Tote-Ally Awesome Fall

 

I know there is a mixed batch of feelings this morning.  Some are jumping up and down celebrating the fact TODAY is the day kids go back to school.  Some mommas are crying to see their babies go off to school for the first time.  I used to always struggle with the first day “back to school” when Belinda was younger.  I was grateful for the routine her being in school brought but I missed the togetherness we had during the summer.

So, this is the perfect time for some “ME” time. I know, you are thinking… “I have NO time”. Money is tight –  school supplies and clothes cost a fortune!

What if I told you, you could earn some money to pay those school shopping credit card bills AND save some money to pay CASH for those holiday gifts?  What if you could earn money while chauffeuring the kids to activities (NO, I don’t mean an Uber driver) or sitting at the field while they practice?  What would you do with an extra $300? Or are you looking for some time away from the kids?  Maybe you just want to shop at a 40% discount and earn FREE products?  Yup, I have an answer to all of those questions….

First, there is the two options on the enrollment kit.  You can use it to kick off your business or you can do your holiday shopping in one easy step.  If you decide to kick off your business (of course I will help you); you can not only earn 25% commission BUT you can also earn FREE products or Disney Bucks or Visa Gift Cards.  I know, crazy, right???

If earning some money, gift cards or free product doesn’t sound good……….. you could be a  hostess and get some FREE and discounted products.  I know, still no time, right?

What if I said YOU could get some ME time AND some FREE products at the same time?  Say what???  How about you and 3 friends join me for coffee (my treat)? Or lunch at your favorite restaurant?  Working and can’t get away?  What if I parked my car in the parking lot and everyone came to check out my “trunk” to see all of the goodies on their lunch break?  Are you a social media junkie?  What if you just carried a catalog with you and sent all of your friends to an online Facebook party?

With Thirty One’s September Customer Special you (or your friends) can pick YOUR favorite product to get a discount on!  I have all THREE of these products and absolutely LOVE them.  No, I don’t have to say it because I am a consultant, I say it because I use all 3 of them!  The Colorblock Tote in Olive has become my everyday bag.  The Around Town Tote, I use when going to meetings along with my Super Swap it Pocket.  The All About the Benjamin Wallet is one of our top sellers over and over again.  Here is what you can earn in the month of September just by sharing your favorite products with friends and family: 

So whether you live near me or you just follow my blog or are Facebook friends, we can party together so YOU can get some FREE products.  Trust me, I have heard it all…. no one buys when I have a party, no one comes when I have a party…..Why?  Because they figure it is the same “sales pitch” all of the time.  What if you had a theme or I could show you some simple solutions to make your crazy life a little easier?  Think about it…. what could it hurt especially with a Facebook party.  You invite your friends and I do all of the work.    What do you say…

Okay, I know some of you just like to shop!  You have already gotten your fall catalog, circled what you want and are ready to place your order.   So, click the link and head to my website and place your order.  WHAT?  You don’t have a catalog to circle your favorite items in? Click the catalog on the right hand side to request your copy!  I’m going to squirrel for a moment… Do you remember getting the Sears (or Toys R Us) Christmas catalog and going through circling everything you wanted Santa to bring?  I know I am dating myself BUT you can do the same thing with your catalog.  Then give it your hubby, your significant other, your kids or whoever buys you gifts.  I will help to make sure YOU get the gift you want for your birthday, anniversary or the holidays.

So, whether you are interested in starting a business, getting free products or just do a little shopping…..I want to be your “bag lady”.  No job is too big or too small…..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Time to Get Your Finances In Order

I’ll admit, I am not the one to give financial advice because I still struggle with staying on budget as well as paying down debt.  As hubby says “You will never be a Rockefeller” which is why I was a perfect fit for social work and non-profits.I am always looking for tips on how to get better at this because:

Managing your money is the key to success!

So, if you’re looking to try and get your finances in order, stop spending, and start saving, here are some top tips are for you to try….

 

1. Create a Spreadsheet 

Do you know how much you owe?  If you have debt, do you now how much your interest rate is on each one? To easily organize your finances, a spreadsheet is a great way to see your income and your expenses.  You can create one in Google Drive so you can stay on top of it.   I have a list including interest charges so when there is extra money, I can pay down on the highest interest rate first.

2. Set Up Savings 

I know this sounds crazy if you have debt BUT you need to start saving for an emergency.  It can be as little as $10 a paycheck or $25 a month.  Check with your bank too for some of those instant kind of saving programs.  Bank of America takes the change from your ATM transactions, rounds up and the money is put in your savings account.  Those pennies add up quickly.  It all helps!

3. Organize Direct Debits 

I used to advocate direct debits but when my income varies, it is better for me to have repeated reminders set up. I have reminders set up on each of my credit cards when payments are due – 14 days out and 1 week out.  This ensures I avoid any late payment fees and any (further) damage to your credit score.

4. Refrain From Impulse Purchases 

Yup, we are all guilty of it.  Sometimes it is easier said than done.  Be sure to have some room in your budget for treats – large or small so you can occasionally splurge!

5. Make A List – Stick To It How many times have you gone to the store and your list is home?  The end result, you buy more than what you need and usually forget what you originally went to the store for.  I have started putting my grocer list on my phone.  When was the last time you left home without your phone?  Whether shopping for Christmas, clothing or groceries – always stick to the list!

6. Set Budgets for Events 

Everyone’s salary is different so why not set a budget for Birthdays so you don’t feel pressured to match what everyone else is spending.

7. Emergency Fund 

This goes back to #2 when we set up a savings account.  What happens why you have a surprise expense – car repair, etc?  Tempted to pull out the credit card. DON’T!!!  Use your savings account or emergency account.  By saving a little each money, you are ready for those unexpected events.

8. Don’t Be Drawn In By Offers 

Sales.  How often are you drawn in by the offers non things you may not really need.  If you need it, great.  If you don’t, why buy it.  I mean do you really need the  half price Ben & Jerry’s ice cream?

9. Make a Packed Lunch 

Taking lunch to work is so much cheaper than a daily visit to the local sandwich shop.  Think of the money and time you will save.  Have an hour for lunch?  Imagine being able to enjoy a full hour of leisurely eating your lunch and catching up with friends instead of waiting to order food and then gulping it down.  Bringing your lunch to work is better all around as well as far healthier for you.

10. Cut the Coffee 

Yes, I went there.  When I was commuting to work, I would do a WAWA stop on the way to and from work.  That came to at least $5 or more a day or $25 per week or over $1,300 per year.  I’m now hooked on Starbucks unsweet green tea and thankfully, I don’t commute or it would be about $1,000 a year on ice tea.  What could you use a $1000 on?

 11. Use Your Legs 

If you live in the city or your commute is to an area where there is good public transportation, this is a great way to save money.  Growing up in NJ, there really is not a very good public transportation system unless you are headed to NY to work. In addition to saving money, you can also burn some extra calories by walking to and from the stops.

12. Seek Out Deals 

Yes, I have gotten lazy when it comes to looking for the best deals.  Whether it is car insurance, phone service or our cable bill – I haven’t shopped around for the best deal in ages.  When I did call Comcast to re-negotiate our bill, I was able to save about $50 per month which is $600 to apply to paying down credit card debt.

13. Sell And Buy Online

I used to do this all of the time – selling on eBay was a regular thing.  It has gone by the wayside but it may be time to revive this old habit.  When it comes to shopping online, I am always looking for the best deal using apps like Ebates and others.

What is YOUR best tips for getting your finances under control?  Share them with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Budgets and Budgeting

For many people the word “budget” brings mixed emotions and I am one of them.  As a grant writer & program person for over 25 years, budgets were my friend.  They kept me on track so that my spending did not get out of hand and they allowed our funders to know exactly where their money went as far as costs.

Home was an entirely different story.  Why is it that something that made perfect sense at work NEVER worked at home? Am I the only one?  LOL.  Creating a list of expenses and knowing what to pay was the easy part, living within the budget was the tough part.  I made lots of excuses – single mom, didn’t make enough and the list goes on.  In reality, I never learned (until recently) how to live within my means.  Credit cards were my friend and I used them a lot while I was a single mom trying to provide for my daughter.  Fast forward – daughter grown, credit card debt still there (not as bad as before, paid a lot off and closed the account) and I am just NOW learning to live within my budget.  See you can teach an old “dog”, new tricks.  I mean at age 55, you would think I would know this.  I took Dave Ramsey‘s financial university class and it was AWESOME when I was working full-time getting a regular paycheck.  I am now adjusting to receiving a commission check from my business instead of the bi-weekly checks.  Not an easy adjustment but this “old dog” is re-learning a new trick!  Mind you, I have a hubby who is debt-free and LIVES by budgets.  We have only been married for 2 years (on May 21st) so I have decided to be solely responsible for any past debt.

As for my business, I am learning how to take the skills that I learned in program budgeting and apply it to my direct sales business.  Here are some tips from Direct Sales Education Foundation on creating a budget for your small business:

• Know your averages: It’s important that you know what the average income you can earn is for each activity in your business, as well as average expenses. 
• Know your fixed and variable costs: Are there things you pay for each month, quarter, or year? 
• Write it all down: It is essential that you keep track of the money coming in and going out from your business. 
• Be conservative in your estimates: It’s important to have some extra income set aside for unanticipated expenses, so you have some flexibility in your business. 

Check out the complete article at: Direct Sales Education Foundation. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are lots of tools out there that can help you to overcome this hurdle which is one of the top causes for businesses failing.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day.