough of because it gives us a sense of security. However, the act of clinging creates a false sense of security and works to block the natural flow. The only way out of lack thinking is to let go of old ideas that no longer serve us, let go of clinging.

Friday, November 6, 2009

How to Save Money on Food!

Thinking of cutting down your expenses on food? Then you should read the
following tips. They will surely help you on reducing your food expenses. They are by no means comprehensive but they will be very useful.

For coffee drinkers

It is a good idea to re-use the grounded coffee once. Using coffee grounds two times or more will not greatly affect the taste of the coffee. It is highly encouraged to do this using a filter that is permanent and avoid the paper variety. Keep the grounds refrigerated until using it the following day.

For bread lovers

Grocery stores sell bread that was made the day before at a much lower price. There is nothing wrong with eating bread that was made the day before since it still is good to eat. If you have a lot of space in your refrigerator, store a lot for bigger savings. If you will eat the bread, you can defrost it using your microwave oven. Re-heat it every 30 seconds to prevent the edges of the bread from getting too hard.

When buying from the grocery

Before going to the grocery, you should have already made a list of all the things that you really need. Prioritize basic goods and avoid buying things that you do not really need. Observe the prices indicated on the displays. Remember, branded products cost considerably more than store brands. It is also a good idea to keep the receipt of your previous trip to the grocery and make it as a basis for your purchases on your next trip. To have higher savings, buy more of the product. You can always store it in your refrigerator or in the house to minimize your trips to the grocery store.

When eating outside

If you are going to eat in a pricey restaurant, the best time for you to go there would be during lunch. Food during lunch usually costs less and this will be to your advantage. When staying at the hotel on your trips, it is a good idea to check if they also include breakfast in your total room charge. You should also find out where the locals eat. Chances are, they will eat where the food is great and the price is even better. When going around, carry with you some snacks. A chocolate bar, chips, and cookies will go a long way while strolling around.

Eating cheaply does not necessarily mean eating bad food. Look around and you will be suprised at the options you can choose from. Take time and consider your choices so that you will not only eat a lot but save some money also.

Save Time and Money and Gain Time for yourself

Some Tips to Save Time and Money and Gain Time for yourself

Recently there was a TV commercial about a mom and dad ready to leave the house on a cold wintry day to go out and shop for a new used car. Their young son with a laptop computer in hand came running out from the living room and intercepted his parents before they could reach the front door. He reminded them that they didn't have to go out and drive around looking at a lot of cars at different dealerships when they could do it in the warmth and comfort of their own home on the computer.
We all lead very busy lives these days. Time is a very precious commodity for most of us. There never seems to be enough hours in a day, days in a week to get things done. Whether it is work, play or doing household chores, or whatever is on our list of things to do. If something isn't completed one day, then it gets shoved off on tomorrow's list of things to do. As new issues arise, more projects are created, our lives becomes a lost world overwhelmed by uncompleted tasks.
I think the TV commercial makes a good point about how we choose to accomplish the daily tasks that are on our to-do lists. If we stop and think about different ways we can get things accomplished, then maybe we can make better use of our time. So their son really did offer his parents a choice in their task of looking for a new used car. Granted that this may have been their own "free" time together to go look for a car; my guess would be that it would have been a very miserable and frustrating experience for them with the weather being what it was. Everyone knows that car shopping is a pain in the rear seat in itself, and it takes up a lot of your precious time....even if you find 'the right car'. Then as the host of "Deal Or No Deal" might have to pop the question: "Let's see what kind of deal you got?"
So time is money. Your time is precious. How much time did you spend the last time you went out shopping for a car...new or used? How much do you get paid per hour at work? Did you ever calculate the value of your time when it comes to doing chores or completing your to-do lists? Your time has a value. But finding the best buys with the hottest saving is the second valuable part of the equation.
Here's the basic general problem for most of us: we do things in a rush without much planning for the sake of time....to save our precious time. So whatever salary-dollar amount-we attach to our valued time; we end up significantly reducing it by making BAD DEALS.
So first one needs to set out with a plan. Seek out information for the best -buys shopping locally. I mean window shop locally for the best-buys on the web first. There are best buys from California to Florida on the web. For example some folks consider shopping for clothes a hobby, and they don't mind spending their precious time that way. On the web there is plenty of information on top-quality designer kidswear. These best-buys with the hottest savings of popular-styles kidswear can be conveniently found on the web for all ages, from infant to teenager. There are a number of websites where the prices are half-off compared to your local retail stores.
This is a great deal if you have twins or triplets, or a growing family with children that can pass these designer quality kids clothing that lasts from one child to the next, and still save lots of money. So here, you can save time and money with this one little action-plan. It's easy... you just click here for family kidswear bargains on your computer for all your best-buy-bargains, and Save, Save, Save.
Think about how much you just SAVED in both time and money:
&bull Half-off prices...saving over local retail prices
&bull no driving around looking for a parking space
&bull no long lines at the check out counter
&bull no weather to worry about
Think about your young son or daughter coming to you, and congratulating you shopping fast and buying smart with the best-buys with the coolest savings on their new popular-style top-quality designer kidswear.
This is just one example you can use to save time and money for your convenience. So you may not need to shop for a car, but most families need to buy clothes for their kids. So next time, sit down at your computer, and go to Google, Yahoo, or Altavista. Type in any of the following: "designer kidswear at half-off prices", "half off infant wear", "top-quality kidswear ", "bargain prices for family kidswear". You will truly be surprised that you can save time and money with everyday-shopping right from the comfort and convenience of your own home. And you made a GREAT DEAL! Can you believe it? You gained some time for yourself!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Some Tips to Save Time and Money in Your Small Business and At Home



These are difficult times and every small business (and large one) needs to find ways to save money and time without delivering less value to their customers. Service to customers must be maintained, and product or service value is the key to continued business. So what can you do?
Here are 20 tips that are proven time or money savers. Time is money so the two savings are combined here. Since many small businesses are operated out of home offices, these will also save money and/or time at home. Choose the ones that work for you and start saving now.


1. STOP BUYING “STUFF”: If you don’t need something, don’t buy it — no matter how great the deal is. There’s no right price for something you don’t really need. Learn the typical promotional cycles-clearance sales in January (before the retailers’ fiscal year end), for example. Buy office products when the ones you need are on sale-plan ahead. Buy non-perishable holiday supplies after the holiday, and save money next year.
2. DIY (Do It Yourself) INSTEAD OF HIRING SOMEONE: Do the simple jobs yourself instead of hiring it done. Janitorial services charge more if you have them empty wastebaskets and replace liners every day. Few people fill wastebaskets daily, some don’t in a week. Tell everyone where the dumpster is and have them plan to dump their trash while on another trip. Ditto for window washing. It’s nice to have clean windows, but staying in business is nicer.
3. SHOP FOR BEST BANKING DEALS: Switch bank accounts to the places where they offer free, unlimited check writing, no fees on accounts, etc. Shop around and see whose deal is best. If you plan to keep a healthy balance in any account, ask where it can be parked to earn interest and swept to the checking account when needed.
4. USE EMAIL TO AVOID PHONE TAG: Use email to set up phone calls and avoid frustrating phone tag. Tell the person what you want to talk about, and whether you need a decision from them, information, or just a discussion.
5. PHOTO DOCUMENT MISHAPS: Use the camera on your cell phone to document mishaps. Photos of the damage, an accident, the site where it happened, etc. can be invaluable if a dispute arises or an insurance claim needs to be filed.
6. USE EMAIL WISELY: Don’t argue on email. It is damaging, counterproductive and usually escalates an argument instead of resolving it. Meet face to face (first choice) or talk person to person on the phone. Assume that you can and will resolve the argument and say so-that alone goes a long way to resolving it. Don’t print emails unless you need a hard copy for some good reason – it just wastes paper, ink, time and money.
7. PRIVATE LABEL GOODS ARE GOOD BUYS: Buy private label goods where the store guarantees them or will replace them with brand names if you are dissatisfied. Kroger and OfficeMax both do this. Wal-Mart will match any competitor’s advertised deal-but bring the ad along. Compare prices and learn who has the best deals, on what.
8. SHOP (& NEGOTIATE) GAS PRICES: Pay attention to which service stations seem to always have the best gas prices and plan fill ups. If there is a loyalty program with a grocery store, wait to fill up until you can use a discount for more gallons of gas. Negotiate with your favorite gas station if you are a heavy user, or have a fleet of vehicles. Ask for a discount-they are often available. Use the right grade of gas for best mileage and don’t be a “lead foot,” it’s not a race.
9. COMBINE SAVINGS WITH GIFT CARDS: Take advantage of gift cards sold in stores with such programs (Giant Eagle is one such chain). You can buy a $1,000 worth of stuff at Home Depot with two $500 gift cards purchased at Giant Eagle and save a lot on future gas purchases at Giant Eagle.
10. PLAN AHEAD - AVOID WASTED TRAVEL TIME & FUEL: Plan trips, in fact, plan all activities, to avoid doubling back or traveling further than necessary. Think of making a loop, hitting all the stops and ending up where you want to be. Arrange the pickups/dropoffs in an order that takes you out & back in the loop, not in & out, back and forth. You’ll save time, fuel, wear & tear on vehicles-and money.
11. GROUP SIMILAR TASKS: Accumulate similar tasks and do them in a group. Often the “make ready time” is a sizable part of the job, so whether its paying bills, returning calls, mailings, filing or whatever-group the work then “knock it out.” Assembly lines in plants are efficient because they combine work in the best way.
12. MINIMIZE SMALL TALK – e.g., HOW’S THE WEATHER: Small talk is nice, but it wastes time. Discussing the weather is the most common time waster. If you need to bond with someone ask about family, fun or favorite sports team. Otherwise, get on with business. That includes Texts and Twitter Tweets, unless there is a valid reason for them.
13. USE MEETING AGENDAS & TIMES: Don’t hold a meeting without an agenda, a time frame, and a statement of what is to be accomplished (information exchange, decision, next steps by whom and when, etc.) Take notes and record who will do what by when — then follow up. It’s a powerful time saving habit.
14. USE FEWER WORDS – GET TO THE POINT: Don’t write long letters or emails if short ones will do. Ditto voicemails. What’s the subject, what do you need (info, help, meet, etc.), when can you be reached with a call-back?
15. DON’T REPLY TO ALL: Don’t use the “reply to all” function. It just makes more emails for everyone else to read, wasting time. Occasionally an embarrassing email goes to someone who shouldn’t get it — and that can cause big trouble.
16. CONSOLIDATE INTO A SMART PHONE: Electronically consolidate all of your calendar, contact information, etc. on a “smart phone” which is backed up to your computer (in case of loss or damage). Preferably choose a smart phone will also do email, text messaging and have web access; most can also serve as a calculator, camera and alarm clock … and more. Print out your calendar and address book once in a while, and put it in a safe place — just in case.
17. SAVE ELECTRICITY: Turn off lights when no one’s around. (It doesn’t cost more to turn lights on and off. It costs more to leave them on). Turn off copiers; unplug chargers, shut down computers over night. All use electricity even when idle. Use compact fluorescent bulbs or the new LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs — they use less electricity and pay off in savings over a few years. Use timers (or motion sensor) to turn lights off — or on — when appropriate.
18. SAVE ON ALL UTILITIES: Turn down the thermostat (or up) — one degree makes a difference; 2-3 saves more. In winter, wear heavier clothing; in summer, dress cooler. Use a programmable thermostat-reduce heat and A/C use when gone or sleeping. Reduce water heater temperature settings; run only full loads in washers, dryers & dishwashers. Maintain your HVAC, and it can save you money. A humidifier in winter keeps the air feeling warmer, and reduces health problems due to winter dryness. Maintain furnace filters — change (or clean) them regularly.
19. BUNDLE YOUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUYS: Negotiate a bundle of your phone & electronic communications. You get a better deal buying Internet, Phone and Data (and cable or satellite TV too, if you need it) from one source. Shop around. Cell phones added to a plan and bundled minutes are very economical. Call and ask for a better deal. If you need to keep a “wired phone line” negotiate that deal too. If they can’t find one, talk to the department that keeps people from switching via price concessions (AT&T’s is called “Retention”).
20. CLIP COUPONS & USE THEM: Use coupons and deals aggressively for office products. Some superstores will begin sending them every month. Other stores will honor them even if expired. Plan your purchases to maximize the savings-but only buy stuff you need. Use affinity plans that give you discounts too. Shop at super-discount places like Aldi Foods that sell house brands or generics. Many are made by major manufacturers and are as good as brand name goods. There are many coupon websites, and most major manufacturers, and some retailers have coupons too.
Finally, smile a lot and keep an upbeat attitude. Make “saving time and money” into “fun.” Give recognition to employees who find new ways of saving money. A “certificate” and praise — in front of peers — are very valuable motivators.
If the people you work with see you with a positive, can do attitude, that’s contagious. Try it — it works.