Fiverr

Hello everyone!

Have you all heard about Fiverr? It's an online gig market place you can go to, to not only offer services of your own work, but conduct business with professionals in different fields like Graphic Design, Digital Marketing, Writing and Translation, Video and Animation and more. From my understanding, Fiverr is all about selling and purchasing these different services at an affordable price. Services start at $5 and can go up to a maximum of $5000. It can be a great way to get a small side business going of your own, marketing all of your professional talents.

Sooo, allow me to give my own plug of business.

Audio recording: I have audio recording experience, and a friendly voice. I will record anything upon request, (I do reserve the right to refuse topics that aren't in accordance with my comfort zone.)

Transcribe: I will transcribe anything in English.

Blog: I will personally give a shout out or promote anything that you would like to be marketed (I reserve the right to refuse anything that I don't believe in and/or are not comfortable with.) I need to be able to fully understand what I am marketing before I put my name to it.

Hand written services: I will personally hand write anything needed, up to five pages, in straight hand or cursive.

Custom orders available upon request. Please visit my personal page to set up a gig! I'd love to hear from you!

Thank you!

Xo, Amanda

Everyone Loves Money!

Hello everyone!

Money. It's something that everyone loves and needs to have, but many of us feel that we may not be earning as much as we are worth. Many of us are putting in long hours, yet still struggle to pay the bills. It shouldn't be this difficult, right?

I know that I get a lot of anxiety of how I will be able to earn and save enough money not only to support myself and a family, but enough to be able to retire before I'm 80. My dad put it in a great way: money is like energy, the more you have, the more you can do. I'm not saying you need to go and be pulling in six figure paychecks each year, though that would be nice! However,  in order to be able to make basic bill payments, and still have enough left over for anything to reward yourself for your hard work, you may need to bring in money outside of your day job.

I have been researching many different ways to produce additional income, mainly through venues I enjoy and feel passionate about.

One of the ways that I allow myself to afford things outside of bills is to coupon. I have blogged about this many times before, check out my previous posts for more info! 

So what are some ways that you can make side money that either is a few extra dollars per month, or for very dedicated people putting in the work.... a full income? 

Affiliate marketing. For those who aren't familiar, affiliate marketing is working with brands/stores and advertising their business/product. If a sale results from the advertisement that you posted, you will receive an already agreed upon commission. How many times do you go onto to social media and see people posting about a specific product, and then have the hashtag #sp or #ad. These indicates that the individual or business posting about a particular product or service is being paid to advertise. This happens a lot with athletes; I will see them talking about a protein powder, mattress set, shoes, anything and then, as required, putting in the hashtag indicating it is a paid advertisement. 

Blogging. For someone like me who is building their audience, blogging through a free site such as google and getting their site monetized through Google Adsense is a perfect way to get started. It took a lot of research to figure out exactly how to do this, but it was worth it. What I did was set up my blog, and then applied to have it monetized. After review I was accepted, and now I have ads that run along side my blog. Simple!

YouTube. A very simple way to earn money online, is simply to search YouTube. Of course, everyone has to be careful about scams, because no on wants to fall into one of those. I have personally researched about click bank. For those interested, click bank is about setting up your site, and then marketing a product and providing the link to that product. For example, I have signed up through Amazon to become an Amazon Associate, I can advertise about a product, post a link, and then if someone click on the link and makes a purchase, I can make a commission.

So, a product that you can find on Amazon that my family LOVES is Nu Go Slim Crunchy Peanut Butter Protein bars. They are Vegan and Gluten Free for those with dietary restrictions. They are high in protein, 17g, only have 3g of sugar and have 7 grams of fiber, no Maltitol or Artificial Sweeteners. They are delicious! You can buy them here!

A new way that I have learned about making money, is through Facebook market place. From the research I have done thus far, all you need to do is post about the product you are selling, take pictures, and add in necessary info and wait for your customers. I've started doing this, and I must say that I like it a lot. There appear to be no commission fees taken, which means more money as the seller. Here is my personal link to my items that I am selling through the Facebook market place. Please take a look here, if you see anything of interest, I look forward to conducting business! 

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading!

Xo,

Amanda

Frugality is Financial Freedom!

Hello my darlings!

You may have noticed a theme by now, I really love to save money, who doesn't?! I go online to YouTube and learn a lot from people who have mastered their techniques, so I will share many of the things I learned as well as my own general knowledge.

Lets dive right in!

1) Thrift Shopping

I've gotten many compliments on items that I have purchased from thrift stores, some of which would have costs up the hundreds of dollars to purchase that I got for at least 90% off!  I love to ice skate, in fact, I almost took up figure skating as a young girl. I also had an immense interest in dance so I had to choose between dance and skating; my dad was much more supportive of dance (cost less and wasn't as potentially dangerous.) Well I was thrift shopping  and one day noticed a pair of lightly used white ice skates in the corner, just like professional females use. I thought there is no way they're going to fit me, but the gods were looking down on me that day, a perfect fit! I then thought, well how much are they? Ready for it? A whopping $4!!! I showed them to my mom and she couldn't believe it, given they were in such good condition, even had skate guard protectors on them.

Not only do I now own my own personal skates,  I've already saved money from not having to rent skates when I venture out to go skating!

Another fun purchase that we did thrift shopping is a pair of Gucci shoes. Gucci shoes can easily go up to the thousands of dollars. Well, once again, same thrift store and wonderful pricing.....$25. Goes to show you can find remarkable goodies for a fraction of the price.

2) Save in store and online without coupons

I learned that if you want to save some money online shopping, just put your items into the cart and don't check them out right away. Wait at least 24 hours that way you a) know for a fact that you really want to purchase the item(s) but also, the software will often notice that you haven't immediately purchased, so they may offer you a small discount to give you and incentive to purchase. Give it a try! All you have to lose is less money!

A way to save in-store without using coupons is to take advantage of the store brand and not the name brand. I learned online that many of the time the store brand is just as good as name brand, the only reason consumers pay more for the name brand is to finance for commercial advertising, as well as product testing. As a disclaimer, I have tested out the name brand vs store brand and have found myself favoring the name brand at times. To me the product is overall better, but that is just a personal preference. Point is, there are many times where you can still get good quality using store brand products vs name brand.

3) Online Rebate Sites

I have talked about these rebate sites before, like www.retailmenot.com, www.ebates.com. Consumers can save even more online using different websites like these. Ebates includes not only coupon codes but a percentage cash back. I actually received my first check today, it wasn't huge, just a little over $6, but its a start. This was simply just from some online shopping. There are several ways to save, you just have to learn how to do it.

I hope these few tips are helpful. Leave a comment on how you save money!

Social Media: Professional or Personal?

Eleven years ago, I was sent an invitation from a girlfriend to join this social media platform called "Facebook." I joined, and learned that I could connect with as many or as few friends as I wished, upload information about myself, publish pictures, "like" a post and many more interactions. Today, Facebook is so popular that it is not only utilized as a personal means of connection, but businesses have jumped on the bandwagon to promote their products and services. So much has changed, you can now react to a post through different emojs, do a live Facebook video stream, promote products through paid ads, etc.

So many platforms developed, not even 10 years old, have made such an impact on our global society: Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, etc. It makes me wonder as a consumer what will be developed next.

Is the level of social media usage a good or a bad thing? One might say that it can be very good because not only from the personal connections you can maintain, but from a professional stand point social media can reach a very large audience, depending not only on your own audience numbers, but based on the numerical amount you are willing to fund to reach your target audience through ads.

Twitter, especially for me, has become a news outlet. I personally follow many news sources, and stay ahead of the most breaking news and weather stories. Yes, Twitter was originally designed simply to "Tweet" out our inner/random thoughts, all at only 140 characters. Now, Twitter has become a major platform, once again for professional usages, for businesses, actors, business owners, politicians, to get the word out to a very large audience.

Others might say that social media can be a platform for online bullying to take place. How often does it happen that a person will post a picture/video, accompanied by a mixture of responses. Why do people feel its ok to say something extremely negative and downright mean to someone they have never met in person? Is it easier to hide behind the screen? It will never be ok to be an online bully, no matter what the social media platform is.

Another downside to social media is the addiction of usage users have developed (I'm guilty of this.) How often do we see in public people on their devices, instead of communicating with the people in person (again, I am guilty of this.)

Social media, has also become a source of income. Having a large audience can be very lucrative; we often will see an account holder talk about a product or service followed by the hashtag #ad or #sp, meaning they are being paid to post. YouTube used to just be about posting amateur video on any topic, now people have made a side or full time income from posting videos to their large audience and make money through monetizing their channel.

In the end, social media is great for both, just with a good balance. We will see how many of the platforms stick around and compete with one another.

A "Unique" Way to Save

Hello readers!

Do you love saving as much money as I do? From previous posts I've published, I'm sure you have learned by now that if I don't have to pay full price for something, I'm certainly not going to.

Today i went shopping with my mom and sister for some retail therapy, and what's better than shopping....saving money WHILE shopping. We went to a thrifstore called "Unique." This particular location is located in Merrifield, VA. The store is very large with many different department categories--shoes and accessories like handbags, wallets, scarves and belts, kids clothing, men and women, jewelry, as well as a home goods section. They have a huge variety.

Like any thriftstore, it can be either a big hit or a miss. Well, it was a big hit today! Scored about 6 items for only $22.10. One of the items that I was super excited about was a pair of Nine West shoes that were very lightly worn, black heels that were not only comfortable but were under $10! You just don't score a good pair of brand name shoes for under $10 even on clearance (usually.)

A big tip on how we only spent $22.10 was because on Thursdays, if You have the membership card, you receive 25% off the whole purchase. The prices were so great to begin with and with the 25% off, we saved an additional $6.58. Awesome, right? You just need to do a little bit of research and know the store policies.

Don't be ashamed to thrift shop, many of them benefit local charities or organizations. "Unique" benefits veterans, all the while saving yourself some green.

I don't brag about how much I spend on an item, I brag about savings. Saving is cool!

Happy shopping and happy saving!

Make Money with Reading!

Hello readers!

Over the past year, I have joined up with a wonderful company called Usborne Books and More. It is a book publishing company that sells excellent quality books at a very affordable price.

The books are designed for children beginning at a very young age, all the way up until high school, though anyone who likes the books can benefit and enjoy them!

You might be wondering from the title how you can make money from reading. Well let me explain. I became a consultant because not only can I read the books and enjoy them, but I now sell them. I signed up under a neighbor; she is my go to consultant when I have questions, or just overall want a team partner. Signing up is a one time fee, and you receive a welcome kit with all the information that you need, plus starting inventory of books, catalogs, and more. There are no quotas you have to meet per month, no minimum in sales, nothing. Just the amount of work YOU as the consultant want to put in, is what you get out of it. There are many different ways that you an earn money: web sales, Facebook parties, home shows, community fairs and more.

An added bonus, the more you sell, the more free books you earn, which then makes your inventory greater for future sales. This is all the while you can help encourage your student to want to learn to read and to make it a fun learning process. Everyone needs to learn to read, why not make it enjoyable!

Visit my consulting website to shop the catalog, and if you would like, become a consultant with me, that way you an start your own business, promoting a wonderful cause, LITERACY!

https://j5126.myubam.com/

Miracle 10

We all have different hair types; I have been blessed with having straight hair, that doesn't require any blow drying. I have noticed, however, as I matured that my hair, especially in the warmer season, gets poufy after I have washed it. I also have noticed that every time I have gotten my hair cut, my hair is always smooth and silky after I leave the hair salon. It then dawned on me why the change in my hair texture and volume is different when I leave the salon. My hair dresser has used a wonderful leave in conditioner called Its a 10 Miracle Leave in Product. This product is so wonderful. It attacks 10 problems in one, hence for the name. It add softness, controls frizz, provides shine, so many benefits. Check it out!

The product is a little pricey, depending on your budget, but it is totally worth it. I personally purchased mine from Walmart for roughly $18, however different retailers will sell it for different pricing.

All you need to do is wash and condition your hair as normal, towel dry, and then spray the product in, and comb it through. That's it. Its wonderful and smells great too.

Homemade Crab Cakes

It has become a tradition recently for my dad's birthday to have homemade crab cakes for dinner. Yes, we can always buy then from any store or go to a local restaurant and pay $20 buck a pop for them. Why not make your own?

The recipe I did: 2lbs of crab meat, lemon juice, mustard,  egg, mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning, crushed croutons and crab cake mix. I "eye balled" all of the ingredients and them made them into patties. I generously coated my frying pan with olive oil and olive oil spray. I then let the patties cook on each side.

How well done they are is up to each individual. I make sure they have a golden brown finish to ensure food safety.

Bon appetite!

$0.52 for Skin Care

You read that correctly,  I paid a total of $0.52 for some face wipes from CVS. How? I had $5 in extra care rewards from CVS. Extra Care Rewards is when you receive store credit from qualifying purchases towards your next shopping order. The qualifying merchandise will have yellow tags hanging right by the price listing,  saying exactly how many of the item you have to purchase in order to qualify for the extra care rewards. Be careful, as they do have an expriation date after you have earned them, so keep tab on when that date is.

To explain exactly what I did, I picked up the CVS brand of face wipes (the generic version compared to the ingredients in the "Simple" line.) I then went up to the register and had them scan my CVS card on my phone,  which pulled up my account. They scanned the face wipes, and then applied my $5 credit, which then had me paying only 0.52 out of pocket.  Boom!

It Pays to Shop Online

Hello readers!

Do you ever feel guilty about shopping too much? I know that for me, I need retail therapy, it really does work. You know what also really helps, knowing that I'm saving as much money as is possible. If you've read my previous posts, then you will know that I am a coupon fanatic, I will not pay full price for something, if I don't have to.

My friends know my need to stay on budget, and they have introduced to me to two amazing websites, that maybe you have heard of as well, they are called "Ebates.com" and "Retailmenot.com."

From what I have seen, they both are pretty similar in their overall missions to save money for consumers, the only difference is that Ebates may provide a slightly higher percentage in money back. From what I have seen thus far, Ebates provides you links to items on sale through different retailers, and additionally offers a small percentage back on that same transactions through the Ebates website itself. For example, through Ebates, if I was looking for Ralph Lauren items, if I click on the accompanying link, I can not only save up to 40% off of my purchase, but Ebates itself will also reimburse me 15% cash back. That's a pretty good deal, simply for shopping through a discount website.

You might be thinking if Ebates provides that additional cash back and Retail Me Not doesn't, why would you bother shopping on Retail Me Not. Well, here's how I look at it. Not every website will provide the discount that you are looking for, so even though Ebates might have the additional small money rebate back, if they don't have that discount listed, but Retail Me Not does, well, you are still saving money, regardless. Beggers can't be choosers after all. I personally have shopped from both discount websites and am very happy that I've stumbled upon both money saving tactics.

I sure hope that I've helped you with another money saving strategy. Happy (less guilty) shopping!

A Good Money Saving Habit

Hello readers!

I have an addiction--couponing! I've always been very budget conscious, but now that I'm a young adult working for my own money, and live in a very expensive real estate area, every money saving tip and trick I can do, I take advantage of!

We all know about the good ol' fashion coupons that you can cut out directly from the weekly paper, but did you know that there also other ways to save money-- digitally and rebate apps?

Digital coupons are now available through different website links. The main one that I use is directly from www.coupons.com. Here you can find manufacturer coupons that work just the same as the ones that are printed in the weekly paper, the only difference is that you can clip the coupons that directly relate to your purchasing habits (coupons are based upon availability). Once you clip all of the coupons that you need, print and go shopping. Its that easy!

Most people have a smartphone. Most retailers have their digital app you can download directly to your phone and you can use coupons that are only available through the app itself. Technology does pay off at times!

Ibotta--this is a great app that you can download to your smart phone and get cash back on everyday purchases from grocery to apparel as well as your favorite dining establishments. All you need to do is select the rebate for the specific product based upon the category of retailer you are shopping from, and then provide proof of purchase and you are set! You are not going to get a ton of money back in a quick amount of time, but it does add up. I've been using Ibotta for just about a year and have earned $100 back! That's $100 just from taking a few minutes from each shopping experience and seeing if I purchased any qualifying rebates. Not bad, right?

Checkout 51 is another app very similar to Ibotta. You provide proof of purchase and then select the items you would like to have your cash back from.

One trick that many people may not know about is that you can use all of these ways to buy an everyday item for a much reduced cost. How? For example, I buy Woolite when I wash dark or delicate clothing items, to keep their dark fabric and shape. There have been times where I have a manufacture coupon, a store promotion, as well as the digital coupons available through the retailer app as well as rebate apps. I'm not saying this will work every single time, but sometimes the stars are aligned properly, and you can combine many of these money saving ways to reap the most in savings.

I think most can agree that this is a good habit to have.

Stop Procrastinating--Higher Confidence!

Like many people, I am often the victim of a terrible P word--procrastination. We all say how we will just do something later. I've noticed something; went I put off a project for a long time, my confidence is lowered. I'm always thinking about how I need to get certain tasks done, but many times always find an excuse or something else to put the project off that I really need to get done.

Today I made a change.

I organized my room. I had been putting it off for a while. No, I do not mean basics, like leaving my bed unmade, or dirty clothes thrown on the floor (though there are days where the basics just don't happens, lets be honest.) I mean I went through clothes in my closet that I don't need anymore, old purses that I loved back in the day, but that can be loved in a new home soon. I have storage bins of out of season clothes, filing cabinets with old paperwork--you get the idea. Once I stopped procrastinating and actually did something, I felt SO much better. Like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and accomplished a major project that was really weighing me down. Growing up, I wasn't the best at organization, my mom was always nagging at me to keep things tidy, and I just wasn't very good at it. Now that I'm a young professional, I actually notice how I feel so much better when I feel organized. A clear space is a clear mind and allows for creativity  and not feeling clutter.

Another way of procrastination isn't necessarily based on organization, it simply can be about learning something new. For example, I have been wanting to get my own blog started. The fact that I am writing this, shows that I am staying on board with my commitment to myself. Yes, I written blogs in the past, but I felt that I never was consistent with the content that I was posting. I'm making a change and will be updating on a regular basis.

I also am learning how to keep up-to-date with the latest technology. I live with my parents, who are retirement age. They didn't grow up with technology that we have today, so you can say that at times, I'm not always as up to speed with certain things as I could be, I self teach myself a lot. For example, for Christmas, we received a Kindle as a gift. Of course we were familiar with the product, but we just never got around to purchasing one, and finally Santa brought us one. Well, I've been meaning to get to learn how our Kindle works. Now, most of you will probably be saying, you've had the thing for 6 months, what's the hold up. Well, I've had A LOT of other things happen that required my attention. My mom suffered an injury, which took up a lot of my time, between medical appointments, and having another family member dealing with health issues as well, between the two, my time was committed to their health first.

Now that things are up and on the mend, I'm committing to myself to not procrastinate nearly as much, and when I want to learn something, do it as quickly as possible. Knowledge is power!

The Art of Cooking

I LOVE to cook, and my family says that its a natural gift. I would say some of it is based simply upon observation. I watched my mom and dad cook growing up, and especially became more observant into my teens and early 20s. The majority of it though I think is just natural instinct.

I cook many dishes: chicken stir fry, fish, ground beef variations with pasta as well as a variety of sauteed veggies. What I like to do is take ordinary flavored veggies (zucchini, peppers, etc) and add life to them. What I mean by this is flavor them up so they aren't as boring.

Growing up, my mom would always boil zucchini in a pot, and don't get me wrong, they were good, but plain, soggy zucchini is well, boring. I newly concocted a sauteed recipe, that everyone in my family loves.

I take zucchini, slice them up (you can make them as thin or thick as you would like--they cook faster and retain more flavor when thinly sliced from my experience). Put olive oil spray in the pan to avoid burning. I then add olive oil, "Old Bay" seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, lemon juice, and worcestershire sauce. Let them cook on one side for a few minutes, then flip them over.

They are DELICIOUS and tasty nutritious way to make your veggies more favorable.

Easy and Natural Beauty Routine

Hey everyone! As you may have guessed from the title, I'm about to tell you about my beauty routine that I use to keep my hair and skin healthy and happy.

I am one of those people who was blessed with naturally clear, healthy skin (I rarely break out), BUT that doesn't mean that I neglect taking care of my complexion. I have tried a few different products over the course of my teens and now into my late 20s, and I finally have found a line that is "Simple", and easy on the skin, and affordable! You might be wondering why I put Simple in quotes above, well that is because the line that I use is called  Simple, I LOVE this line. It is a wonderful brand that not only has no harsh ingredients, but has vitamins that are great for a healthy skincare routine.

My favorite products that I use are the Dual Eye Makeup Remover which most importantly removes my stubborn waterproof mascara. I use the Simple Cleansing Wipes to remove my face makeup and to clean my skin. For day time use, I hydrate my skin with the Protecting Light Moisturizer in order to protect against the harmful UV rays (yes, all year round even on cloudy days) and at night use the standard Replenishing Rich Moisturizer.

When it comes to my hair, I alternate among hair care products depending on the season and what my hair care needs are at the time. The one thing that I do use year round to have an intense hydrating mask for my hair are two ingredients that you can eat together, though they may not taste the best together. They are coconut oil and raw honey.  I melt the coconut oil in a sauce pan on very low heat only for a few seconds (the oil heats up very quickly, so it is really important to keep the heat on absolute low.) I put the honey in with it, to make sure both are warm, never hot. On damp hair, I put this mask all over my hair, focusing a lot of the ends, where the most damage takes place. I leave the two on for 30 minutes to an hour, and then wash and condition like normal.  A tip I heard about is to do this hair hydrating mask on your wash day as it absorbs better into dirtier hair. I noticed the first time that I did this routine, my hair was not only so incredibly soft, but shiny, even my girlfriends noticed! This is a very affordable routine, that I do every couple of months to maintain luscious locks. Your hair will thank you!

I'm all about natural, and affordable products, in every category of my life, as much as possible. I would love to hear any additional beauty and skin care tips you may have!

Regular Price to Coupon Price

I have blogged about this before, and I will blog about it again, I LOVE to coupon. I have found multiple ways to reduce the cost of my grocery bill, and I want to share it all with you all.
Coupons.com is a new treasure that I discovered last Fall, 2016, and it has been such a welcoming surprise. I clip all of the coupons that I need, print and scan! One key concept that I only recently learned was that you can combine multiple different discount techniques: in store promotion, digital coupons through the app, and now manufacture coupons both through the newspaper and through online sources, such as coupons.com.

One very exciting money saving tip that I have is how to get an item that is not on sale at all, down to only one dollar. I recently took up consuming https://www.boost.com/products/calorie-smart for the nutritional benefits as well as a yummy protein shake. Depending on your budget, purchasing Boost on a weekly basis can get expensive. I became lucky the past two weeks; I managed to get this nearly $10 pack of protein shakes down to only $1.19. How? I had a digital coupon through my CVS app for $2 off of Boost shakes, I had a $2.oo off coupon I had printed out through coupons.com and I had 20%off any item in store at CVS. Combine all those together, and I was able to get a nearly 90% off discount. Talk about a money saver!
I plan on purchasing my next pack soon, as I have $2.00 off again through coupons.com, I now have a $3.00 off through the app and I have $3.00 in Extra Care rewards to use, so once again a major discount, and this is before the item even goes on sale in the store. It is possible to get a significant discount on your own, without an in store promotion, you just need to be educated on the different saving techniques and have good timing.

Launching a Business...Baby Steps

Hello readers!

I am writing this post as a novice when it comes to launching a business. You see, I am a born entrepreneur, I love the idea of being my own boss, making my own rules, and helping others. I'm sure many of you are thinking the exact same thing: wouldn't we all love to be the boss in our line of work. Well, I have a question for every single business owner out there:

How did you actually launch the business?

What I mean by this is, literally what steps did you take to get the business going. Yes, I understand about having a business plan, marketing and of course the finances to cover all of the start up costs. What I mean is, when someone says that they started from nothing and then built a very successful business, how did you go about marketing, and going from perhaps the basement in your home to an actual business office. How did you go from being a one person, or a literal family business to having the recourses to pay your staff. I have read many different articles about how people have found a situation that they wanted to solve and thus created a product or business (I watch "Shark Tank a lot as well) and they have said how they "launched" their business. Well, I am one of those individuals who needs to know the EXACT steps these entrepreneurs took to make a success.
I recently thumbed through a book about how a mom wanted to have it all: a family, career and overall enjoy life. Well once again, she used that word, "launched." Its a great word in the business vocab, but again I ask HOW.

Please feel free to comment how you business folk started. Trial and error always happens, share your thoughts. Please and thank you!

Limited Income....Love Coupons!

A new hobby that I'm proud to say I've become addicted to is couponing, which will explain my title. I am in my late 20s, on a limited budget and live in a very expensive zip code at home helping a family member with health issues. How do I do it over and above a straight job?  I COUPON to save money, and I'm proud of it. Let me explain how I saved around $100 on groceries and gas this week. Yes, $100 saved.

My family does the majority of our grocery store shopping at Giant for two reasons, its our closest grocery location with great deals, and also gas points at participating Shell stations. For every dollar you spend at Giant, you earn a point, get 100 points, you earn $0.10 off per gallon of gas, 200 points, $0.20 and so on...reach 1000 points, $1.00 off each gallon. Certain items have deals each week, if you buy 5 of the participating items (shampoo), you then earn an automatic $0.50 per gallon, along with all of the other points earned based on the dollar amount you spent for that particular grocery shopping trip. For example, you spend $50 on groceries, and also purchase the participating products for gas that day ($0.50 additional gas points) then you earned a total of 1000 points, or a $1.00 off per gallon. Make sense? It is a bit confusing at the beginning, but it becomes pretty routine and easy once you get the hang of it. Now people have pointed out to me that I'm still spending that money on these items, in order to redeem my gas points, so isn't it a waste? I say no. My logic is, if I'm going to use the item anyways and it won't expire  (non perishable items) or pantry goods that have a long expiration date, it really in the end evens out because you are saving at the pump, the same dollar amount you spent at the grocery store.

My most recent triple saver was one I am especially proud of. It was on shampoo. I had a manufacturer coupon for $2 off two bottles of a specific brand of shampoo. The store had a promotion of not only 2/$6 but also, if you buy 5 of them, then you earn $0.50 additional gas points. Bam! I was able to combine all 3 promotions. I ended up saving $20 on gas with previous points earned.

Let me just say this, I'm not a crazy coupon hoarder, I don't just take items out of the store I don't need just because I can get them for crazy cheap, or free, I use all of my items. I also don't store 25 bottles of laundry detergent, I store 20.....kidding! But in all seriousness, I use commonsense when it comes to deals, and have not built any additional storage places in my house, so I have keep in mind the amount of room we have to keep everything.
Last bit I will say on this, as you can tell, I am really passionate about saving money. Go onto different coupon apps, they are a money saver....<a href="https://ibotta.com/register?gclid=CObCxOS5jtACFdJZhgodMnkMQA" target="_blank">Ibotta</a> is a major one I use, it ranges from $0.25 off of bread, to $3 off detergent, every penny adds up! I also go to <a href="https://www.coupons.com/" target="_blank">coupons.com</a> and print out deals. Check with your local stores policy, many times they will allow you to stack coupons. Good luck!

Don't Quit Your Day Job

There is the saying "don't quit your day job." Here is a very important question and concept to really contemplate: you have your day job that produces the stable income, but if you're like me, you have always wanted to be your own boss. How does one find the balance of keeping your focus on your day job where you answer to your boss and co-workers, all the while still maintaining the energy, physically and emotionally to create a new start-up business, or product. It can be hard. I have been a big fan of "Shark Tank" and have read books from the "Sharks" on advice. They talk about how you need creativity and the pros and cons of working for yourself. So here is my question: how would you, my readers, go about and come up with a great product, or business idea, get started, all the while maintaining your job that pays the bills, and maintain a family/social life (if you have a family of your own.)

YouTubers.....

So this is a very honest question I have: how do YouTubers become sponsored. There are so many competitors out there creating all sorts of different content; everyday products they use, clothing and makeup purchases, and straight up fun and creative videos. How do you go about getting "discovered."

My questioning behind this comes with having an entrepreneurial passion. Lets face it; the world has gone digital, yes there are still plenty of tangible ways of life, but a lot has transferred to mobile devices. Social media in its infancy was and is still Facebook, yet, there are newly developed applications competing with one another constantly. Facebook originally was created for personal exposure, and now many consider it more on the professional side with businesses promoting their services, and advertisements on the sides, targeting different members interests. Instagram even has become much more professional. Not in anyway saying businesses don't have a right to advertise through social media, just that it clearly shows that social media exposure has changed the way our world operates.

People are becoming "Facebook" and "YouTube" stars based on various content they are sharing, everyday content that goes viral. What makes them so much more special and noticed? Just some thought that I have. Feel free to comment.

Paying for Life Skills

As an aspiring entrepreneur, and a young career female with many interests, its hard to pin point what I call an actual "career." I am the proud co-owner of my start-up family business called "ABC 4 Higher Ventures." Our business will be specializing in Consulting and Sales, so it leaves it open to be an umbrella company. There are many skills that can be included in our business.

My individual interests  have a hefty leaning on sales. I currently work in a sales job that is about getting the best design for your budget. Sales isn't always about just trying to "sell" a product, but knowing what you are selling and all the options that can be included and alternatives available.
Being in a sales position is a wide variety of fields, from real estate, to a sales associate at a local or franchise business, and many in between.  Real estate, I'm learning as I have family working the in field, is more than just selling a home. Its' about knowing the zip code areas, what the interested family is looking for, and all of the in between steps that involve the actual move. I have strongly thought about becoming involved in real estate as property values in my hometown of Tyson's Corner in Northern Virginia are skyrocketing with all the added business and transportation construction.

Another area of sales that people may not know about is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affiliate_marketing" target="_blank">affiliate marketing</a>. Long story short, a business will reward a person if they advertise through linkage of a product and another buyer clicks on the link. You can read a more detailed description at the link provided above.
My point with all of these different types of sales is that learning these life skills can lead to more money in the bank and overall knowledge of a variety of different life interests You can have a career that involves many different components, so expand your horizon and don't be afraid to have many interests, I'm not.

Does the Pant Leg Fit?

I've been employed in my job of a little over 3 months,  and my professional wardrobe needs have changed. I work as a Sales Associate for a local, family owned floral shop. It's a wonderful business, and I'm proud to be part of the family. My work attire asks for business causal, and of course I want to dress the part. I shop everywhere to find pants that fit my petite stature, and sometime strike gold, and other times, well it can be a real drag!.....on the floor. There will be that eventual time that not all pants are going to fit the length of my legs, and I either roll them up (skinny jeans) or I have to alter the pant leg myself.

The main step to alternations is to try on the pants, and to use sewing pins to hold the pant leg in place, after that, either, cut the pant leg with the appropriate sewing scissors, sew the pant leg up to the proper new length or do both! If you're lucky, your kind and skillful mother will help you get the pants to the correct length.

Don't give up if you can't find the correct length in store, and don't worry about finding an expensive tailor (unless you want to), this is where some helpful sewing skills come in to place! Happy sewing.

Money Back...AFTER Shopping??

Smart phones, both Android and iOS devices are owned by a vast population; benefits ranging from 4G networks to all of the apps available for download. One of the apps that I use, with some money benefits is "Ibotta." It is a shopping app that can be used on several different items ranging from grocery to more luxury purhases. With just two grocery shopping trips, I've earned back almost $10. That is a lot of moola! "Ibotta" is very easy to use, once you learn all of the tactics behind the intended use.

The way it works:
1) Go to the type of shopping you will be doing (ex-grocery, at Walmart)
2)Once at the proper shopping destination link, look at the items available for rebate. They can range from $.025 and higher. Sometimes you will have to unlock the item, or other means as instructed.
3) Purchase the item and then use the camera on your phone to scan the bar-code, and then once all of the bar-codes from purchases have been scanned, take picture of the receipt to verify the purchases. Submit your receipt and wait for approval.

All of the instructions are very clear, and might differ per purchase. It's a great way to make some change back from shopping trips. I haven't always gotten lucky with earnings every trip, but if I'm going to  use the product anyways, then might as well purchase now, and earn the money back.
This app pays you back to shop!

5 Minute Workout....WORKS!

We all lead busy lives. We all try to do it all, be that working girl and have a life outside of our professional aspirations. We all have our limits and want to find that perfect balance. Instead of thinking of how I don't want to come home after long work day and workout, I think how it will make me feel so much more accomplished and happy. I tend to do a lot of "mini" workouts that require 5-15 minutes of my time, outside of my daily cardio (mostly walking.) The fitness guru's I look to are Denise and Katie Austin and Cassey Ho. Denise has been a fitness expert for over 25 years, and now her daughter, Katie, is following in her footsteps. Additionally, I like to switch things up and follow different exercise entrepreneurs to keep things new and original. Cassey Ho is another great alternative that I look to as well. She has many 5 minute work out series that are seriously good and quick workouts. Take a look at all three! <a href="http://getfitwithkatie.com" target="_blank">Katie Austin</a>, <a href="http://deniseaustin.com" target="_blank">Denise Austin</a>, <a href="http://blogilates.com" target="_blank">Cassey Ho</a> will all get you in the right and inspiring direction!

Love Yourself, Not Photoshop

For many females (and males), body image is a huge insecurity; is my body as good looking/toned, etc as they are in the magazines? Many of the concerns are based on false advertising that magazines publish through programs like Photoshop. Everyone has a different body shape, two individuals can put in the same amount of exercise and dietary disciplines, yet, body composition is different. That OK! We need to let girls know that everyone is different, and no matter what you look like, you are important and worth it.

I myself have had my fair share of body insecurities. My body changed from the teenage girl body I had (19-20) to my now 29 year old body. I have developed wider hips, and my overall composition has matured. Clothing that I used to be able to wear 2 years ago, doesn't fit me anymore, not because I'm "fat" but because of genetics and inevitable body aging. There is only one thing that we can control, how we treat our bodies. That isn't only in diet and exercise form, but in our emotional connection with our own individual selves.

I was very inspired by this <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6715396/demi-lovato-nude-makeup-free-vanity-fair-photo-video" target="_blank">article</a> by Vanity Fair, Demi Lovato stripping down, no clothes no makeup, and no, not for the immediate reason you may think. Read the article, it's all about confidence and inner beauty. Take a look.

Are you a "Shark?"

This might sound like a weird question when I ask if you are a "Shark." No, I do not mean the fish that goes swimming around looking for prey to feast on, and I do not mean the documentary that happens every summer for "Shark Week." When I ask the question, I'm referring to the hit ABC show, "Shark Tank?" For those unfamiliar, it is a business reality show airing on Friday nights during the Fall/Spring season. They have successful business investors who listen to presentations from entrepreneurs looking to expand their business. These entrepreneurs seek investments (loans) from the "Sharks" in exchange for selling a percentage of their business for advice on business practices to increase ROI.  The Sharks decide if they want to invest their own hard earned money into these individual business presentations; some do and others don't. "Shark Tank" often airs updates during the show to demonstrate how much more successful these entrepreneurs have expanded their sales after the shark has given their time and expertise.

My entire reason for reflecting on this show is because I have spoken with various colleagues about the idea of "Shark Tank." Some say it's an interesting idea but wouldn't be interested in selling a portion of their hypothetical business because that is a loss on income for the original owners. However, other like minded people to myself have similar viewpoints to my thinking of how "Shark Tank" really does help each presenter on the show. Even if they don't strike a deal with the sharks, they still have had an enormous opportunity to advertise their business and to expand their audience, simply by a five minute or less air pitch. If they do strike a deal even better! Yes, they do lose a percentage of their ownership by making the deal in the first place, but if the Sharks advice and expertise is solid, then they increase their revenue by a large margin.

What do you think? Should all of these different business owners come on to the set of "Shark Tank", present their business model, it's flaws, and its target goal, and aim to have lessons from pros, or it is this just another show that will run it course over time?

Name Brand vs Comfort

I was shopping today again for work attire, and decided to stop by my favorite place, handbags! I was browsing through various different name brands and more low key designs. I noticed that the name brands were obviously much more expensive, but also, didn't seem as practical as the lower priced ones. The top name brands seemed to be not as functional and everyday life usability. I wish I could afford name brands and they were more everyday life like. What I mean by this is that it is easier to tote around the lower priced ones more easily, and they seem to be softer in material and more range in zipper space. Now before I get name brand fans opposed to this writing, I own a Calvin Klein purse, that not only is a snap shut one, but I wouldn't call it suitable for all activities or heavy traveling. I like ones that can store may things, like a "Marry Poppins" bag, if you will, but one that won't lug me down. I hope that this makes sense. I would love to hear feedback on this topic.

Buy at the End of Season...Save Big $$$$$

So one little money saving shopping trip I have been taking advantage of is shopping for Clearance items at the end of season, and save big bucks. Unless you know for a fact that you won't be able to fit into something (still a growing child, child bearing, or losing weight) go ahead and buy something that you know you will most likely be able to use the following season, but with the discount of the clearance sale. Last year, I found some great boots that I really loved, and the best part was the it was just in time for Spring/Summer and thus I wouldn't need to be wearing them for a few months, but since the store was trying to get them off the shelves, they were a steal practically. Same with some sandals, that were on clearance. Shoes that normally would be a lot more, I got for less, way less.

Unless the item is perishable, seriously, buy clothing at the end of the season, and then save it. Your wallet will thank you. I almost never buy clothing when it first comes out, unless there is a very special promotion going on in order to get people to buy in the first place. It may feel a little weird to buy something when the next season is coming up, but hey, if the shoe fits (until next season) then buy it and have some extra dolla to go out on the town!