Have a Better Life

Like every household, businesses need to find ways of economizing on their day-to-day expenses. Whether it’s looking for cheap electricity suppliers or just getting the best deal on stationery, here is a quick guide on how to bring down your overheads.

Save on energy bills
You’ve done it for your home bills, so now do it for your business. There are a plethora of websites out there to help you compare prices to find the best energy supplier but you might also get the best price by going direct to the supplier.

Bring down your stationery bill
Stop wasting money with an expensive stationer that’s pouring your money down the drain. Stationary is usually a commodity so ask around and find the cheapest price.

Print more and photocopy less
Don’t photocopy when it’s cheaper to print. It’s easy to get in the habit of photocopying if it seems easier, but printing things like forms and invoice sheets will be a cost that builds up over time, affecting your bottom line.
Continue Reading about Six Ways to Save on Business Costs This Spring

With crisis and job search agencies with a job offer database tend to get more specific about their services. Instead of offering all kind of jobs in several professions, they prefer to have a small niche for a certain time of job. With websites get more into the niche filosophy, we can find websites only for production jobs, administrative jobs, accountant jobs, etc..I think niche sites are excellent because when we are looking for a certain job you can go straight to that job niche site.

One of the things I often regret is not having a degree. I finished official school (12 years) and I had to start working right after because my parents had no money to send me to university. I few years later I entered a private university but two breakdowns and lack of money made me quit on the second year. Then came the marriage, the kids and the degree was put aside.

Now that I spend a lot of time online I realize I could spend some of that time taking some sort of degrees or certifications online. It’s easy, I can do it on my free time and I don’t even have to leave home.

Working in an industry where leadership and a wide range of knowledge is needed I think that a Project Management certificate would be great. I checked it online and I found Saint Joseph’s University that has an Online Management Certificate Program. This certificate can be used in several fields like Engineering, construction, computer systems, etc. so it would be perfect for my job and for others I might apply for. With this Project Management certificate give us all the necessary information and skills to make us better professionals.

Enrollment can be done online or by fax and several forms of payment are accepted. For those that have a full time job, a family and house to take care of, taking a degree online is the best choice. I really need to think about this because having no degree really narrows my opportunities.

One of my goals for 2009 was to get organized but until know I haven’t accomplished it.

Having a full time job outside the house makes me use the office computer during the day and at night my desktop or my laptop.

I’ve been downloading a lot of free reports about family budget, affiliate marketing, debt strategies several reports from important bloggers about better blogging, so I’ve got those reports scattered all over the place. Some are on my handbag, others are on the laptop bag, some in the living room and others in my bedroom. I try to have them around me so that when I have a little time I can take a look at them but it’s not working.

Another thing that delays my online work is that in the office computer I can’t save my passwords and sites I visit for my own security so each time I want to check my Gmail, my feed reader, reply to some post comments I spend a lot of time with logging in and afterwards logging out and deleting all the private links or cookies that are left in the computer. I also stopped using twitter so often because some of my co-workers and bosses have access to my computer and I don’t want them to sneak pick my stuff or think that I’m neglecting work to use twitter.

I don’t know if there is an easy way to manage this but it’s getting complicated.

Of course blogging is not my main job but I came to a point that I think I should have my own space at home where I can store all the passwords, reports, e-books I have related to blogging. I have a small dressing room connected with my main room and I’m thinking about getting some sort of home office furniture like a desk with a drawer where I can put my laptop and blogging related items.

As we are going through a financial crisis I’m thinking about recycling an old piece of a bar we had in the living room and maybe I can built the desk I want.

What about you that work full time? Do you check your mails and feed reader at work? How do you “hide” it from your bosses? Do you login and out several times during the day?

I’ve been reading a lot about Affiliate programs, I’ve subscribed to newsletters, I’ve read free reports, free e-books, watched videos, I’m almost an Affiliate Pro without even being a real affiliate.

I’m European, I live in Europe but my readership comes mainly from United States (also a lot from Canada and Australia) so the products I want to promote must cover those residents. I’ve got no problem in finding affiliate networks my problem is how the commission’s payment is done. I’ve signed up to these three:

Amazon.com

• I’ve got to pay Amazon a fee to receive by check and to discount the check in my bank account I have to pay more fees. Meaning: it’s not worth (at least for small amounts).
• I can receive through Gift Certificate that I can use to buy products from Amazon.com. Shipping overseas is expensive and most products can’t be sent to Europe. I’ve got around 25$ to receive now, so I’m going to try to: first exchange the gift by money with an US Blogger friend if possible, otherwise I will try and order some books. Let’s see if I don’t have to pay taxes upon arrival.

CJ – Commission Junction

This is an Affiliate Network I really like. There is a wide variety of companies and products available that I really would enjoy to promote. However:

• CJ pays through Direct Deposit to some countries including Europe but Portugal is not included, so no chance for me.
• The only chance I’ve got to receive CJ’s commissions is by bank check and I’m afraid I will pay a lot of taxes at my local bank.

PepperJam Network

I signed up for Pepperjam a few months ago and the excellent option they have is payment through PayPay. My account is pending for acceptance of this way of payment, and tomorrow I have to fax them back a Form with my PayPal details for approval. This is a new requirement and only after being accepted I can browse the Partners List. If I’m not accepted for Paypal payment, I’ll be in trouble again facing bank check fees.

I want to join other affiliate programs, specially healthy and green living related programs. I’ve checked a few sites directly but some of them are only open to US residents and others pay through bank check.

I’m really trying to promote products that will interest and will be useful to my readers but being an European it’s really tough to enter the US world. Improving my income online and having a better life are also my objective but many obstacles are on my way.

If you know some sites with healthy and green products and with an affiliate program leave me the link so that I can check if I can apply.

Do you expect that 2009 brings you good solutions for you to have a better life? That’s great. Having my own business or even a franchise business is in my thought to. In fact franchise is a great option. Usually the brand is already established and you just have to open your own space or work online. Now what are the fields that should be covered to a maximum business success?

I did a little research and I come up with these options:

#1 – Population is getting older and in a few years there will be many elderly needing help with the house and companionship. There are already many seniors living alone and in a near future there will be much more. Daycare centers and Home Senior Care are a good investment right now.

#2 – Kids related franchise. Kids are a priority, all parents want the best for their kids and those in the working force need help to take care of their children. Daycare centers, kid’s clothes stores and kid’s fitness programs are excellent options.

#3 – Tech support for moms and dads is nowadays an important role in parents’ life. How to use a computer, Internet and all the good stuff there is available to help them have a simple life is essential for every family. If you are trained about Home improvement, fitness, income tax preparation and others you won’t need to pay other people to do it for you.

These are the three franchise options that I think will have success.

What do you think? Any ideas about franchises that have good chances to be a success?

If you are a jewelery creator then you should check the Beads of Cambay site. Beads of Cambay sells wonderful beads like: semi precious gemstone beads, precious gemstone beads, freshwater pearls, vermeil beads and many others that will be great for your work.

All Jewelery creators want to have success and profit of course but for that they should search for the right beans for their pieces of art and a good bean supplier. Beads of Cambay is one of the best wholesale gemstone beads supplier so here you can find great beans and prices.

If you take a look at the Features Beans you have contact with the top beans available. They are really beautiful and wonderful pieces of art can be created with them. If you are looking for new beans just check the Arrivals session for new arrivals.

For wholesale purchases over $1000 a discount of 30% on the total price of the purchase will take place. This is a great discount for those buying large quantity of beans.

Although you can check the site for new arrivals you can also sign up the newsletter and all the news regarding the beans and wholesale gemstone beads deals will be delivered in your inbox leaving you with more time for your creations.