Find Your Passion & Turn It Into A Business

Having a passion in life is so important, yet as an adult, we feel like it is a lost art. Think of the number of things you loved to do as a small child, or even as a young adult. You might have been into your sports, or you might have played an instrument, or you might have been into dancing. The point is, as children and young adults it’s sort of expected of us to have some sort of passion and hobby. You don’t realize how much it keeps you grounded until it’s gone. Because now all your life will be focused on is work and socializing, and perhaps even a family if you have started one. So, we want to inspire you to find your passion in life, and turn it into a business. Pretty much every passion in life can be turned into a business, you just have to put your business thinking cap on. So, if you keep on reading, we’ll show you some of the best passions to turn into a business.

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Helping People

If helping people is just in your nature, then there are so many careers that you can go into that would suit this passion. Naturally, most people think of a public service or healthcare role, but there are so many other ways of helping people. For example, if criminal law interests you and you want to defend the innocent, get your law degree. If Kim Kardashian can do it will all of the things that she has going on in her life, you can too! It’s so easy to get into as well once you have the qualification. A small-town law firm can have so much success, but only with good promotion. Using Elite Lawyer Management is just one of the ways that you can do so. We’ve probably made this a lot easier than it sounds, but it is one of the easier paths to follow in terms of a business idea because there’s always going to be someone who needs representing and can’t afford the costs of big lawyers.

Cars & Bikes

So many people have a passion for cars and bikes, and it’s not just men. Although the stereotype used to be that it was just men, we love that more women are now into their cars and bikes. So much so that people all around the world have the passion of buying old cars and doing them up, using them for a year or two and then selling them on. So, why not turn this into a lucrative business idea? There’s actually a big gap in the market for this idea, and you don’t even have to invest a ton of money because the likelihood of you making money from a classic car restoration is huge! Plus, you could do it all from the comfort of your drive, so you don’t even need to rent an garage space. It’s a really low investment business idea when looking at the money you will make back.

Preparing Yourself for Starting a New Business

Taking the step to branch out and start your own business can be an exciting time. Knowing how you want to progress your career can take you to places you have been dreaming of and allow you to come out from the shadow of an employer and show the world what you have to offer. 

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Being prepared mentally, practically, financially is essential. You want to give yourself the best chance to succeed before you startup to help you grow your business. 

With over 50% of new businesses failing in the first 5 years, it makes sense that you would want to put foundations in place to help you avoid the common pitfalls many new businesses face. 

Create a Business Plan. 

Starting without a business plan is like building a home without a foundation. If you don't know what your goals are or how you are going to make the business a success you are setting yourself up for failure. This goes for any business regardless of the sector you are looking to start up in. 

Ask yourself questions such as the following to help you create your road map to force your new startup forward with the best chance of success. 

• What are you offering? 
• Do you have a unique selling point? If not, can you find one? 
• Who is your ideal customer? 
• What competition is there for your business? 
• How are you going to attract your ideal customer? 
• Will you have opportunities to grow and expand your company and/products and services? 
• How long before you will realistically be able to turn a profit? 
• What finance or backing will you need to get up and running? How will you get the right finance for you? 
• Do you need staff? How will you train them up and what equipment do they need? 

Being as thorough as possible will help make sure you are starting off on the right foot.

Prepare Yourself. 

Are you ready to take the next step? Chances are you feel like it is time. But making sure you have prepared yourself is always a good idea. 

Get your finances in order before quitting your current employment. Make sure you are in a good position to be able to withstand an uneven income for at least the first few months of your company. Look to clear any debts and create a savings pot to help you pay your bills. This will cover you in the event of not turning a profit immediately. 

Expanding your knowledge and skills is also a great idea too. Consider taking mba online courses to help you brush up on your skills and knowledge. Delve into your sector more and your homework. 

Look for changes in your industry to help you accommodate this into your company and look for ways you can fill gaps in the market. Adapt what you are offering to meet demand and work out how you can effectively implement this before starting up. 

The more you can do before your company is up and running will give you a head start when you are ready to open up to customers. 

Figuring Out Your Finances: The Areas That May Save You Money

At this time of year, many of us are taking a long, hard look at our finances. The excesses of Christmas are long behind us, and many of us are starting to think about how to get back on track, and how we can trim down our expenses. However, it can be a lot easier said than done. If you are overstretched and need to evaluate your finances, here are a few areas in which you might be able to save a bit of cash.

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Debts

Sadly, many of us have a debt of some kind, and these need to be prioritized as they can get you into a real financial mess and affect your credit rating. It may be that you need to consider additional forms of income or seek professional financial advice if you are struggling.

You may also want to consider getting in touch with creditors to lower your repayments or come up with some sort of payment plan to help get them back under control while leaving you with enough money to live on.

Lower your expenses

First of all, take a look at your utility bills (gas, electricity, and water) and work out whether you are getting the best possible deal. It may be worth phoning up your supplier and seeing if they can offer you a better deal, and if not, switch suppliers.

This also applies to other expenses. For example, your auto insurance. It is something we all need, but if you do not drive many miles, it may be more money than it’s worth. You cannot avoid paying it, however, but there are insurers out there who will cover you on a mile by mile basis? A Metromile overview will give you more information about this sort of scheme if it sounds right for you.

Look at your spending habits.

The chances are you waste money. We all do! It might be that cheeky cafe au lait in the way into work, or that bagel at lunchtime. It might be that bottle of water you grab while you are out or that gym subscription that you never have time to use. Keep a record of all of your spending for a week and see what you can cut out. Take a flask of coffee, a packed lunch and a reusable bottle of water with you to work, and take up running or home workouts and cancel the gym sub.

Some of these habits might be harder than others to cut out - they are often well ingrained and you do not think a couple of dollars here and there makes a difference, but when you add them all up at the end of a week or a month, you may be surprised.

With a bit of planning and preparation, and being a bit stricter with yourself when it comes to spending, you can save yourself a fair amount of money for the more important things in life.

How To Hire a Nanny

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Once children come into the picture and it is time to get back to the office, it is always a difficult decision choosing between a parent staying home, touring day cares or hiring a nanny. If you may be interested in hiring a professional to come to your home and look after your kids, keep reading. Here are a few tips on how to bring a nanny into your household. 

Use a Nanny Resource

There are many perks to using a nanny staffing agency to hire a nanny, but there may also be Facebook groups available in your area, specifically put together to connect families with potential caregivers. If you have friends and family who have used similar services, it doesn't hurt to ask around for recommendations.

Conduct Many Interviews

It is always a good idea to bring in many applicants in for an interview to help find the right person for the job. From there, you can narrow down the list and invite a few options to come and meet your children. You can then base who you want to hire on how they interact with your family. Your intuition will likely be a huge deciding factor during this process.

Better To Be Safe Than Sorry  

Once you have your very own Mary Poppins, it is highly recommended to order a driving record background check. It is always better to be safe than sorry in a situation where your loved ones are involved. Another great reason to use a nanny agency is that all applicants sent from these services will be pre-screened. References are also a great way to get an idea of a candidate's relationship with previous families.

If everything is done the right way, bringing a nanny into your household can be a positive and beneficial experience. There is nothing wrong with taking your time to find the right person for the job. With the tips above, you will be well on your way to doing so.   

Fun Decor Ideas For An 18th Birthday Party

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For a big birthday like an 18th, it is sometimes difficult coming up with unique gift ideas to help make that person feel special. Printed balloons make a great birthday gift as they are fun and something you only receive on your birthday which adds to the excitement of the special day. 

Birthdays should not come without celebration, after all, birthdays are the best excuse to party throughout the year! When giving a balloon, you want to add a personal touch as it shows you have put thought and care into the gift. So whether you just want to wish someone a happy 18th year or you want to make them laugh with your gift, here are the top eight printed balloons for an 18th birthday. You can also incorporate some of these sayings and ideas into a scrapbook if you’re looking for something the recipient can cherish for many years to come. A scrapbooking coach will help you to ensure you create a great gift.

Ideas for printed balloons

1. Happy 18th Birthday “name”- This might seem simple but it is really effective. Personalizing the balloon just with a person’s name shows that the balloon was created just for them and makes them feel loved in four simple words. To make it even more personal, you could have their nickname printed as well.

2. Baby photo- Putting a baby photo of the birthday boy/girl on printed balloons will really surprise them and even raise a giggle. It helps celebrate how much this person has grown up and celebrates their life and the achievement of reaching such a milestone. You could also add a funny catchphrase such as “You are no longer a baby” to go with the photo.

3. I’d like to raise a toast, it’s your 18th birthday- This pokes fun at the fact that the recipient is now legally allowed to drink while also pointing out it’s a cause for celebration. Any drink-related printed balloons are bound to raise some banter between friends.

4. Welcome to credit cards, phone bills and voting!- This sarcastic printed balloon shows the 18 year old what life ahead will be like while remaining light hearted and jovial.

5. May all your dreams come true- Printed balloons like this serious and heartfelt one show that you care not just on their birthday but what happens throughout their life. An 18th birthday can be emotional as it marks the beginning of adult life so an 18-year-old might appreciate this as they begin their new chapter.

6. A picture of champagne glasses- Drinking alcohol will be a novelty to a new 18-year-old so capture that excitement with a simple picture of some champagne glasses to signify the celebration!

7. 18, the best reason ever to get the party started!- What more does an 18-year-old want than to have some drinks and just party hard with friends. Follow suit and give them a balloon that encourages them to celebrate in style!

8. Photo collage- You could create printed balloons with a photo collage printed. Gather a few photos which show the birthday boy/girl happy and having fun and put them together to be printed onto some balloons. They will love taking a walk down memory lane to commemorate their birthday and will be amazed at the gesture.

Making That Proposal As Perfect As Possible

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Most people have an idea of how they would like falling in love with someone, and how that might lead into finally settling down with the person of their dreams. But the reality, especially in the important moments, is rarely how we picture it. That shouldn’t be something to lament, because oftentimes it can be even better than you may have first imagined. It’s worth making that potential known, because it opens up many options, particularly if you’re the one who needs to generate them.

Making that proposal as perfect as possible can be a worthwhile place to start, and a measure of planning that grants you confidence and comfort knowing that you want this more than anything else in life. Note that we add the ‘as possible’ to show that no proposal can be truly perfect, because it’s hard to know by what measure to achieve that. However, we can make it as perfect as we can for you, and that means tailoring excellent timeless wisdom to your own ends.

We’d like to offer some of that wisdom below:

Additional Sentimental Value

Consider what additional sentimental value you can add to the proposal to make things special. For instance, you may ask the band of a local restaurant to play your favorite jazz track as you’re about to pop the question, something that most hospitable establishments will only be happy to adhere to provided you give them plenty of notice. Perhaps taking them to the first place you met or renting out an entire part of a stadium late at night for the best view can help you add something special to the event, something extra to remember it by.

Public vs. Private

Not everyone wishes to be proposed to in the middle of a baseball game while their response is broadcast on the large game monitor for everyone to see. Some people wish for a private affair, together after a long walk through the Parisian streets, or perhaps along a beautiful stretch of beach you have both been walking together. Some do wish for that spectacle, some would rather anything but. Be sure to understand what your potential spouse may like and cater accordingly, it can have a large effect on how successful you are.

The Perfect Ring

While finding the perfect ring can mean different things to different people, it’s no less important to find something that allows you both to feel proud and that will serve as a milestone in your relationship. This is where services such as Whiteflash https://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/tacori/ are so important, because not only do they help you assess the best rings for your possible purchase, but they hope to secure your business through ensuring you know exactly what you’re buying, such as staying clear about the kind of gems you are purchasing, what the value of a certain item is, and how this investment could truly help you.

With this advice, we hope you can make that proposal as perfect as possible.

Signs That Your Child Is Becoming a Pessimist

It’s often said that the world can be defined by two types of people; optimists and pessimists. Both of them have their own strengths and weaknesses, and it’s arguable that a good balance is required for a healthy lifestyle and mental well-being.

But what do you do if your child only displays negativity? Is it just a phase they’re going through, or is there something more concerning under the surface? Whatever the case is, here are a couple of signs to take notice of if you think your child is going through a pessimistic phase.

They give up early when approaching something challenging

Pessimists will typically give up on something before putting in the effort, often stating that the outcome isn’t worth the work it takes. If your child tends to struggle and give up with something, it’s a good idea to console and encourage them.

They don’t take pride in their successes

Many negative children will find it hard to celebrate something they’ve done, even if it’s an impressive feat. This can mean that they’re never satisfied and want to keep pushing themselves, which can be a good thing. However, it’s also commonly associated with a pessimistic attitude.

They’re suspicious of others

It can be difficult for your child to trust others, especially if they’ve had a bad friendship with school friends. Situations like this are common even in adulthood, so finding ways to cope with this and begin trusting people again is a good way to counter it.

While occasional negative thoughts aren’t a massive problem, it can eventually lead to problems in the future. That’s why we’ve included an infographic below on how to encourage positive behavior in your children. It’ll teach you how to inject a bit of positivity into your child’s life and also the benefits that it comes with.

Infographic: Regis College

The Art Of Making A Side Income Through Short-Term Rentals

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Whether you’re a homeowner that enjoy regular travel for work and leisure, or a landlord looking for ways to increase revenue doesn’t matter. The prospect of using short-term rentals is very attractive. 

Even a small level of research will show that this endeavor has the potential to generate a healthy return on investment. Before jumping in at the deep end, though, it’s imperative that you educate yourself on the matter. Otherwise, you may inadvertently set yourself up for a financial nightmare. Here are some of the key features you need to now. 

It’s Not Free Money 

When using short-term rentals, it would be easy to look at how much similar properties in your area charge and calculate your sums based on this fee. Sadly, this figure doesn’t paint an honest reflection of the financial results. 

This is a form of income that must be declared for tax purposes. Governments are able to track situations with ease thanks to services like LODGINGRevs. As such, landlords and homeowners using short-term rentals must accept their responsibilities. Be sure to take those aspects into account when calculating the financial outcomes. This should clear up whether the process is worthwhile. 

Your Property Needs To Shine 

You want your property to attract clients and avoid potential refunds and disagreements. Investing in the right upgrades for the home is an essential step that can unlock the best ROIs. This adds value to the home while also allowing you to charge more in the meantime. Holidaymakers and business visitors want comfort during their stays. As such, this is an essential feature that must not be ignored. 

It should also be noted that adding a detailed property listing will bring more interest in the home. As is the case with long-term rentals and property sales alike, taking better photos of the rooms will pay dividends too. 

The Process Is Time Consuming 

In truth, the marketing aspects are pretty simple. One advert listing can promote the property to thousands of potential customers. Similarly, the automated bookings and diary management tools ensure that this part of the process can be completed with ease. 

Nonetheless, managing your short-term rental properties does require a lot of time. You will need to communicate with several clients over the course of the year. Likewise, guests will expect the property owners to be present. You can bypass this with Manor Share and other property management systems. It removes stress and allows you to enjoy the full benefits of your financial investment. 

Full Property Rentals Aren’t The Only Option 

As with any investment or side hustle, it’s necessary to analyze every option at your disposal. Multi-family tenancy agreements have become increasingly popular for standard landlords. You may also wish to split your property into several rooms, with shared communal spaces, for your short-term rentals. This approach requires a little extra admin, but can increase the revenue. 

Better still, you will only need to fill a part of the property to see a positive return. This is especially useful for large properties, and may allow you to tea up with a local business to home their guests or temporary contractors. One way or another, only the best ROI will do. 

Three Reasons to Hire an Accountant as a Freelancer

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When it comes to freelancing, the last thing on your mind is probably hiring other people to work for you. Freelancing is usually a solo affair and you’ll rarely work or hire others, but one role that you might consider hiring for is that of an accountant. In this post, we’ll be explaining three reasons why you might want to consider hiring an accountant, even as a freelancer working mostly on your own.

1. Saves more time than you might imagine

Whether it’s recording your expenses, budgeting for expenses or even paying your taxes, doing your own accounting takes time. If it’s taking precious hours out of your workday, then consider hiring an accountant to help free up time.

2. Save you more money and helps increase profits

An accountant could easily manage your books and help you save a lot of money while also increasing your profits. Their expert knowledge will help you handle your account in a legally responsible way to avoid any potential issues with the law, while also suggesting ways for you to save money when reporting your taxes or purchasing necessary services and products to run your business.

3. Provides essential tax support

Taxes can be difficult to understand, yet it’s a vital component of running your business as a freelancer. To help you understand the importance of an accountant, we’ve included an informative graphic about tax professionals and why America needs more of them. We understand just how tricky it can be to manage something as convoluted as your taxes, hence why it’s valuable to invest in a professional accountant that can help you through the process.

Infographic: Northeastern University's Online Masters in Taxation Program

Tips For Having A Better Workday

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Work is a big part of your life and takes up a lot of your time and energy on any given day. Whether your overall experience with your professional endeavors is negative or positive is ultimately in your hands.

Be glad to know there are specific actions you can take that are going to help you have a better workday. You’ll find that you’re a lot happier of a person and that your professional life is more rewarding when you apply these tips. Try your best not to let your past mistakes or mishaps dictate your future and instead focus on what you can be doing today for a better tomorrow.

Wake up Early

There are a lot of hours in one day to take advantage of if you schedule your time right. You can have a better workday by waking up early and using your morning hours wisely. For example, consider reading positive messages to improve your mindset or spending some quality time with your kids before you have to head into the office. Having the desire to wake up early may also force you to go to bed earlier and get better sleep in general. It may be not very easy to get up early at first, but you might genuinely enjoy having these early morning hours to yourself as time goes on. Make it a habit, and soon enough, you’ll be on your way to having more fulfilling days where you can go home each night feeling good about what you got done.

Focus on Increasing Productivity

You can have a better workday by focusing your efforts on increasing your productivity. Some ideas include limiting side conversations and eliminating distractions that are keeping you from completing your tasks in a timely fashion. Not only make a to-do list but put the items in priority order and complete what’s most important first. In addition, you can also set up your iPad as a second monitor by following these steps https://setapp.com/how-to/use-ipad-as-second-monitor-in-catalina. You’ll not only be able to view multiple screens and double the information you’re seeing, but it’ll also offer you the option to be more mobile on your job so you can travel if need be.

Organize Your Workspace & Files

You’ll be doing yourself a favor by taking the time to organize your workspace and files. When you know where your belongings are, you can easily find and access them. You’ll have a better workday because you won’t be stressing about having to look at a mess of piles all day in your office. Your files on your computer will be right where you left them, and you can quickly get to them without any obstacles. It’s especially important that you do this for any client information you keep so that you can ensure this information is not only accessible but secure and protected from any hackers.

Practice Work-Life Balance

You can also have a better workday by practicing work-life balance and taking breaks every so often. Get up and walk away from your desk every few hours to get a glass of water and rest your eyes. You may also want to consider going for a walk over lunchtime and getting some fresh air. Avoid working long hours and overexerting yourself so that you have the energy you need to tackle your tasks each day. Set boundaries and communicate expectations both at work and at home so that those around you understand your limits. Learn to say no without feeling guilty, and keep a calendar of events handy so that you don’t over-commit yourself in any one area of your life.

Take Care of Yourself

Your work days will be that much better and more enjoyable when you commit to taking good care of yourself. Some ideas for doing so include eating healthy meals, exercising regularly, and finding ways to manage and reduce your stress. Make yourself a priority, and you’ll find that all else falls into place nicely, and you get more done at work. You want to be able to walk into the office each day, feeling motivated and energized to tackle your assignments. Your workload won’t seem as overwhelming when you’re well-rested and in a good mood.

Maintain A Positive Attitude

The reality is that your attitude can impact your entire day and whether you’re able to get a lot done or not. Have a better workday by maintaining a positive outlook even when you’re facing challenges or roadblocks. Instead of getting upset or worked up in this situation, focus on applying your problem-solving skills and finding solutions to issues that might arise. If you walk around grumpy and give off pessimistic vibes, then that’s the type of energy you’re going to attract. You can maintain an optimistic perspective on work and life by reading uplifting quotes and affirmations and reminding yourself of all you’ve been able to achieve over the years.

Avoid Negative People

Most importantly, you can have a better workday by choosing to avoid negative people. The reality is that you’ll run into them throughout your professional life, but it doesn’t mean you have to let them get you down. Surround yourself with uplifting people who are encouraging of your efforts and make you feel good about yourself. Individuals who always focus on the negative do so because it makes them feel better to see others struggle. You have to be strong and wise enough to separate yourself from these folks and brave enough to find others to spend your time with others who are upbeat and put a smile on your face.

Working doesn’t have to be a chore and can be a pleasant experience if you have the right approach and mindset. Apply these tips in your daily life, and you’ll soon find that you’re able to get more done at work and go home each night feeling proud and satisfied with your accomplishments. Avoid letting others bring you down and stick to doing more of what’s going to help you feel good and produce great work. 

Take Control of Your Future

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There's a lot to take into account if you want to make a plan for your future. When you think of your future, you might be thinking of your career, or perhaps retirement. You might think about your family, or even what the end of your life may look like. It can feel like you don't have much control over what your future looks like, but it is possible to take control.

Know What You Want

To be able to take control of your future, you first need to know what you want from it. There are many things that you might consider, so you have to decide what's most important to you. What does your future look like and what are you getting from it?

Create a Plan

If you want your future to look like the vision you have for it, you need to create a plan that will get you there. This plan could take many forms, but it should ultimately outline your goals and the steps that you need to make to reach them. Break down your goals into as many steps as you need to make something happen.

Consider End-of-Life Planning

For many people, not having control over their life toward the end can be a worrying thought. But if you want to make sure you have as much control as possible, you should start thinking about it now, before it's too late. There's a possibility you might not be able to make these decisions at some point, so it's smart to do it in advance.

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How To Live More Self-Sufficiently

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Self-sufficiency is a way of life that involves using your own resources and not having to rely on other people’s assistance. It can take a lot of energy and independence to live self-sufficiently, but it can also save you money and give you more control over your everyday needs. Here are just a few ways in which you can live more self-sufficiently.

Start your own business

Starting your own business gives you control over your own income. Without having to answer to an employer you can take on your own workloads and charge your own rates. You will still have to follow certain rules and ensure that certain licenses are in place. However, you’re likely to still enjoy more freedom than working for an employer.

Grow your own food

Many of us rely on grocery stores to provide us with food. Growing some of your own food could help to cut your grocery bills and could give you the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your ingredients come from. If you’re serious about growing your own food, you could look into farm land for sale – this could allow you to grow large amounts of fruit and vegetables of your choice and possibly even sell some of this produce. Alternatively, you could simply start a vegetable patch in your backyard or even grow a few edible plants indoors.

Harvest your own water

It’s also possible to harvest your own water. The most common method of doing this is to harvest rainwater in barrels. Such water could be used for gardening purposes or toilet flushing. Alternatively, you may be able to convert it into drinking water using a boiling and UV filtration system. You’ll no longer have to pay water bills and will be able to rely off of your very own water system.

Generate your own power

You can also go off-grid and generate your own electricity. Solar panels are an effective way of doing this and are able to harvest a huge amount of energy. In fact, with the right amount of solar panels, you may never require the need to pay an electricity bill ever again. Electricity can also be used for heating and cooling.

Teach yourself DIY skills

Being able to craft items or make your own repairs could be a valuable skill for living self-sufficiently. This could involve everything from being able to make your own cleaning products to being able to fix plumbing leaks yourself. Not everyone is DIY-savvy, however it’s become a lot easier to learn DIY skills thanks to the internet. You’ll save a lot of money by not having to buy as many products or having to call up technicians.

Learn to be frugal

Living a frugal life makes it much easier to get by self-sufficiently. Focus on your needs and less on keeping up with trends. You may realize that you don’t need to wear designer fashion brands or own expensive furniture. You may even realize that you can do without a TV or a car. Without the need to spend as much money, there won’t be the need to earn as much money, allowing you to truly make the most of your time. 

Give Your Kids the Gift of Investment

When you ask your children or grandchildren, they'll tell you that they want toys for their birthdays. No, they don't want another ugly sweater, of course. There's nothing worse for kids than opening a gift on Christmas day only to find a shirt wrapped inside. They want toys. And yes, they want cash, too, because they can purchase whatever they want.

But more than that, you should think about the kind of future these kids are going to have. Financial security is a big thing, as well as good health insurance plans in the Philippines. Teaching the children as early as now how to be financially secure and invest in their health is the best gift you can give.

So forget about those toys and clothes. Open a bank account for them. Teach them how to save. Invest in stocks and bonds and put them under their names. Financial independence is a powerful thing, and you need to give that chance to your kids in the future. Start as early as now.

Cash

If your kids have bank accounts, you can deposit a certain amount there instead of spending it on toys and clothes. You may give them a toy occasionally, but teach them how to save at the same time. Show them that they have money in their bank accounts. If a grandparent gives them cash as a gift, ask them if they want to save it for the future. Slowly, they will learn why it's important to save for the things they want.

Bonds

You can buy bonds for the kids. It will take some time to mature. They can't enjoy the bonds until a few years down the road. It teaches them patience. It gives them an opportunity to have a closer look at the financial investments available to them. You won't be the favorite parent or grandparent, but remember why you are doing this for them.

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Collectibles

How about teaching your kids the value of collecting rare items? For their birthdays, you can give them a commemorative coin. Tell them they have to keep it in a safe place because a few years from now, the value of the commemorative coin will increase. They can make a handsome profit if they choose to sell it to a bidder.

Stocks

Your kids will not wake up one day wanting to watch Bloomberg. But you can instill an interest in savings and buying stocks at an early age. Explain to them what stocks are. Then tell them that you are going to put some stocks under their name. Show them the certificate so that they know it's true. Try investing in a company that they recognize such as a toy company. Show your kids that they have a very small part of the company they love.

Vacation

The best gift you can give your children is undivided attention. Take a vacation at least once a year. Take them to a place they have never been to before. Creating memories with your kids should be your number one priority. You'll never have them this little again. They will grow up and will want to do things on their own. Consider making it an annual event. Instead of giving them gifts, go on vacation.

When you see your teenage and adult kids saving and investing, you realize that what you've gifted them is the best present ever. It will help them be financially prepared for unforeseen circumstances. They won't get stressed every time their car breaks down. They will have control over financial matters.

How To Give Your Old Car A New Lease Of Life

If you have owned your car for some time and it’s starting to lose a little of its charm, you may feel like it’s time to chop it in and start the hunt for a new car. Well, before you make a hasty decision like this, there are some things you can do.

In today’s post, we are going to be looking at a few ways you can give your car a new injection of life and make your baby shine again. 

Image Credit - Pexels CC0 License 

Why Give An Old Car A New Life?

Well, the first thing we should probably mention is that if your car runs well, but just looks a little aged, then rather than spend a fortune on a new car, with a little hard work, you can restore your car back to its former glory.

On the other side of things, it may be the case that you are looking to sell your old car, and no matter what you sell, you will always want the best price you can get for it, right? By tidying up the interior and bodywork, you will often find that the price you get for the car will be far higher than it will if you try to shift a shabby car.

Give The Bodywork Some Love

One of the best ways to really give your old car a new lease of life is to take the bodywork and really give it a treatment it deserves. 

Over the years, older cars can suffer at the hands of the sun and it’s UV rays, which will often see the paintwork end up dull and lifeless. While this may seem like it’s totally killed your beautiful car, there are ways to bring it back to life.

The first thing you will need to do is give the car a very good heavy wash and rinse. You should then take a putty stick to the car and remove as many imperfections as you can. The next stage is to find a mild cutting solution that will break through the film that has been left on your car from the sun.

The final step you need to take is to consider something like automotive ceramic coating, which will not only make your car shine once again, it will also protect it.

Take The Car For A Heavy Service

It matters not where you are keeping the car or selling it; you should look at taking the car for a complete service. When we say a complete service, you shouldn’t get this confused with a full service.

A complete service included everything you get from a full service, plus injector, fuel system, and engine flushes. Something as simple as this can take an old car and make it feel brand new. 

While this and the previous section may seem simple, they are incredible ways to bring your car back to life. Whether you keep the car or not, taking these steps will prolong its life and allow many more years of enjoyment from it.

Five Situations in Life Where Pursuing Legal Action Makes Sense

Hiring a lawyer tends to be something that we try to avoid. Not only can hiring a lawyer get incredibly expensive but if you need a lawyer then there’s probably something bad happening in your life. For instance, you might’ve just had a driving mistake that is going to require an attorney to sort out. Similarly, you could be going through a rough relationship with your partner which might lead to a divorce. In other words, if you need a lawyer, you’re probably not in a very good spot.

Images: https://unsplash.com/photos/OXGhu60NwxU (CC0)

As a result, many of us tend to try and avoid getting a lawyer involved whenever possible. A good example of this is when you wreck your car. The other driver involved in the wreck will often have their lawyers suggest a settlement out of court. This usually means paying you a sum of money if you agree not to pursue legal action.

However, you may still want to pursue legal action because the accident wasn’t your fault and you don’t think that justice was served. In this case, it’s possible (and usually recommended) to pursue legal action. But that’s not the only time you should be pushing for more legal action. In this post, we’ll be covering a couple more scenarios in life where it makes sense to pursue legal action instead of agreeing to a settlement.

1. Family law-related matters

If you’re going through a complicated or difficult divorce, then a family lawyer is going to be a huge help when it comes to getting your fair share of assets. If there’s a child involved, then that’s even more reason to pursue legal action.

2. Stolen intellectual property

Running a business is difficult enough as it is, so having other companies stealing your intellectual property and profiting off your hard work is definitely a situation where you should pursue legal action, especially if it’s against a larger company that thinks it can bully you out of the industry.

3. Discrimination in the workplace

Ever feel like you’re being discriminated at work for one reason or another? Do you think it could lead to you getting fired for no valid reason? If you lose your job because of awful managers, it’s a good idea to consider legal action to ensure you get justice for the wrongdoings against you.

4. Car accidents

We mentioned it briefly above, but making a car wreck claim with the help of a professional lawyer is going to ensure that justice is served and that you can claim a reasonable amount of compensation. If you’re confident that the accident wasn’t your fault, then this is the perfect time to pursue legal action.

5. Criminal charges

Be it something small such as a DUI charge or something more concerning such as drug possession charges, it’s critical that you speak to a legal professional as soon as possible for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s important that you try and lower or even remove the charge so that it doesn’t affect your record. This could have negative effects on your employment position and it could even hurt your future if you have a bad mark on your record.

Falling Rates Of Poverty Mean The Future Is Brighter Than The Past

Right now, many people are anxious about the state of the world. Issues like climate change, nuclear proliferation, and flu pandemics are all things that could effectively end life as we know it in the west. Worse still, the media tends to focus on these future unknowns instead of the successes that we’re achieving today. The 2010s were, globally-speaking, a roaring decade that saw more people lifted out of poverty than ever before in the history of our species. 

Even in the US, things are looking good. Between 1970 and today, incomes doubled. Continued progress in technology and factor productivity mean that the average person today is around twice as productive as their counterparts fifty years ago. The statistics on poverty are promising too. The number of people in the US living below the poverty line has fallen substantially since World War Two, owing to a combination of government welfare programs and economic opportunities in the private sector. 

If you would like to learn more about the role of the government in tackling poverty across America, take a look at the following infographic. It charts the progress of the nation from the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the aftermath of the Great Depression up to the present day. 

What’s nice about it is that it leads to some optimistic reading. It proves that the world isn’t all bad and that, overall, our societies are making substantial progress. Poverty rates are falling long term, and they could go even lower in the future if productivity and wages pick up.

 
Infographic by Norwich University

Top Tips on Avoiding Gender Stereotyping

It’s already 2020 and, despite the real progress we’re making as a collective social group, gender stereotyping is still certainly a prominent issue. What is gender stereotyping? Well, the concept of stereotyping by gender has been around since the beginning of time. But, way back when, people sat back and took it because they felt like they didn’t have a choice. 

A quick search on the meaning of this particular type of stereotyping provides us with descriptions and definitions along the lines of gender stereotyping being “standardized representations of men and women within a culture, particularly in the mass media, which polarize differences between the sexes, notably in their physical appearance, traits, behaviours, and occupations”. In essence, society will tell you that if you’re a man, you should act as such; manly, strong, emotionally stunted etc… etc. If you’re a woman, then you are to be ultimately feminine and only do the jobs that you are ‘suited’ to you as a female.

Whilst, these days, people are much more open-minded and a lot more aware of the dangers of gender stereotyping, there are still those out there who will go out of their way to convince you that you are only supposed to work specific jobs or enjoy certain hobbies or live your life a specific way according to your gender. In this article, you will find three top tips on how to avoid or break out of this caged way of living. 

Image Credit: Pexels. Free To Use License

Ignore the Mass Media!         

The mass media is full of pitfalls and traps to lure you into thinking you’re not good enough the way you are. Tabloids, magazines, even certain social media sites will use their presence and influence to tear down celebrities for their appearance and show you, as the reader, that you should work harder on your body; invest more money into twisted diet products to lose more weight; use more expensive make-up and so on. All so you can be ‘better’ than the celebrity they are shaming on their front cover. 

This way of naming and shaming that has become a dangerous norm amongst platforms of the mass media. The use of gender stereotyping tactics as part of this process is part of what makes it so unhealthy to read about. According to them, *insert name* isn’t wearing any make-up on her venture out and doesn’t look like a woman anymore! Oh, *insert name* is sporting the Dad bod now; where did his manly physique go? The mass media will tell you that certain body types are either feminine or manly. If you’re body type doesn’t fit the one associated with your gender, then you need to ‘fix’ it, using weight loss or make-up products they get paid to promote.

In order to get away from this toxic way of thinking, it is important to ignore anything that brings a sense of negativity about someone’s appearance or, even, anything related to their gender. Only follow and seek those who promote things like good vibes and body positivity. This way, you won’t be made to feel like you aren’t worthy because you don’t conform to society’s gender stereotypes.

Go for the Career That YOU Want

As stated in the definition above, part of stereotyping by gender is tailoring it by occupation. Throughout time, working went from being only something men would do, to women being able to work, to being segregated by gender. For example; jobs that require physical strength were deemed as occupations that only men could do (let alone should). Jobs that involved anything associated with femininity; children, fashion or nursing, became types of work that only women should be allowed to do. 

Thankfully, the workplace is becoming infinitely more varied in who is doing what job. Men can be nurses. Women can be financial tycoons. Anyone can be a lawyer, teacher, politician or fashion designer, so long as they have the skills and put the work in. Yet, there are still people who frown at the idea of a woman being a builder or a man being a childcare specialist. This tip, as well as the other nuggets in this article, are about encouraging you to choose the career path you want to go down, despite stereotypes about whatever gender you associate yourself with. Find a passion, work hard at it and never stop learning. This tip actually goes hand in hand with the next and last one.

Juggling a Career and Kids - Who Says You Can’t?

One thing that has been reinforced throughout this post is that we, as social beings, have come a long way in terms of change for the better and true acceptance of each other. There’s no denying that. However, one topic that is arguably still one of the most debated topics is that of working after having kids. In these times, it is, more often than not, a necessity. Yet, there are arguments over how long a new mother should be on maternity leave for; whether she should go back to work at all, and so on. Even a father’s role is a hot topic up for debate, with people arguing over aspects from a father choosing to be a stay-at-home parent to the necessity of paternity leave at all. This is all derived from the commonality of gender stereotyping in the world of parenting.

People seem to be particularly keen to judge a new parent’s every move, especially on the internet. If they have a large presence online or have a significant amount of influence, then they are a bigger target for judgement on their parental decisions. Comments about returning to work too soon or leaving their kids (in safe hands) to go on a short holiday are found across the board. New parents have enough to deal with, so why are there those who feel the need to highlight everything they are supposedly doing wrong?

If you’re a new parent, or even an long-time parent, debating whether to return to work; ask yourself this. Would returning to work benefit you, both as a parent and a person? If the answer is yes, then who says you can’t? Even if it’s part time instead of your usual full time hours; if you know you can do something for you that won’t affect too much of the time you get to spend with your kids, why shouldn’t you go back to work? This tip is designed to encourage you to find a balance between being a parent but not letting it define who you are, if you don’t want it to. 

For your own sanity. For the sake of your mental health. For the sake of your happiness, don’t let society’s habit of gender stereotyping affect the decisions you make on how to live.

Want To Work Where The Cogs Really Turn?

In every business in the world, the cogs only really turn in one department. No, it's not the research and development department, although that’s a good guess. No, it's not even the legal department where some of the most important people in industries work. It's also not the risk department which is full of sharp minds. By the art of deduction, you’ve probably guessed by now that it's the financial department. In this part of a company, professionals of different yet similar kinds allow a business to function or to fail. Everything a CEO does has to be in line with that his or her financial confines deem to be. If you have a knack for money management and working with different characters and personalities in this realm, what kinds of roles should you aim for?

Tracking expenses and expenditures

The most important part of the day to day management of a business is expenses and expenditures. Expenses are smaller purchases such as inventory, transportation payment and even things like lunch for employees. Expenditures are larger more permanent purchases such as delivery trucks, stacking rails for a warehouse or office furniture. The bookkeeper is tasked with keeping things such as these within the constraints of the budget. Working together with professionals in the business administration department, you will be keeping the train firmly on the rails. It's one of the more basic financial functions of a business, but not done correctly, can see immense waste occur which will ultimately damage the business’ ability to conduct normal affairs.

Holding employees responsible

Every business fears auditors on some level. Business owners especially are somewhat wary of outside auditors such as those from regulatory bodies, coming into their business to inspect the financial honesty. However, many business owners will have their own accountants perform auditing missions so that internal corruption and or mismanagement is countered before it spirals out of control. You can learn more about this at the University of Alabama Birmingham where the role and responsibilities of auditing managers are explored. Taking their MAc program will get you well on your way to becoming qualified to perform such a role in any business. The financial importance of this profession is so important that the average salary is around $88,000. Senior or more experienced financial auditors will be earning above six-figures.

Sourcing long-term finance

Businesses large and small all need some kind of outside investment. This is why many companies go public. The cost of research is simply too high to do it alone and not take a big chunk out of company profits. Therefore, as a financial advisor, it will be your job to not only make long-term financial plans but to source long-term finance. Speaking directly with investors, other businesses and even governments will be one of your more important responsibilities. You’ll be working directly with the CEO and advising him or her on the best strategies that will secure the business for many years into the future. 

Many people don’t think too much about the financial department. It's a niche part of any business but ultimately if you’re lucky enough to be a part of one, you’ll be working where the cogs really turn.