Today’s world is accelerating at a pace never seen before, and there seems to be a lot of things people forgot about…

Home Business? Hmm… sounds like a lot of trouble, a lot of work. With a job you don’t need to worry about anything. Just do your job and get paid.

Now let’s think about what’s wrong with this picture… Where’s the space for improvement? Sure you can climb the corporate ladder, but remember… there’s only one president, and those positions aren’t guaranteed to anyone.

Let’s think about another thing… Companies, Businesses, they want to make maximum profits, right? The world is evolving. One of the major problems to them? Employees. Sure they need employees but… remember

With all this automation going on in the world, these companies are finding more ways to increase their profit margin- And that’s to reduce their workforce and increase the automation!

What does that mean for jobs? Less jobs! Many years ago, companies needed workers for every little detail. As technology advanced, one by one, small necessities weren’t needed anymore, as there was a technology in place to automate that process.

Now where does that leave us? To fend for ourselves! Now these changes won’t take place overnight obviously, but… I’m sure you can see the general Trend.

Why go through all the trouble with some sort of Home Business? Sure it’s a lot of work, confusion, and a ton of trouble or so it would seem… but the space for improvement is Incredible!

More and more people are doing home based businesses… now another question still arises. If everyone were to do a home business or such, the world’s economy would be a very chaotic place, correct?

While more people are doing home businesses, the Ratio of Jobs to Home Businesses doesn’t change much; due to an ever increasing population. This allows more wealthy people to beam into existence, while keeping the ratio of the rich and poor the same!

YOU can also find ways to automate things… make things easier for yourself, gain an advantage. You’re only limited to what you believe you can achieve!

Doing a home Business will give you an incredible advantage over others. Once you learn the ways of a home business, it won’t be confusing anymore… it’s like a totally new job that uses a new computer systems… once you learn it, it becomes a breeze!

Which home business is right for me? That’s a question I can’t answer for anyone. It’s totally up to you, and what you would like to do… and remember, doing a home business doesn’t have to mean quitting your job; you can do this to “secure” yourself, or supplement your current income.

Now I also understand that not everyone will want to do a home business, and will prefer to stick with their job. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. But my goal is to simply make people aware of these forgotten changes in the world.

Whether seeking a supplemental income or a full-time income, many folks have undertaken the task to discover a viable home based business solution to meet their personal needs.

For most folks who contemplate a home business, a low-cost or no-cost solution is not only nice, but also very necessary. Many also seek to find a home business that will permit them to maintain their regular day job in order to protect their base income.

Taking the cautious approach to a home based business and keeping one’s job during the start-up period is often a very good decision. By maintaining one’s job, one can maintain the health of their personal finances while permitting their home business grow healthy and strong.

Fortunately, most home based businesses can be started with little or no cash, can be maintained on a shoestring budget, and can be operated successfully with only a part-time investment.

One day, the business will be strong enough to support itself and its owner. When that time comes, it will make good sense for the business owner to leave his or her outside job to dedicate more time to growing and maintaining their new thriving home based business. You will know when that time has finally arrived.

The nature of a home based business makes it easy and very realistic for most folks to take the plunge into home business ownership.

Yet, many folks put off starting their own home based business, because they have the misconception that they will have to risk thousands of their own hard-earned dollars at start-up. Then later, if their business fails, they fear they may be forced to take out a second mortgage on their house just to stay out of bankruptcy.

Are you one of these folks? Do you let your fears of failure keep you from reaching for your dreams?

If so, then allow me to introduce you to a few home business ideas that you can start for less than $100 and can be started and operated very profitably as a part-time business.

THE LIFEBLOOD OF ALL SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES

First of all, let me advise you to search out a business model that will deliver steady and repeat business. It is the one thing – above all others – that will assure that your company can survive the test of time.

HOME-BASED MAIL ORDER: Home-based mail order is a good example of how one can quickly grow a home business income. Mail order is a low cost start-up business that can be launched for around $100 USD.

With proper planning, your home-based mail order business will not require up-front inventory purchases. In the mail order business, it is not uncommon to rely upon drop-shippers for product fulfillment services.

By utilizing drop-shippers, we can sell the products, collect the money and then purchase the products from the wholesale outlet. The wholesale outlet will then put a return address for your company on the product packaging and deliver the product directly to your customer.

Your primary expense in the mail-order business is advertising. Classified advertising tends to be a relatively inexpensive form of advertising with thousands of outlets available to the small business owner.

WHOLESALE BUSINESS: Buy low – sell high. You can acquire high quality, top-of-the-line merchandise for a fraction of the retail cost. Starting a wholesale business would require a Wholesale Dealers Directory as your source for merchandise.

The best advantages of owning a home-based business are you can turn non-deductible expenses into tax deductions. The deductions you create for your Schedule C have a more significant impact on the total taxes you pay than do deductions on Schedule A. Schedule C deductions not only reduce federal income tax, they also reduce self-employment tax, Medicare tax, and state and local taxes.

Some favorite tax deductions for home-based businesses include the following:

• Meals and Entertainment can be 50% deductible when you are with prospective or existing clients, vendors, etc. If you are in a service business or sell products, most everyone is a potential client. It is important to follow the simple documentation guidelines issued by the IRS and to understand there are limitations. An example of a deduction you cannot take is dining out with your spouse. Even if you are business partners, the IRS says no to this. If together, you take a potential client to lunch then the meeting expense is deductible.

• Trips must be mostly business-related to be deductible. If a small element of fun is involved, you will most likely have a completely deductible trip. The deductions will not apply to a spouse who tags along, unless it is also a working trip for the spouse. Compliance with IRS regulations can be tricky, so it is best to check with your tax advisor before assuming your trip to Hawaii will be deductible.

• Utilities and other expenses for the portion of your home or apartment you use exclusively for business are powerful deductions. Without a home-based business, the most one can deduct is interest and property taxes (on Schedule A). In relation to a home-based business, a portion of utilities, maintenance, cleaning, lawn service, pest control, etc. can be deducted on a Schedule C.

• Income Shifting. Let us say you have three kids who are ages 10, 12, and 14. You can pay them to work in your business. (Children must be eight years old to be paid for working in a family-based business.) Each child can earn up to $4,700 in 2002 without paying income tax. You also have the advantage of not paying Social Security or Medicare taxes on your dependent children who work in your business. In this example, you have shifted $14,100 tax-free dollars to your kids. This is clearly better than allowance! There are rules, however. The kids have to actually work and be paid fair (not excessive) wages for their services.

These are just a few of the many tax advantages available to owners of home-based businesses. It is strongly recommended you enlist a qualified tax advisor to help you learn how to document your expenses and how to legally take every deduction to which you are entitled.

Knowing how to start a home based business is the first step to actually creating your own home based business.

Do you know how to start a home based business?

No?

Then read on to learn more.

Starting a home based business can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.

Where to start?

First things first.

You need to figure out what you are going to create your home business around.

How do you decide that? Easy. You pick something which you love doing like a hobby for example, and see if you can make a business out of it.

So if you went fishing a lot, then you could start a business around that, perhaps teaching people how to fish properly, or how to get a bigger catch.

Or even just selling fishing rods. There are many possibilities when you actually sit down and think about it.

Since it is a home based business, then I would strongly recommend that you try to sell whatever you are selling on the internet, this gives you a global audience to sell to, which means hopefully, more sales.

If you like, you can even create a little how to book which teaches people something. For example “how to improve your golf swing.”

That might sound difficult to do, but it’s really not. Just get an HTML compiler, make a few HTML pages with all of the information on it, and then make a little downloadable ebook out of it. Simple, but very profitable if done correctly.

What next?

If you know there is a market for the product you are going to create then good. If not, don’t create it, only create a product for already existing markets. It makes it a thousand times easier to sell.

All you do is write advertisements where your target market is likely to be, and in the style they would talk, and you should make some sales. That is the very basics of it though. In reality, to maximize your sales you have to do A LOT more. But I focus on that in other articles.

Okay now what?

You try to automate your ordering system as much as possible, giving you more time to focus on marketing. Then what? Well, that’s the bare bones of it, your done starting up, the rest is maintenance.

Summary:

Pick a hobby which you enjoy and have a good knowledge of

Find out the target market for your hobby/chosen business

Discover the problems which your target market has and possibly create an ebook which solves it

Or find out the things they want, then provide them.

Advertise directly to your target market

Automate the ordering process.

Since receiving child support payments and back-child support payments for over twenty years, it’s no secret how that support has helped to provide for my child’s well-being. Fortunately I was able to use a portion of my child support funds to make more money by starting a small business. If you really give it some thought I am sure you too can come up with a home-based business idea that will help you provide a little something extra for your family.

It’s no secret that these are difficult economic times for many parents but particularly for parents who have only one income. Today everyone appears to need several streams of income and in this volatile and often unpredictable economy operating a home-based business is one available option.

Consider operating one of the 5 home-based businesses. None involve a lot of start-up money and although they won’t make you a millionaire, they will allow you to provide for the additional needs of your family. Believe it or not a one time in my life I have had to do each one.

1. Home work Tutor

Do you like to listen to your children read? Are you patient and caring? Do you visit the teacher’s store in your area buying little books that can help your own children read, write or do basic math? Would you like to help another child in your neighborhood? If you think you might be interested in helping children with their homework, become a homework tutor. There are busy parents who do not have the time to help their own children and would appreciate someone making sure their children understand and complete their homework. Remember parents are not only paying for your willingness to review their child’s home work, they are paying for your time and expertise. Make sure you provide parents with a weekly progress report and ask them to let their child’s teacher know they are working with a homework tutor, so your efforts will not be in vain.

2. Letter Writing Service

Several hundred years ago only clergymen and professionals were literate. Today even literate individuals need help writing letters, particularly written complaint letters and letters seeking a resolution or response to a concern. If you enjoy the research involved in helping to resolve everyday problems this may be the home-based business for you. There is little doubt that you will encounter a wide variety of needs as a professional letter writer and your goal is not to solve a problem but to write in such a way that you bring the problem to light. Think carefully about who might need your services and why and remember there is power in the pen or in the keyboard.

3. Mystery Shopper

Can you shop till you drop? Would you like to get paid to shop? This may be the home-based business that fits your schedule and fore fills your need to make extra money. Mystery shoppers, also known as secret shoppers have been around for many years. Their purpose is to complete service checks, performance evaluations and frontline evaluations along with other checks and balances requested by the company employing the mystery shopper. Mystery shoppers enable trained researchers to take a “birds-eye-view” of a shopper’s experience. It also allows management the opportunity to quickly and efficiently evaluate their business practices, deliverables, and employees from the perspective of a non-bias consumer.

4. Community Foody

Do you have a food specialty? Is there a dish you prepare that is always a family favorite? Have you ever tried to sell your special cheesecake or gumbo? Today everyone seems to be consumed with thoughts of food, and why not since most of us have little time to cook or even think about cooking. The old adage “I owe, I owe, so off to work I go” is more true today than ever before. Take a look around your community and visit bakeries and cafes, is something missing? Is there a café that would benefit from your double fudge pecan cluster ice cream or those lovely black currant scones? You may want to start small and deliver a few goodies to a local eatery in your area. You may want to sell your recipe to a local bakery or become a recipe developer for a number of restaurants in your area. Are you into recipe contest? Commercial food companies are always looking for a new original recipe and they are willing to pay. What have you got to lose? As Nike would say…”just do it!”

5. Teach Your Talent

Few people know that according to the No Child Left Behind legislation all school districts should be offering parent involvement opportunities to participating Title I parents. These opportunities may be in the form of a parent enrichment seminars/workshops. You can teach your talent and get paid for it. All Title I eligible schools have parent involvement funds that can only be used to provide parents with information that will assist them in helping their child achieve in school. Children cannot achieve when parents are homeless, jobless, illiterate and lack the skills to help their child do well in school. There are many people who have the skill and ability to teach resume writing, job seeking skills, tutor or teach adult reading, and help parents clean up their credit. If you think you could present this type of material in a professional manner, create a proposal and submit it to schools in your district. The funds available to provide these services to parent must be used or school districts will be penalized. This is a great way to make a real difference in your community.

Some home offices are set up in a dedicated area just for the business, but most people need to have a family room, bedroom, or guest room do double duty.

Getting focused about what you need your home office to do for you will help you buy the most efficient equipment and have the most effective layout to help you get more things accomplished.

1. What do you want this space to be able to accommodate? Are you planning on using this space to just get household bills paid in and maybe keep a few records, or are you starting up a small business and looking to run all of your office operations out of this space? Make a list of all of the things you will need to do from your office space.

2. Develop a floor plan: Once you have made your list of all the things you will need to be able to do from your new home office space develop a floor plan and begin to draw where all of your equipment will go.

3. Don’t estimate the space: Get out that measuring tape and measure where everything will go. Refer to your floor plan and using small pieces of masking tape mark out where you want everything to go. Then you can see if things fit in the actual room as well as they did on your floor plan.

4. Don’t forget to plug in: Check your office layout; are the existing electrical plugs near the space where you are gong to put your desk? Are the phone jacks in a good location on the plan or are they berried behind those file cabinets. Review the floor plan, the actual layout of the room and where the windows, electrical outlets and phone jacks are and revise the plan accordingly. Now is a good time to have a few more outlets wired in or add that second phone line.

5. Who will be using this office space? Are you sharing it with your kids? Are you sharing it with your partner? Answering these questions will help you decide what furniture to buy. Does it need to be sturdy and serviceable to hold up to the kids use or can it be a little more upscale for just the use of you or your partner.

6. Get organized with the right home office furniture: A lot of the home office furniture today is designed to store your computer and other electronic equipment. Measure the computer hardware that you have to make sure it will fit into the unit you are considering. Be careful to make sure your CPU tower and printer will fit in the allocated spaces in the unit.

7. Don’t forget miscellaneous storage space: Make sure you have a place to store printer paper, envelopes, light bulbs, and other bulky supplies.

8. How much paper will you need to file: The idea of a paperless office is a good one but in reality it just doesn’t happen. You will need to decide how much filing cabinet space you will need. How much room will you need to store CD’s, books, software manuals, magazines etc. Will you need a bookcase as well as a filing cabinet or will a hutch on the top of the desk give you enough room.

9. Don’t forget about flat workspaces: How much area will you need to work on for a desk space? Will one desk that holds the computer too be enough or do you need some kind of drafting table for works in progress to be kept laid out. What about a table that can be folded up when you don’t need it for a large project, having enough storage space will ensure that clutter doesn’t eat up your flat spaces.

10. How to carve out space in a room that will need to do double duty: Look at each room in your house with a fresh eye. Make sure the room you choose is the best solution for your home office space needs. Measure the room you choose and draw a layout plan that incorporates the existing use plus gives you room for the new office portion. You may want to reorganize the existing layout for a more efficient use of space. Think about getting a self contained home office center. They are a wonderful compact way to hide your computer and other office equipment and they will blend in with your other room uses.

Marketing on the internet today has changed dramatically over the past few years. Today’s techniques for promoting and selling your ideas, products, services, and promotions on the internet requires an expanding array of multimedia features and capabilities, much different and advance from days past. Below is a list of but a few of the techniques and approaches every marketer should consider including in their efforts to increase website traffic, sales and revenues.

Educational activities – One of the single most important ways to increase your personal knowledge and expertise with any given topic is to get involved somehow with teaching this topic to others. Even if it is a basic and simple process or procedure, the process of thinking through, writing it out, developing lesson plans, etc. will be invaluable to you. Once developed, separate the materials into small sections for delivery and distribution.

There are a number of ways to distribute the materials out to potential clients. Direct mailings over a period of time, or many successful marketers set the individual segments up into an email marketing autoresponder program that sends the messages out to a predetermined list of clients and customers over a predetermined frequency. By far, this is my personal favorite method for delivery of the materials.

With distribution in this method, it gives you the perfect opportunity to include small “snippets” of promotion for yourself or various products or services which you sale or promote. You will be amazed at how effective this particular technique is. Not only will it give you expanded knowledge, in those cases where it was new information which required background research, it will reinforce you knowledge in those areas that you were already familiar with.

Link Exchange Directories – Though not everyone thinks of it, you should sponsor a directory website with open invitations for others to include links, banners and promotional advertisements back to their sites. Beyond including your banners, links, and advertisements sprinkled throughout the page, you gain the added benefit of having reciprocal links exchanged with others in the process. In effect, free advertising for both of you, a win-win scenario.

Share Tips, Insider Secrets – A popular feature of many marketers is to share various tips and insider secrets with your clients or email subscribers on a routine or frequent basis. Some even offer daily “tidbits” releasing them either through autoresponder programs or an offering located prominently on their website. This significantly helps clients and potential customers build a trusting and confident relationship with you. All of which are important ingredients for future sales and revenues.

Publishing eBooks – A very popular and lucrative venue for generating profits and revenue streams is putting topic materials together in larger format to publish and promote through ebook promotions. These can offer a full range of multimedia components and capabilities. These can be sold on an individual sale basis or part of a monthly ongoing “subscription” basis.

Developing, marketing, and selling of materials utilizing internet marketing ideas and techniques can be fun and profitable. Finding new, creative, and innovative methods for marketing on the internet requires some effort on our parts. The greater reality is that no single method or approach works all of the time (or even sometimes!). Being flexible, willing to explore possibilities and new techniques. Have fun trying different things to see what works best for you and your products, while growing your business and your profits at the same time.

Some people claim that it is almost impossible these days to make lots of money when you work at home. They say that there are all sorts of scams online, but no decent job to actually make a bit of extra income, or even better, a full time income which will make you leave your daytime job for good.

I sincerely hope that you know better.. I do hope that you still believe in the amazing and endless opportunities the internet offers, since believe me you certainly should. There are still more and more people joining the world wide web as we speak and the only thing they will do, not only now but probably till the end of time, is searching for information. Wouldn’t you love to be one of those people on the other end of the line providing that information, working at home being your own boss, starting every day with checking your bank statements just to notice that you’ve made another heap of money while you where sleeping.

What’s that you say, I should stop dreaming??

I am really sorry if I offended you in any way or if you feel like I am not telling you the truth, but guess what, I don’t work for a boss anymore. I actually am one of the many who have accomplished what I just stated before. Not to worry, so can you. All you need to do to achieve personal freedom and independence is…

TAKE ACTION!!

With action I mean the following, be willing to invest some of the money you have earned working for a boss. Start of with buying some of the better Ebooks or tools which will give you a good understanding on how the online world actually works and how to make money online.

Remember that I mentioned before how everybody who is using the internet is looking for information and that providing this to them can make you a rich man. I can assure you that is not an understatement, as long as you do decent research on what information you need to sell, and how to reach your public most effectively, you could even become one of those new internet millionaires.

Once you have finished your research you are ready to set up your “Silent Money Making Machine”

Invest some more money to get a decent info product to offer to your visitors (either a software program or Ebook). You don’t have to create this product yourself, hire somebody to set it all up. The sales page, the affiliate system, the info product itself, the search engine optimization, you can have all of this set up for you for less than a $1000,-

Probably the best $1000 ever spend since all you have to do know is advertise your product on the right locations, these should already be known to you through the previous research you have done.

That’s how easy work at home could actually be, not that you don’t have to work hard for it, obviously you need to do everything possible to position yourself in the market you chose for, but with an investment of a $1000,- a product price around the $50,- and a margin of $25,- when you run a affiliate program, you only have to sell 40 copies to brake even. All the rest is pure profit.

As Andrew Carnegie stated:

“Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!”  

Because tens of thousands of people all across America want to know how they can work at home and earn enough money to run a household, there is a special need for this report. Today the need for women to work out of the home is stronger than ever. According to recent surveys, almost 70% are married and contribute up to 50% or more to the family income. Because family responsibilities play such an important part in the lives of men and women, millions of individuals and couples are seeking ways to make money at home.

In the past decade money-making, home-based opportunities that match a person’s skills, interests, abilities, and ingenuity have become almost limitless. The purpose of this report is to show you that it’s simple and easy to join the ranks of success-minded people by choosing a work-at-home program that suits your interest and needs. Business histories have shown over and over again that the rewards and advantages of working at home can go far beyond a person’s wildest dreams. In fact, it’s perfectly possible to launch a small business in your garage, backyard, basement, or a room in your home, and become a giant corporation.Your first step will be to study the company listings in this report, and then contact those that interest you. It’s possible you may not be interested in many of those listed in this brief report. But others may serve as that great motivator that makes you look further with a renewed determination. Once you develop that mind-set, persistence will follow and then nothing will stop you from achieving your goals.

BECOME A GOAL SETTER!

If you expect any level of success you must set goals. If you expect to be successful, you must determine what that means to you and the best way to achieve it. There are two basic steps you can take to convert goals into achievement: 1) You can decide on a specific dollar amount; and 2) You can set a time frame for obtaining the dollar amount you want. Your goal should be specific and indicate, What, When, and Where. After making a list of every possible way you might accomplish a goal, select the method that best suits your situation.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF

1)”How can I support my family while I build up my business?” This question must be worked out according to each individual’s circumstances. Many people start out on a part-time basis in addition to their regular jobs to see how much they can handle. Then when their income reaches a certain level they will switch over and go full time.

2) What are my abilities? To determine your abilities you will have to take an inventory of yourself. Decide what you enjoy doing the most and what you “feel” you would be good at. Examine every possibility and include every skill you have no matter how slight.

3) Is there a market for the product or service I have chosen? Be cautious before you invest any money! Check it out by making inquiries directly to the company, competitors, or firms who are marketing a product similar to the one you are interested in. Test it on a small scale. Check it thoroughly.

4) How long will it take this business to reach the financial goal I have set? It’s really a question of knowing how much time you can dedicate to your business, and what your profits will be for that time. From there, a simple addition will tell you how long it might take to reach a particular financial goal.

SUCCESS IS HAVING THE COURAGE TO BEGIN!

Starting a business at home is an economical way to start a small business that can easily grow into to a larger one. Many entrepreneurs have proven that you don’t need a huge manufacturing plant to develop a successful business. Some of the most successful businesses in existence today started in a spare room or garage. It isn’t how you start out that is important. What really matters is that you have the courage to begin.

SELECTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT OR SERVICE

Take a close look at your interests and abilities, and then decide what type of marketing you want to do. For example, do you want to sell directly to people; or would you prefer selling wholesale to retail outlets? If you prefer doing piecework or assembling items for manufacturers, make certain it’s something you enjoy working with. If you enjoy one-on-one sales, then test the product out on your friends, relatives, and neighbors. The object is to find out what has the most appeal.

DEVELOP A GOOD MARKETING TECHNIQUE

A good marketing technique is the one part of the business plan that is absolutely essential to its success. In fact, the ability to properly market a product or service is actually more important than the product itself. Even an inferior product can be a financial success if marketed properly. Seek out the advice of everyone in your field. Explain your needs and ask them questions. Experience is the best teacher. With good advice and a salable product, you should be able to develop a winning marketing plan.

FINANCING YOUR HOME-BASED VENTURE

The first place to look for financing is right at home. Take an inventory of items you don’t need and have a garage sale. Most people are pleasantly surprised at how much cash can be raised in a single weekend. Next, turn to members of your family or close friends who have faith in you and want to see you succeed. Offer to repay them through profit-sharing. Go to individuals in your community who and know you and believe in your personal worth. If you have a good credit history your banker should consider you a good financial risk. Two other excellent sources would be your local Small Business Administration (SBA) and Chamber of Commerce. SBA has low interest loans available for qualified applicants and your Chamber of Commerce can assist you with referrals and other helpful information.

WORK-AT-HOME OPPORTUNITIES ARE EVERYWHERE! 

Anyone who is serious about work-at-home opportunities only needs to look around them. There are thousands of options everywhere! There are employment opportunities that involve becoming an independent contractor; working on a commission basis; working for a salary; freelancing for pay; getting paid by the hour, receiving pay for each piece assembled; getting paid by the project, or a combination of any of the above. No doubt, what you finally decide on will depend on your particular needs and interests. 

Stop the lattes and cocktails. Make your own lunch. Don’t buy that top. Blah, blah, blah. We’re sick of the same old fuggly ways of saving, so we came up with ideas so painless you just won’t believe it.

1. Maxing plastic is so last year. Money magazine reported that people spend up to 20 percent more if they pay by credit, so take out a bit of cash and spend that. You won’t end up with things you don’t need or a debt you son’t want – so you’ll have more money to play with.
2. You might be able to tell the difference between a Tim Tam and a cookie of lesser value. But, come on, once you’ve used one type of cling wrap wou’ve used them all, right? “Generic brands are definitely the way to go,” “They can trim your grocery bills by more than 40 percent.”
3. Vinegar will shine your surfaces? Yep, they’ll all be peachy clean according to www.ehomemakers.net. Vinegar has been called the all-purpose household wonder, so replace the costly sprays with a bottle of vinegar. Plus, it leaves no stench at all.
4. How can you get the season’s staple items without spending too much? “I have these amazing two-year old Zara pants. But after heaps of wear, they’re not the blackest black. “So, every few months, I wash them with black dye. It gives them an instant lift – and now I’ve got RM300 to find shoes to update my look instead.”
5. If you’re a member of the mobile/Internet/pay TV club you could save up to 10 percent on those bills. Most companies will bundle everything together and offer a discount on the package.
6. Here’s one for the road. Did you know the heavier your car is the more petrol you use? So if your boot resembles the sale bin in Metrojaya, maybe it’s time for a little clean out.
7. Give up the puff because – aside from the horrendous health effects – you could save more than RM670 a year if you didn’t buy ciggies (based on two packs a week for 52 weeks).
8. Jet-setters rejoice! There’s a way to holiday without having to shell out. “If you book within 14 days, your hotel room could be sub-stantially cheaper. Sometimes, you can get up to 70 percent off,” “Plus, many hotels often include complimentary breakfast and free parking.” For budget finds locally holiday.
9. If you want to live happily ever after, start putting some of your pay away. “Every month, RM200 of my pay gets debited into the investment fund account. (it depend what you like to plan)
10. Banish loose change from your bag and you’ll be saving straightaway. Empty your conins into a jar each night. Resist the temptation to touch it and, every couple of months, use the change to splurge on something you really want.
11. My best mate gets her hair done by students at A cut Above Academy in Petaling Jaya, where it costs less than RM10. Look for har/beauty academies in your area that may offer their services for a reduced price. All it takes is a little research.
12. Want a booth to die for, but can’t afford the motivation? Most exercise gurus who conduct private classes will lower the rates if more people join the class. So, split the cost with your buddies and you’ll have a bikini bod and a bank balance worth shouting about.
13. “I”ve started baking cookies and giving them away as pressies,” “Not only do I save a ton at birthday time, but my home-made gems now have a rep. My mates say they’d be disappointed if they didn’t get my little brown paredl on their special day.”
14. Chances are your mate isn’t going to part with that pretty new top she got last week. But how about those hot jeans she bought on impulse, but never wears? “Once a month we hold a clothes swapping party,” “We each bring some clothes we are over and then barter amougst our-selvess. The trick is to choose some-thing you know a mate will love – it gives you more pulling power!”
15. How often have you spent oodles on a new cream, only to find out ti doesn’t suit you? Well, it’s time to visit sample land. “Iusually go with my mum,” “she buys expensive stuff, so once she’s done the counter ladies will turn their attention to me and I get loads of free samples to try and when I find something I like, I buy it.”
16. Remember this mantra: Buy big during sales time. “I bought three suitcases for a third of their original price during the Mega Sale Carnival last year,” From electronic items to bedding, the big stores discount heavily during sale time. You’ll save if you wait to make your investment purchases.
17. There’s notihing like a good book. Trouble is, new books cost. So join a library. “I might not get the exact book I’m looking for,” “But I usually find something to sink my teeth into.” Visit www.pnm.my to find out more about the National Library of malaysia and its network of librares.
18. Truthfully, how much money are you wasting on dry cleaning? Could those “dry-clean only” items be sorted out with a gentle hand wash? You’ll probably find it’s just laziness that has you believing white T-shirts don’t look the same when you have a go at them.
19. Jake, Josh, Jude. Ahhh. But, at RM10 a pop, you think we’d tell you to cut out hiting the flicks if you wanted to save money. Nope! Just try to catch your fave movies during non-peak hours or on special fare days. On most weekdays, movies screened before 6pm cost RM8, while on Wednesdays, all tickets go for a mere RM7!
20. If you’re musing over something fav and want iti straight aways, take a sec. “Lay-by is a great way to learn to love your money,” “You’ll appreciate your purchase even more and learn that impulse buying is rarely successful. In the long run, hopefully, you’ll change your whole spending attitude.”