There is no bad time to become a blogger. Simply the sooner you start, the larger a blog can grow. In this article, we’re going to show you how to start a money-making blog in under 5 minutes.
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
As some companies recall their workforce back to the office, many opt to make the remote working move permanent. For me, this is the case. My company’s VP was mostly against remote working until the pandemic happened. Since then, he has changed his mind as he could see all of the positives that have come from it.
One of the biggest surprises he had was productivity while working at home. In this article, I want to go through things I did to increase productivity while working at home.
One of the most important items to increase productivity while working at home is a distraction-free environment. There are so many more distractions while working from home.
Some distractions include:
It is crucial to set up boundaries with all of these distractions. Try to complete larger chores the night before work. It is okay to do small chores throughout the day as a quick break between projects.
Try unplugging the TV, so it is harder to turn it on.
Set up breaks that include your pets or kids, letting them know you are unavailable at other times. I have set up a two-sided green/red sign on my office door. Green tells my kids and wife I can be bothered. Red signals that I am unavailable.
Most importantly, make sure your workspace is set up in an area cut off from the rest of the house. Sometimes this is not possible, though. Try finding a corner of your home that is out of the way from these distractions.
As mentioned above, distractions can decrease your productivity while working at home. Having a dedicated workspace in the corner of your home away from heavily trafficked areas is very important. This dedicated space is important because it helps get your mindset to work. For example, if you are working from the couch one day, the dining room table the next day, then the porch table another day, your brain will have trouble being fully engaged.
Of course, there are exceptions that we will talk about in tip #19.
I like to take a quick five to ten-minute break from everything every 60-90 minutes. I try to give my brain and eyes a break from the computer during this time. These short breaks allow me to return rested to focus on the project.
Sitting all day is horrible for our bodies. One thing to do on your breaks is to get up and move. I make sure I do some movement for some breaks, such as pushups, jumping jacks, high knees, or jump rope. You could do all of these movements in five minutes easily. The goal is to get your heart rate up and get your blood flowing again. This movement stimulates your brain and helps wake you up.
My wife and I eat reasonably healthy throughout the week. Since starting this routine, I have noticed that my energy levels are high. I love it!
Try eating more fruit and vegetables instead of munching on chips, cookies, and candy bars throughout the day. I have found that these keep my cravings more satisfied because I can eat more without feeling too guilty.
One thing that has helped me is my daily routine. This routine helps set the expectations for the day.
I start the day off at 4:45 am with a 45-minute workout. I then get the kids ready for the day, followed by a shower. Once my family is out of the door, I make breakfast and work on Wallet Squirrel for an hour. Then, at 7:30 am, I am at my dedicated workspace to start my 9-5 job. This last step leads me to my next tip to increase productivity while working at home.
At 7:30 am, I always start my workday with emails and figure out what I will tackle during the day. I try not to overfill my day because random interruptions or fires need to be taken care of. This task list helps me stay focused on what needs to be done for the day. If I did not have this list, my mind would wander all over the place, and nothing would get done.
Accountability partners at work are a great thing to have. I recommend leaning on a teammate or maybe your boss to help you stay accountable on your daily or weekly goals. This partner can help you stay focused or help you improve if you do not make your goals.
You can also return the favor to your teammate.
What works for me might not work for you. It is essential to keep your options open to determine what works best for you. For instance, most people only have one dedicated workspace. I have two dedicated spaces that I bounce back and forth between. This movement helps me stay focused.
Don’t be afraid to experiment if something is not working out for you.
I have to be purposeful to make sure I get out of the house. I didn’t leave the house for three weeks when I started working remotely. I didn’t realize how hard this was on me until I went to pick up groceries for the first time. My brain loved the exposure outside.
Now I make sure I drive somewhere at least once a week. I also take a two-mile walk around the park by our house every day. These trips help clear my mind.
I have noticed that I am happier because of the flexibility that working from home allows. This happiness has converted into an increase in productivity while working at home. I can easily step away at appropriate times to take care of an appointment or get a quick chore done. But, of course, I need to make up the time, but this flexibility saves me from taking PTO. I can then use the PTO when it matters.
Of course, not every employer is flexible like mine is, so I highly recommend taking advantage of this new workspace benefit.
I have been using a standing desk long before the pandemic came around. When I start losing focus or sleepiness begins to settle in, simply standing up can fix that. If you can, I highly recommend investing in a standing desk. They are very beneficial beyond regaining focus or helping wake you up. They also have health benefits such as helping stretch those muscle groups that get shortened while sitting.
This muscle shortening could be one reason why you have hip and lower back pain.
You might be surprised; they are not as expensive as you might think. This is the standing desk I was able to grab.
Music can change your mood. I am listening to music as I write this post. For me, it helps me stay focused and energized while working. I like to switch between music and podcasts, depending on what I am working on. Spotify is an excellent service to help you out!
I have noticed that I can focus better on new music that I do not know and mix up genres almost every day.
Dressing like you are going into the office can help put your brain engaged in work mood. Simple queues like this can help you get ready to work like you are in the office. You do not have to dress formally to get this effect but wearing something more formal than your PJ’s, or athletic gear will help out.
I have also started wearing shoes in the house, another one of those small queues.
As mentioned before, I like to start my workday early. I am a morning person, so the earlier I can start, the better I can be. I have noticed that my productivity goes down as the afternoon gets later. Currently, I work from 7:30 am till 4:00 pm with a 45-minute lunch. This schedule is a happy balance between my needs and my customer’s needs. I am not there too early, so I can be there for them in the afternoon if they need anything.
Hyper Focus is a fantastic book about focusing on your projects. One of the principles within the book was to turn off everything for a work session. I look at this session being 60-90 minutes. During this time, you rid yourself of ALL distractions to stay focused on the project at hand.
The theory is that you will get more done by going into hyper focus for one task at a time. I have found this to be true.
While you might not be in the office anymore, it is still important to engage with your co-workers. For example, we have a Zoom chatroom just for that ‘watercooler’ talk. We also do a monthly meeting just for reconnecting and playing some virtual games.
These engagements help boast spirits, which can increase productivity while working from home. Well, unless you do not enjoy your co-workers. In that case, I’m sorry.
While we talked about having a dedicated workspace in your home, it is okay to move around the house sometimes. I will move around a couple of times a week for an hour or two. The change in scenery helps me regain some focus when I am struggling. It helps break up any ruts that I might get into.
My favorite place to go is out on our back patio when the right temperature allows.
Not happy with your job or looking to earn some extra money? Over the years, Andrew and I have put together a massive list of ways to make money. I highly recommend you check out this list to see if anything catches your eye!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Most of us who start a business have a passion for the niche and, of course, profit.
While passion is personal, the costs of starting a business are generally universal.
At this early stage of your business, you must plan your outgoings meticulously, so you don’t run out of funds before you start making a profit.
And be realistic about how quickly you`ll engage and convert your target audience and generate an income.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a collection of proven tips to save you money on your small business start-up costs.
Often new business owners make the mistake of thinking they need the very best tools and equipment, and their products and services must be perfect from day one.
But it`s not true.
Let’s look at this in two parts:
If you’re starting a physical business such as a bakery, construction business, or café, your immediate equipment needs can run into the tens of thousands, especially if you buy new.
You can vastly reduce that bill by using good quality well maintained second-hand equipment.
Many online and local companies specialize in selling repossessed or no longer required equipment relative to your niches, such as kitchen appliances, construction equipment, and commercial furniture.
MVP stands for “minimal viable product,” it`s a product or service a company can bring to market that adequately meets the needs of a target audience at an affordable price.
It doesn’t mean using an inferior product or service because negative reviews will destroy your reputation before you`ve established your business.
Your MVP goal is to provide a competitive product/service and enter the market as quickly as possible to generate income.
After all, you’re a new business, so you need a selling point, and at first, a lower price might be your only option.
Reducing your outgoings by buying second-hand and using an MVP are excellent ways of lowering your initial costs, but what about those ongoing ones?
I’ll explain next:
Most overhead expenses are unavoidable and ongoing and eat into your profit margin because all too often, you can’t associate them with your unit or service price.
For example:
You’re providing a product/service at a competitive price.
The higher your overheads, the more significant the impact on your bottom line. In other words, you don`t make as much profit on each sale.
One of the best ways to ensure you are competitive and constantly turn a profit is to reduce those overheads.
Now’s the time to be ruthlessly realistic about your start-up business needs. Don`t sign up for 12- or 24-month contracts until you`re sure they`ll support your business goal.
Another way to minimize your initial outgoings and increase profits is to be smart with your branding; you’ll be amazed at what’s achievable for a very affordable price.
Did you know that people buy brands, not products or services?
For example, if you need a new phone, software tool, or local construction company, do you choose the cheapest on offer?
Or one that looks good but has zero reviews?
I doubt it.
Most people choose reputation and reliability first, and that’s where branding comes into play.
We live in a visual-driven world, and that gives your start-up a real opportunity to engage with your target audience and land those first precious customers.
But many new business owners don’t know where to start or think branding is no more than a logo, a sign, and fancy stationery. While those are important, today’s consumers look for far more when choosing a company to do business with.
The good news is you don’t need a degree in branding or a vast budget to create a professional business image. All you need are Ai branding tools like Tailor Brands make branding quick, easy, and affordable.
These advanced tools can create logos, branded merchandise, stationery, provide domains, and even design your entire social media branded campaign. Still, more importantly, they help you create a consistent brand look and presence, and you only pay when you’re happy with the results!
Your ability to negotiate a better deal with vendors is often determined by your niche, products, end retail price, and where you’re buying them.
And when you’re new, and orders are small, vendors generally try and charge you the highest rate. While that might sound unfair, it’s an unfortunate reality.
But prices are always negotiable:
Vendors like you are in business to make sales, and it’s a tough market for everyone.
Most people buying stock are familiar with MOQs (minimum order quantities). It’s the smallest amount of inventory a vendor will sell of a specific product, and the lower the MOQ, the higher the unit price.
One way around this is to say the first order is to test the market, and the next will be larger, but you need the lower unit cost to test. You’d be surprised how often this works.
And it also applies to utilities and mobile phone contracts. When you call suppliers and tell them you’re leaving, it’s incredible how their service suddenly becomes cheaper!
My old dad was ahead of his time because he outsourced staff decades before it became the popular way of building a professional team.
He was a small-time property developer in high demand. I asked him on several occasions why he wouldn’t expand and employ a team full-time.
His reply, “why overextend and commit your cash flow to pay employee’s wages, insurance, and tax obligations when the futures are uncertain.”
Instead, he used subcontractors, and you can too by outsourcing.
Outsourcing contractors helps reduce your overheads, giving you that vital competitive advantage and increasing your all-important cash flow.
And it enables you to stay focused on your core mission by only paying for services when you need them.
And now it’s easier than ever!
Here’s where using the gig economy comes into play:
We live in a gig economy.
And you can consistently leverage the myriad of experts who are available on platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, and others to outsource non-core services and capabilities to support your business.
And the gig economy boom has lowered traditional prices due to the availability of professionals providing services from country’s where the average wage is lower than where you’re based.
But it also enables you to stabilize your company’s finances by only hiring people when you need them.
Regardless of your market, if you only hire people with the most experience, it’s going to be expensive.
And experience isn’t everything because recent graduates have the most up-to-date information, are eager to learn, and make their make on the world.
You can harness that enthusiasm by advertising to the less experienced generation and reducing your overheads by paying an entry-level salary.
This approach also allows you to train these receptive, eager minds to work your way.
Remember, you don`t need the best people; you need the right people.
Our last piece of advice on how to save money on your small business start-up costs is already at your fingertips, software tools, and apps!
Let’s look at those next:
More time and resources are at the top of every new business owner’s wish list.
And you now can increase both without having to bust your budget because there’s a plethora of free software tools and apps available to help your most modern business needs.
And the ones that aren’t free allow you to sign up for free trials so you can experiment and find what you need before investing.
Some popular free apps and tools that help ease the workload:
If you put the time in now and source the most affordable options, you’ll instantly reduce your monthly outgoings.
That helps you compete with your more established competitors.
And once you`ve found a foothold and are turning a profit, you’ll be in a position to upgrade.
But right now, think big and start small; your budget will love you for it.
Do you have a yard sale? If so, then one of your most challenging decisions will be deciding on the perfect sign to let people know where your goodies are.
There are thousands of designs out there in all different shapes and sizes to give potential shoppers any number of ways in which they can find your home. Using any old piece of paper is not enough for power to attract attention from a passerby. It’s time for you to make use of what could be termed “yard sale magic” by using these 25 Yard Sale Signs That Will Make Your Sale Stand Out.
But before jumping into the yard sale signs, here is a quick yard checklist you need to know.
This should be obvious, but it’s always a good idea to ensure you have everything out and sorted through before the sale begins. After all, if something is still in your house or garage, how can anyone expect to buy it?
Make sure to pick an appropriate day and time for your yard sale; this will increase the number of shoppers that come out. It is best to hold it on a Saturday or Sunday morning during the summer months. If you live in a remote area with cooler weather, you should try promoting it as an afternoon sale where people can come inside if they are cold.
Some cities have rules regarding yard sales and require you to get a license before holding one. You should always check with your local authorities if this is necessary for your neck of the woods!
Make sure to price everything before the sale begins. This will make it easier for people to shop, and you won’t have to deal with constant questions while you’re trying to run your yard sale. You should also be aware that if a product is not priced, a potential customer may assume it’s free! Free things are easy to give away, but not helpful in making extra money.
Yard sale signs are the best way to get people to your yard sale. There are thousands of different designs, shapes, and sizes to give potential shoppers any number of ways in which they can find your home. Using any old piece of paper is not enough for power to attract attention from passersby. You need Yard Sale Signs That Will Make Your Sale Stand Out.
This is the yard sale sign design that most people have seen a million times before. It’s a reasonably large piece of paper with lettering against a bright or colorful background. It has all of the information that any shopper would need to know. You can customize this sign easily by writing in whatever you want it to say.
Many yard sales like to use two-tone signs with a bright strip of color behind their lettering. This is an effective way to draw attention, as it looks very eye-catching and colorful. This type of sign also works well for sales held in a place where there is a lot of foot traffic, as the bright color ensures that anyone walking by will see it.
A quick way to attract attention is by using a sign that the 1960s era has inspired. This type of sign features lettering set against a solid block of color, which typically blends in with whatever background has been chosen.
Classic contrast sign with orange lettering on a black background. This specific yard sale sign leaves a white box to display your address with black sharpie. Plue the additional benefit of directional arrows up top to direct potential customers.
Many people always go with the traditional sign for garage or yard sales, but more and more people are starting to experiment with different designs. These simple signs tend to feature a single color behind lettering that is easy to read from a distance. It’s a great way to attract attention, as it doesn’t draw much focus or create much competition for itself.
Funny signs can attract a lot of attention, and this sign is no exception to the rule. It’s filled with bright colors and uses an emoji as part of its design. While it might not appeal to everyone, it will undoubtedly get people talking about your yard sale! It is a humorous sign that isn’t too over the top and is still effective.
If you are having your yard sale in an area that is only known to close family and friends, this sign can help get new customers through the door. This sign tells people where they need to go to get there, which saves them some time when they’re trying to find your house. It draws attention with its simplicity without overwhelming potential buyers.
A bright yellow sign is the best choice when you want to make sure that someone finds their way to your sale. It stands out from most other signs on the market because of its attention-grabbing color. This simple sign also directs people where they need to go to get there, which makes it a fantastic choice for many different types of yard sales! These can be customized however you’d like, which means that you can add personal touches if the mood strikes.
The traditional sign design is a popular choice for many yard sales. It features lettering that stands out against a bright yellow background, and it’s incredibly noticeable. This type of sign can be customized to look however you’d like it to, which means you can add your twist on things if you so desire. It’s a versatile sign that will look great at just about any type of yard sale.
A final choice for yard sale signs is this directional arrow. This type of sign features an arrow that points toward whatever location you are trying to direct people to, making it extremely easy for them to follow the path you have laid out before them. With its bright yellow color and simple design, you can customize this in numerous ways that will work for just about any yard sale type!
The DIY yard sale signs are a great way to feature your design. This type of sign can be made with virtually anything you might have lying around, so there are no limitations to what you use for this project. It’s a simple way to create your version of the traditional sign, which will help draw attention from people walking by!
The DIY sign for yard sales can be as unique as you want it to be. This type of sign is also a great choice because you don’t have to spend any money on it, making it highly cost-effective. You can use scrap materials from around the house and create a design that suits your individual needs. It’s a fun project that almost anyone can complete successfully!
This type of sign features large lettering, making it easy for people to read from a distance. It is an excellent way to get attention, as it creates an enormous impact that will be difficult for potential buyers to ignore. The yellow color also stands out against the white background, making it even more eye-catching! It’s a great choice if you’re looking for something fun and effective.
A final choice for directional yard sale signs is this pink example. This type of sign features simple text that tells people where to go and pink background. It’s an excellent way to direct potential customers toward the location of your sale, especially if you have younger buyers who will be excited by the fun color! You can customize this however you’d like, which means that there are no limitations to what you use for this project. With a bit of creativity and some effort, anyone could turn these into precisely what they need!
These yard sale signs are shaped like houses, making them an exciting alternative to the standard sign. It’s a fun take on traditional signage that will undoubtedly get people’s attention when they’re walking by. You can easily customize this type of sign, so you don’t have to use it in the way shown here if you prefer something else! These work well for many different kinds of sales.
The house-shaped yard sale signs are an exciting twist on standard signage. These are shaped like houses, which are sure to attract attention when people walk by. With its bright color, this sign will certainly get people thinking about your sale! You can customize it however you see fit, so there are no limitations in that regard. It’s a fun way of attracting buyers’ interest in your sale!
Another interesting choice for yard sale signs is this house-shaped design used to advertise an estate sale. This type of sign features bright colors that will certainly get people thinking about your sale when they’re walking by! The shape and size of this sign can be customized however you like, which means there are no limitations in terms of what you can use it for or how you make it. It’s a great way to let potential buyers know what type of items you have for sale!
This type of sign is used for advertising an estate sale and features dark colors and bold lettering. It’s an excellent way to tell people what kind of items you’re selling in your yard sale and the direction they should follow when looking for it! You can customize this type of yard sign however you want, so there are no limitations when choosing what material to use or how to make it. This works well if you want something straightforward, which will let buyers know exactly where they need to go!
This type of sign features an arrow that points toward your house, which is an effective way to direct potential buyers. People need to know where you are located to attend your sale after all! You can customize this however you like, which means there are no limitations on what you can use for it. This works well if you want something straightforward, as it will tell people exactly where they need to go!
This yard sign features bold colors and has “Yard Sale Today!” written in large print, making it easy to read. It’s an excellent way to advertise what you’re selling in your yard sale. You can customize this type of signage however you like, so there are no limitations when choosing what material to use or how to make it! You can use this for many different types of sales, making it incredibly versatile.
Another exciting idea for a sign is this party-inspired design that’s used for advertising a yard sale. It uses bright colors that are sure to stand out, which is what you want in signage! You can customize it however you please, so there are no limitations regarding what you can use it for or how to make it. If you want something fun and eye-catching, this might be the right choice for your yard sale!
This type of sign is made of white corrugated plastic, which makes it durable. It also features the words “garage sale” written in large text, making it easy to read. You can choose whatever colors you want for this, so there are no limitations when deciding what material to use or how to make it! This works well if you want something straightforward that gets the job done.
This sign is a great way to advertise an estate sale and features dark colors along with directions to your home. You can customize it however you see fit, which means there are no limitations when choosing what material to use or how to make it! This type of signage works well if you want something straightforward that tells potential buyers where they need to go.
Another interesting idea is this crafty-themed sign kit. It uses neon colors and has the words “Garage Sale” written in large print, so it’s easy to read from a distance. You can customize this type of signage however you like, which means there are no limitations when choosing what material to use or how to make it! This works well if you want something fun that will attract people to your sale.
Another great idea for yard sale signs is this printable version. It’s made so you can customize it however you want, which means there are no limitations when choosing what material to use or how to make it! This works well if you want something simple to let people know exactly where they need to go to attend your sale. If you’re looking for an easy way to advertise your sale, this might be the right choice for you!
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Let’s say you have a full-time job. When they presented your salary of $60,000 a year, that was yearly gross income, or $5,000 monthly gross income ($60,000 / 12 = $5,000). You never actually receive $60,000 in a year. Your employer takes all the taxes out for you before you receive any of that money.
You have Federal Income Tax taken out, potentially state and local taxes, as well as FICA, Medicare, and other deductions, such as 401k deductions and deductions for your medical plan. After all of those deductions, you get your NET income, which is money that actually hits your bank account. If you are hourly, to calculate your gross monthly income, you first need to multiply your hourly rate by how many hours you work a week, then multiply that by 52 (number of weeks a year) and divide by 12 (months per year).
Gross Monthly Income = All The Money You Make You Make In A Month
Net Income = Gross Monthly Income – Taxes – Expenses
If you are self-employed or have side income, Gross Monthly Income would basically be everything you earned, in total “revenue.” I add revenue in parentheses because if you have a side hustle or business where you sell stuff, Gross Monthly Income would be AFTER you deduct the cost of those items or inventory (Officially called Cost of Goods Sold, or COGS).
But wait! That $5,000 is unlikely to be your total Gross Monthly Income. If you have a savings account, you might have 1099 interest income (even in this paltry rate environment). You might also have a brokerage account where you had capital gains and side income from your part-time Lyft driving. To add to that, let’s say you got a $2,000 bonus at work and $1,000 for referring someone to your apartment building in the same month. Those items would then be added to the pool that is your Gross Income and would be subject to taxes and other deductions.
For example, this year, I opened an account at Schwab and CitiBank because they offered account opening bonuses. This resulted in me receiving $1,200, which would be added to my gross monthly income for the year. I will most likely get a 1099 early next year, which requires me to claim the income on my taxes.
So, when you hear about people trying to increase their monthly income by working on a side hustle such as walking dogs or consulting work, they are trying to increase their Gross Monthly Income.
Many times, especially in our social media and the comparison-obsessed world, we look at a YouTuber, blogger, or “side-hustler” earning something crazy like $20,000 per month, and you think to yourself, “Wow! That’s like 5 times more than I make” Well, that $20,000 is their Gross Monthly Income. Then they pay a host of fees, share profits with their platform, and are on the hook for their own expenses, such as buying their own technology and professional subscriptions. Further, freelancers are typically responsible for paying their own health, dental, disability, vision, and other insurance fully out of pocket. I have a friend who owns her own graphic design business, and she pays $1,150 per month for health insurance, and that’s with a $5,000 deductible!
This isn’t to dissuade you from working for yourself or having a side hustle; it just shows you that the numbers people throw out as their gross monthly income can be misleading, especially when you are an employee comparing yourself against them. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side; there is always more to the story.
While it’s generally true the more you earn, the more you will owe in taxes, there are steps you can take to increase your take-home or net pay. Gross Monthly Income can be increased in ways mentioned above, such as working a second job part-time, having a passive income stream, receiving dividend income, etc. If you can maximize retirement savings accounts available to you, depending on your age and income limits (401k, deductible IRA, SEP IRA if you are self-employed), this will reduce your taxable income. If you can contribute to an HSA, FSA, or other pre-tax employer benefits, this will also help. For business owners, the options are even more copious. To reduce their taxable income, they can deduct mileage on their car, cell phone, internet, and many other costs.
The other thing to keep in mind is to stop yourself from mental accounting. If you earn a total of $5,000 per month from your job, those taxes and deductions have already been taken out by your employer.
On the other hand, money paid by side hustles is gross. So if you earned $5,000 from side hustles, don’t think, “Woohoo! I can take that vacation trip or pay off the $5,000 credit card bill with this money”. Because that $5,000 is before taxes. You need to set some of that money aside for the IRS for the inevitable year-end taxes. You don’t want to get in trouble or end up in collections with the IRS, which will open a whole can of worms that will be hard to close.
Suppose you do not properly save enough of your gross monthly income for taxes. Luckily, the IRS does have a payment plan that you might qualify for but don’t rely on it. The best thing to do is to use a booking service like Quicken to help you set a portion of self-employment income, or even better, work with a CPA to help you structure a plan that not only keeps you on top of your taxes but maximizes your tax-efficiency as well.
So, now you know how to calculate your gross monthly income and how to increase it. Don’t let the thought that the more money you earn, the more taxes you have to dissuade you. True, it can kick you into a higher tax bracket. However, you need to take a look at what deductions and credits you can take advantage of.
Lastly, I am not a tax professional, so make sure you consult with your own tax person about your personal income situation.
Gary Grewal is a Certified Financial Planner, entrepreneur, and car aficionado. He writes at financialfives.com and is the author of Financial Fives: The Top 325 Ways to Save, Earn, and Thrive to Retire Before 65.
Before we get to the list, let’s talk about some pros and cons of being your own boss.
With every 9-5 job comes a limit of how much money you can make. Sure, you can discuss a raise every few years, but ultimately, your boss is in control.
When you work for yourself, you determine the amount of money that you can make.
Most people who work a scheduled shift will tell you that life would be easier if they could control their hours.
As your own boss, you have the freedom to do that. You can control what days you take off and what hours you work throughout the week. You won’t have to miss those important family gatherings or doctor’s appointments because you can plan around them.
Being your own boss means that you get to make important decisions about your business by yourself. The only boss you have to answer to is you! You get to design your business the way you want without worrying about upper management’s opinions.
There are many reasons people lose their jobs, especially in an at-will state. There doesn’t even really need to be a good reason. Being your own boss means that you can’t be fired or let go.
Starting late today? No problem! Don’t feel like putting on a suit today? No big deal.
Being your own boss allows you the freedom to make your own decisions without fearing the consequence of losing your job.
This con is hard for many to accept. The reality of being a business owner is that money is not guaranteed, and generally speaking, running a business is expensive.
Your income isn’t going to be steady like your full-time paycheck. You may not see a profit right away and may face times where you can’t cover your expenses or pay yourself.
Again, this isn’t a 9-5 job where you can leave work at work. Being your own boss means that you will be responsible for your business all day, every day.
Any order that comes in or any issue that pops up needs to be dealt with within a reasonable amount of time to ensure customer satisfaction.
This can be considered both a pro and a con, but this is a con for my fellow lazy people out there.
Your success is measured by how much time and effort you put into your business. Having that much responsibility can be overwhelming.
Even if you’re doing something you love and are passionate about, it’s not as simple as showing up every day and doing enough work to keep your boss happy.
Now that we’ve covered some pros and cons, it’s time to get into the details of what you can expect when working for yourself and why it may or may not be suitable for you.
One of the hardest decisions for some people is deciding what they are going to do.
If you already have this figured out, then you’re ready to go. If not, that’s okay. But you need to have a plan before you start.
The best type of business for you to start will involve something you are passionate about and interested in. So to be your own boss, the first step is to find what that passion is. Maybe it’s art, writing, or music, or perhaps it’s something completely different.
Whatever you love is what you should frame your business around. That way, you should never have to worry about finding motivation.
We all know and understand that running a business costs money. You’re going to need start-up capital if you want your new venture to be successful.
Supplies, marketing, shipping, and hiring help are going to be out-of-pocket costs as you begin to get your business up and running. So, when you are starting a business, make sure you have the funds available to afford these things.
Working for yourself means that you alone are responsible for financing your business until you get a decent clientele. You need to be financially prepared to pay for things upfront in hopes that you can at least make that money back.
Another important factor to consider is how much time you have to devote to your business, especially initially. If you want to be profitable quickly, you will need to make your business your priority while getting started.
Once you figure out how much time you have and want to devote to your business, it will be easier to determine how successful you can be.
When considering how much time you really have to spend working on your business, factor in family and social obligations, basic household tasks, self-care, and whether or not you’ll keep working another job.
Are you interested in starting your own side hustle business to make some extra money and learn new skills? Or are you hoping to quit your day job to embrace entrepreneurship fully?
This decision will also tie into financing because your availability will depend on how much money you have to put toward your business.
If you plan to keep working while your business is growing, be aware that you’ll be putting in many extra hours. It may be exhausting to work all day on your business needs and then work a night shift job, but it ensures that you still have a steady income.
If you choose to go for it and work on your business full-time, make sure you have enough money to support yourself and your business. You also need to consider your options if your business doesn’t take off right away because you don’t want to accumulate debt.
You may have a fantastic business idea, but how much experience do you have in that field?
For example, opening a catering business might be something you’re interested in, but have you ever catered for an event before? Do you have experience in volume cooking? Or budgeting food costs?
As your own boss, you are responsible for making all of the business decisions. Having some experience in whatever craft you choose can jumpstart your success.
On that same note, having some knowledge about running a business can certainly help you along the way, too.
Studying business can help you take care of minor struggles with ease and motivate you to be successful. Whether you learn more about accounting, marketing, or business management, a little bit of education can go a long way when it comes to real-life experience.
If you don’t’ have a lot of experience, learn as much as you can. Take an online course to learn new job skills. Talk to other business owners, contact a small business development center, or find a mentor. They can help you register your business, write a business plan, and secure the proper licenses and permits.
If you have your product or service figured out, then it’s time to research whether or not it’s in high demand and if competitors are already meeting that demand. This can be the difference between earning a profit in your first month versus not seeing a profit for a couple of years.
For example, if you decide your business will be making coasters by hand, then you need to consider how many you’ll be able to sell. Your target market will be small. Your friends and family will not want a constant supply of new coasters, and neither will your customers. You may want to consider trying something in higher demand or expanding from a niche product to help sales and repeat customers.
You also need to look at your competitors. Can you do a better job than they already are? If you can’t beat their prices or level of quality, it will be hard to convince their customers to switch.
This is a challenging part of starting any new business, but it’s important to consider where you will find your customers and potential clients.
Will your business operate online, or will you open a physical location?
Will you promote your products and services through your own website, or will you use a platform like eBay or Etsy?
Finding customers can be a challenge, especially if you don’t have many friends or family willing to spread the word about your small business. So, you’ll need to come up with creative ways to build a customer base.
Supplies are an essential aspect of your business to consider. In addition to the cost of supplies, you also need to find out what exactly you’ll need and where you can get it. Don’t be afraid to shop around for better prices or discounts for buying in bulk.
When first starting, you’ll need to make sure you are staying on top of your supplies and keeping track of what inventory you have left. Not having enough supplies means that your customer waits longer for their product, which can negatively affect customer satisfaction.
Even if you are offering a service and not a physical product, you will still need some basic supplies to run your business (such as setting up a home office). More importantly, though, is your time. If you cannot supply enough time to meet your customer’s needs, they won’t stick around.
Trust me. If customers aren’t satisfied, then they’ll tell everyone who will listen. So, take care of your customers by ensuring you have the proper supplies (and time) to fulfill orders, and your customers will thank you.
Being your own boss is great, but you need to decide if you can really operate your business on your own or if you need help.
Take blogging, for example. Yes, you can successfully turn a blog into an online business that you run on your own. But this means you are responsible for: web development, solving technical issues, marketing, branding, copywriting, social media management, customer service, data entry, bookkeeping, content creation, photo editing, graphic design, selling, data analysis, networking, proofreading, negotiating, market research, and more!
Can you really do all of that by yourself? Do you want to?
Not every business will require all of these skills, but I guarantee you that there will come a time where you will need help from someone else – especially the more successful you get. So it’s a good idea to keep this in mind because this will come at a cost.
You may be ready to be your own boss, but are are you prepared to manage employees, too?
Why Do You Want To Be Your Own Boss?
This is a fundamental question, but proper motivation can be what makes or breaks your business. So it’s important to consider why you want to do this in the first place.
Do you actually want to be your own boss, or do you hate your job and want to do something different?
Your motivation only needs to matter to you, but be sure you aren’t making any rash decisions. Otherwise, you may get stuck doing something you don’t want to and run out of money before you know it.
Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.
Starting your own business and being your own boss is your choice to make, but hopefully, these considerations have given you something to think about before you move forward with your plan.
Being your own boss and running your own business is not easy, but it can be gratifying if done carefully and involves your passion. So, consider these tips, but don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new.
This post originally appeared on Your Money Geek.
You’ve likely seen billboards for “Cash For Junk Cars,” jingles played on radio stations, and ads filling magazines, but that marketing barely touches the surface of the cash for cars business. An industry made up of hundreds of different companies capitalizing on a lucrative market of flipping used cars for profit. Here’s how cash for junk cars works and how most pay an average of $500 per car.
Most companies pay between $100 to $1,000 for used cars, with an average payout of around $500. Some advertise up to $1,500, but it’s rare.
While the car’s condition helps determine the price, the amount is dependent mainly on the year, make, and model of the vehicle. That’s why most cash for junk car businesses can give you an instant quote over the phone.
Now, this isn’t a lot of money, but most people only consider cash for cars after first trying dealerships and private sellers or simply wanted to get rid of the vehicle quickly. It’s typically one of the easiest ways to sell your car.
Most cash for junk car companies pay around $500 for used cars. Because once your car is sold, the cash for cars businesses will sell your vehicle for a profit. Similar to how house flippers buy up foreclosed properties to sell for a profit or domain flippers sell domains.
This is usually done by selling at auction if the car is in good condition or sold to a junkyard for parts. Due to their pricing power and connections, cash for car businesses are in better positions to get more for your vehicle than you ever could.
One of the primary benefits of cash for junk car businesses is often they’ll pick up your car and tow it away for free! A perk included in their fee and a nice luxury for selling vehicles that may no longer run. Most towing companies will charge $150 – $200 for a tow.
If you talk to a cash for car company or a junkyard that doesn’t offer free pick-up service and towing, find another offer. Free pickup is a staple of the cash for cars business, and anyone trying to charge you for this service is simply trying to take advantage.
Here is the step-by-step guide to how cash for junk cars works and if you ever considered selling your car, this is what you’ll go through.
Most cash for car businesses have a general number where in 5 minutes, they’ll give you a quote over the phone without ever having to take photos. As long as the information holds true when they pick up the vehicle, they’ll hand you cash and take your vehicle away in minutes. It’s a straightforward process that makes cash for cars so compelling.
Once they have your vehicle’s information, they’ll plug numbers into a formula and identify the best purchase price. The most significant factors are the year, make & model but condition and ability to drive also matter. This information in an algorithm will be able to provide an instant quote in minutes.
Once the quote is provided, there isn’t any room to haggle. Usually, the person over the phone is only allowed to price what the computer algorithm identified.
Many cash for car companies use similar formulas for providing vehicle quotes over the phone. These algorithms are constantly changing as the supply and demand of cars fluctuate. So once you get one quote, most other companies will provide a similar quote. Shopping around doesn’t often get you a better price.
As cars often lower in value every year, it doesn’t benefit in waiting.
Most cash for car companies will pick up your vehicle or tow it for free. If someone is trying to add this as an additional charge, find another company. There are too many companies that offer this service for free to ever pay.
Simply schedule a time to pick up, and as long as the vehicle information you described over the phone is accurate, there shouldn’t be any problems. In a matter of minutes, they take the vehicle and title off your hands.
Alternatively, you can drop off your vehicle at a drop-off location if you prefer.
Most cash for junk car companies will pay cash when picking up the vehicle. However, some companies have started to use more checks as it’s easier for bookkeeping.
If this makes a difference to you, simply ask how they will pay for the vehicle over the phone. If cash is crucial to you, shop around to find companies that still offer this option.
Most of the paperwork is completed by the cash for junk car company. Still, it’ll be your responsibility to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state for a Release of Liability.
This simple online form lets your state know you are no longer the vehicle’s owner. Otherwise, you’ll continue to receive notices to renew the car and may be on the hook for late fees. Most states only need the vehicle’s VIN and date of sale.
That’s it! A super simple way to get cash for junk cars you no longer want or need.
Cash for cars has grown massive popularity in the last 20 years because it provides car sellers a whole new way to sell used cars and make money. An easy way to avoid haggling prices with dealerships or the hassle of meeting with private buyers. Cash for Cars brings an extra convenience with instant offers over the phone and free pick up.
Many companies have flocked to the cash for junk car market for the same reason people flock to antique auctions. They hope to find undervalued cars and flip them for more money. Many cash for car companies are independent and focus solely on buying used cars, however over the years, many dealerships, mechanic shops, tow companies and junkyards have also created their own cash for car companies to compete in the market.
As it’s a highly lucrative market, hundreds of companies have jumped into the car flipping industry. Even if the car can’t be flipped, the used car part market is also largely lucrative.
In most cases, the kinds of cars that sell best are Japanese economy cars such as Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. They are relatively inexpensive and incredibly popular on the road. These vehicles are one of the easiest cars to flip because of the low cost and high demand.
The second best type that sells well are classic cars. Their parts are incredibly tough to find, so even junk cars can be extremely profitable containing parts no longer made. Items such as the chassis or the frame only can be flipped for a nice profit.
Anytime someone is selling a car, it can feel like a complex process simply because it’s not something people do every day. Here are some common questions we’ve seen people search for relating to cash for cars.
Since cars lose value every year, there is no benefit to holding onto a junk car yourself. In fact, simply having the car will still require registration and insurance. Even if the vehicle is old and requires little money, it’s still going to cost you something. Including space it takes up.
Often it’s better to sell your vehicle whenever you no longer need it to keep costs down. The only reason to hold onto a car is if you intend to use it in the future or want to attempt to sell it yourself.
Scrap cars and junk cars are terms used interchangeably to describe cars that no longer run. These are often ideal vehicles to sell because cash for car companies will pick them up for free and pay you more cash than a junkyard would.
A quick Google search will find plenty of different cash for junk car companies in your area. Their popularity in every major city will make them easy to find. Try calling a few different companies or dealerships to get a good idea of the price for your junk car.
If you’re looking for auctions to find junk cars near you, most cities have several auction blocks with times throughout the year. You can usually find cars at auction that sell $1,000 to $2,000 cheaper than at dealerships. The trade-off is you are buying them as is and often don’t have the same verified inspection process a dealership would have.
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Most people still believe that you need to make a significant investment when buying a laptop. Not long ago, this was undoubtedly the case, as new technology and the hardware needed to go along with it were very expensive. Now you can get a high-quality machine for much less than you’d think.
Laptops have been a staple for computer users for years, and a Japanese company named Seiko-Epson introduced the first-ever laptop as we now know it back in 1982. Since then, their use has been rapidly climbing, and most people probably have laptops in their homes. Unfortunately, with the increased use, they have become quite costly, and nowadays, it’s not surprising to spend more than $1,000 on a laptop. The highest quality laptops can be pretty expensive, and if you are looking for added interests such as gaming, you may have to pay even more.
But, can you get a reasonably priced laptop? Must you spend so much on laptops? Well, the good news is that you can actually spend less on a computer and still get the value you are looking for.
So, in this review, we take a look at the best laptops under $600. Of course, it is possible, but at this price range, do not expect too much—just basic computer functions such as document editing, internet, video watching, etc.
For this price, you should expect the following features;
These laptops are, however, extremely reliable, although there is room for improvement in them. Luckily, you could easily upgrade their hardware if you like, such as the RAM, graphics card, and Memory card.
Here’s our review of the best Laptops to buy under $600*
This is a 10th Generation Intel Core processor with an affordable budget. It is one of the best laptops you can put your money on.
It is a heavy product with an excellent operating system. It is a great bet, courtesy of the dual storage and many other high-valued specs.
The inbuilt processor can reach a speed of up to 3.5GHz, and the 4MB cache memory associated with the dual-core perfectly complements the 8GB RAM.
It comes with a UHD graphics card that is highly satisfactory if you are going to play some games with the machine.
There is a dual storage space that is way more than you could ever expect with a laptop of this price range, and the 1TB hard drive plus the 128 SSD are excellent for your everyday needs.
This comes in at 15.6 inches of HD screen, and although it doesn’t have the best color accuracy or viewing angles, it still offers excellent support for you.
The ports are diversified, and you will find the USB Type-A, 2.0, 3.0, an HDMI slot, and many other slots for your connectivity.
The internet connection is strong with the Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1.
This laptop is ideal for almost everyone, business owners, college students, etc. As a laptop, it practically has everything you need.
Specs
The screen measures 15.6 inches of Full HD widescreen. It features a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and makes room for exceptional reproduction of color.
This color intelligence makes the machine vibrant and also improves the quality of the visuals. In addition, there is a Blue Light Shield intuition on the laptop from the company used as an anti-strain and anti-glare viewing.
The processing power is a 10th Gen Intel chipset, which is a revolutionary addition to the laptop.
The i5-1035G1 can turbo a boost up to 3.6GHz speed, allowing you to handle all sorts of demanding professional tasks with plenty of ease.
There is smart cache support of around 6MB that provides quick access, whereas the built-in 8GB RAM further bolsters the processing skill for the machine.
The 256GB SSD is pretty decent for storage and provides faster writing, reading, transferring, and speeds up the boot-up speed.
This machine has an Intel UHD GPU that is extremely fast for graphics and has a decent user interface with battery backup for up to 8 hours. These stats make it a mid-range kind of device, ideal for handling any power outages.
This machine has plenty of other brilliant specs that includes some acoustics of TrueHarmony tech and Wi-Fi 6 Compatibility.
This combination gives the Aspire 5 one of the fastest possible wireless connections. It also packs a responsive fingerprint reader with a much anticipated backlit keyboard that offers optimal typing performance.
Other than all that, there is a USB Type-C port and lots of different functional slots for you to use.
This laptop is an excellent and affordable solution for professionals and students looking for a machine to handle their daily chores. It can help with programming, managing documents, listening to music, and even watching movies.
The price is also affordable and will not put a dent in your wallet.
The machine has four cores – the Intel Core i5 1035GI clocking the base frequency of 1GHZ. It can handle standard productivity jobs that require surfing and editing documents.
Its turbo boost speed is 3.6 GHz, which means that it can handle some serious CPU-Intensive tasks aided by the Intel UHD graphics.
This machine eases through programming IDEs, streaming music and videos, editing multiple documents.
With a RAM of 12GB, it has a fast read/write speed in the 256GB SSD.
The windows 10 Home edition comes with part of the package. In addition, the built-in camera with IR minimizes the issues of remembering passwords as it has facial recognition options.
It has HD Truebite technology powering the 15.6-inch touch screen with lots of clarity and color profiles.
The resolution of 1366 X 768 pixels is pretty great.
The touchscreen is an excellent added advantage for students who wish to use laptops for sketching and illustrations.
This IdeaPad comes in a minimalist grey chassis that weighs around 4.07lbs.
The arrow keys are a little cramped, but it has a full-sized keyboard with ample room for a numeric pad.
It also has sufficient key travel that keeps long typing sessions extremely pleasant due to the adequate spacing of the keys. This ensures minimal errors.
The touchpad is also spacious and can accommodate huge hands, plus it has a smooth control and response.
This laptop has one HDMI port, three USB ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a media card reader. These help you to stay connected with any external displays.
You can also extend your memory and keep connected with multiple accessories. In addition, the Lenovo support to Wi-Fi will give you access to wireless internet connectivity.
The battery will last you up to 4 hours of usage, and this is a 10th generation quad-core multi-threading processor with the power to take care of your everyday chores.
This new and improved Acer Swift 3 is highly eye-pleasing with an Aluminum –clad chassis.
The sleekness of this machine stands out at 0.59 inches, and it is incredibly light, weighing 2.65 pounds, which makes it one of the perfect choices for homeschoolers and travelers.
The metallic aesthetic components have a premium look, and they deserve all of the accolades.
The Swift has a 14-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 X 1080 pixels. It boasts of an infectious clarity with the sharpest possible view angles.
Additionally, it has a vibrant IPS panel that features color intelligence technology from the Acer Company, which is further complemented by the super-slim bezels.
There is a configured Windows 10 home OS that bolsters an intuitive user interface.
The Acer brings forth an AMD Ryzen 5 4522 U chipset that can clock speeds up to 4GHz.
These specs can handle many computing tasks, including running GIS Software, streaming on Twitch, and much, much more.
The 8 GB DDR4 RAM is highly decent for a machine, and it further accentuates this computer’s processing skills.
It has a graphics rendering that is more decent when used with an integrated AMD Radeon graphics.
The 6MB cache memory is what stands out most in this machine. It allows the users to indulge in various extremely productive tasks that require very little access time.
The storage of 256GB SSD supports the faster boot-up, and other than that, this device can run non-stop for up to 11.5 hours without requiring a re-charge.
The other excellent specs of this machine are the acoustic support that is courtesy of True Harmony technology.
Acer has a backlit keyboard, USB ports, which include a Type-C 3.0 port, an HB webcam, and much more.
The Gigabit Wi-Fi tech display makes way for one of the fastest possible connections.
These specs make for an impressive and high-quality machine with copious amounts of memory and an SSD. This gives the CHUWI GemiBook machine an upper hand regardless of the lack of multi-thread capability.
The Intel Celeron J4115 has got an operating base speed of 1.6GHz with four single-thread cores. Its Turbo frequency is 2.5GHz, and it is available for intensive CPU operations.
The UHD Graphics integrated Intel processing unit uses the RAM, and its performance boosts the machine while rendering images and videos of high quality.
This machine is way ahead of its competition with its combination of the 256GB SSD and the 12GB RAM.
Chuwi laptops usually add comfort for the user with the Windows 10 Home Edition and access to a wide selection of software and applications.
This machine has a 13-inch screen with a 3.2 aspect ratio and thin bezels.
A comprehensive 70% color gamut of NTSC with a resolution of 2160 X 1410 pixels will take you on a top-notch visual experience.
The machine weighs around 2.8lbs, and Chuwi keeps it lightweight with a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis.
The machine has a full-sized keyboard that will get you comfort from the backlight, which is a true rarity with this price range.
Do not let the lack of a numeric pad bother you at all, as the spacing depth is adequate and comfortable for complete error-free typing.
Chuwi makes a cheap device with a large touchpad and adds comfort to the machine’s operations.
The laptop has Type – C and Type-A – USB ports, each with a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Micro-SD Card Reader.
The port limitation should not overshadow the utility of this machine, as you can enjoy the Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 that offers a high-speed wireless connection.
This machine’s low-energy design extends the battery life by up to 9 hours without needing a re-charge. If you are a homemaker, then you will undoubtedly enjoy the detailed visual experience it brings.
If you’re willing to spend slightly more than $600 for a laptop, this machine is a great option:
This is the new and improved laptop from ASUS, and it is indeed one of the best you can find for under $600.
Despite its lightweight chassis, it weighs 3.5 pounds and has some incredibly innovative design elements at its helm. It keeps the durability intact.
The 10th Generation Intel Core i5 machine is clocked at 1.1 GHz, although it can reach up to 3.6GHz when turbo processing is required.
This processor works together with 8GB of RAM.
They work in unison to ensure that the device does not experience any lagging. In addition, the storage support of 512GB is solid enough and helps to speed up the booting process.
You get a screen with 1920 X 1080 pixels of Full HD. This resolution accounts for excellent display. The screen also measures 15.6 inches which is broad enough and innovative.
This laptop is perfect for screen-to-body ratio and has got slimmer bezels on display. Additionally, it is a standard edition with new features such as an edge browser, complimentary upgrades to the Pro Version, and a start menu.
It has a continuous 8 hours backup which covers medium to heavy use. The other innovative features include USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports. These ports are ideal for increasing productivity.
There is also an integrated fingerprint reader for security purposes and Bluetooth support with a backlit keyboard for added and optimal typing performance.
What are some things to look out for when buying a laptop?
When looking for a machine that can save you some money, it doesn’t hurt to have a list of specs you should look for.
We have come up with a few guidelines that will help you make this decision quickly. Here’s what you need to look for;
Before even looking at specifications, it is good to decide beforehand what you need regarding the machine’s portability and the scope of its display.
Laptops come in a variety of screen sizes, from 11 inches to 18 inches.
The 11 – 12 Inch laptops tend to be the lightest and the thinnest. They are highly portable, and they tend to weigh less than three pounds, which means you should consider them if you will be carrying the laptop around a lot.
The 13 -14 inch laptops have similar portability, but they have added usability due to their wide keyboards and large screens.
With the 15-inch, the weight is usually on the high side of between 4.5 and five pounds. These factors should be considered when looking for a laptop for desk or table users rather than moving around with them.
Typically measured in pixels, the higher the resolution in a machine, the clearer and sharper the images and details on the screen.
Usually, a resolution is supposed to match the screen size to achieve optimal image quality.
With 768p and 900p, you are okay, but the best is usually 1080p. This is also known as FHD. Anything higher than this will be costlier and general overkill.
A Processor is the brains behind your machine, and to give you an idea of what we are talking about, here’s what you are likely to find on the market when searching for a laptop;
The Pentium is the slowest CPU which in turn means that your machine will have the slowest performance. You don’t want this, of course. So, choose this type if you are only looking for a device for basic tasks without any heavy multitasking. But, unfortunately, it cannot handle it.
This one will provide you with decent performance when web surfing, media viewing, and performing basic tasks.
This is the best for do-it-all chipsets. It can handle multimedia, web browsing, intermediate workload without any hitches, and entry-level gaming.
Of all the Cores, this is the most reliable in speed and can handle multifunctioning workstations and even some hard-core gaming. If you can get a machine with this CPU speed at this price, you should consider buying it.
This one is equivalent to core i5 CPUs, and although the later – Core i5 still holds a bit of an edge to it when it comes to gaming laptops, the Ryzen series is the most affordable for this high speed.
The RAM is used to store information that your laptop needs at the moment. This makes it easy for you to retrieve the information quickly.
It, therefore, affects the speed of your system and its functionality as well.
The more programs you run on the machine, the more RAM you will need. The budget laptops will come with between 4GB and 8GB RAMS.
The 4GB is ideal for light users, but if your work is more demanding such as video editing and photo editing, you could opt for the 8GB capacity.
You could either use a Solid State Drive – SSD or a Hard Disk Drive – HDD with storage. Skipping the technical side of the meaning of these two, know that they are both different forms of storage.
However, the SDD is faster and stores more data instantly accessible by the memory chips.
Affordable laptops with 500GB HDD storage are pretty sufficient for most people other than power users and gamers.
You’d better get an SSD if space is less as it will make your laptop almost three times faster.
We all would love a laptop that can work for hours without the need to be charged, which doesn’t always happen, probably because we are never keen on this specification to start with.
Now, if you are buying a new machine, do not skimp on the battery life. If you are someone that sits on your desk working on your device all day, then look for a battery that can last at least 8 hours without needing a power source connection.
However, note that the high battery rating – Whr, does not always mean a long battery life.
The GPU is a great matter of concern for video editors and gamers. However, if you happen to create 3D objects, do high-resolution video editing, or play heavy games, then you will undoubtedly be happy with the Intel UHD Graphics that is built into most machines.
The GPU unit is available on machines of this price range.
Wow. It’s hard to believe that you can find great laptops without a $1,000 plus price tag. Some of the laptops we have reviewed above even come with a price below $400 and can still provide the required functionality.
Look at the buying guide to see what you should look for when choosing a good laptop for everyday use. We hope that this was helpful information—all the best as you select your next laptop.
*Amazon prices can fluctuate. So we can’t guarantee that the price will be under $600 when you are looking to buy, but all these laptops will be very close to it!
This article originally appeared on Your Money Geek and has been republished with permission.
Affiliate programs dramatically increase revenue for bloggers/influencers. Here are the best affiliate programs based on revenue & popularity
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has a net worth of over $78.2 billion and is known as one of the greatest investors of all time. So when he speaks, people take note.
Here are some of the top 22 Warren Buffett Quotes the internet can’t get enough of.
Here are some of the top Warren Buffet quotes found on every list of Warren Buffet quotes around the internet. These quotes range in wisdom on investing to regular life. I try to live by these quotes on my own investment portfolio.
1. Rule #1: Never lose money. Rule #2: Never forget rule #1
One of my favorite Warren Buffet Quotes. The fastest way to grow your money is to never lose it in the first place. This applies from saving on your groceries to focusing on less risky stocks of well established companies.
2. It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently
Think about the Wells Fargo or Equifax scandals. It takes years to build enough trust for someone to have brand loyalty. Warren Buffet quotes it takes 20 years, but it takes 5 minutes or less to destroy all that goodwill you’ve built. People are quick to revolt if you’ve done anything to betray their trust.
It is infinitely harder to build trust than destroy it.
3. Diversification is a protection against ignorance. It makes very little sense for those who know what they’re doing.
Multiple studies show that diversification in the stock market will help protect you against market falls. Or it could be summarized in the old proverb “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. Unless you have insider information that a stock is going do really well, maintain a diversified portfolio to protect you. No one knows what they’re doing all the time.
4. If you aren’t willing to own a stock for ten years, don’t even think about owning it for ten minutes. Put together a portfolio of companies whose aggregate earnings march upward over the years, and so also will the portfolio’s market value.
Unless you’re a day trader (I will never be), you should only be investing in the stock market with the intention to hold those stocks for a long time. You can do really well as a beginner if you’re buying stocks and not planning on selling till you retire. Those are where you get the best returns. Warren Buffett is infamously known for rarely selling stocks.
5. It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.
When you buy a stock, you should think of it as owning a piece of that company. You should be looking at wonderful companies that have a competitive advantage in the industry. Those are the companies that will do well over the long run. You may find a wonderful price on a mediocre company, but really what are you getting? A mediocre company that will likely be edged out of the market by a better company.
Many of the famous Warren Buffett quotes are about investing in strong companies with a competitive advantage and strong brand loyalty rather than cheap companies where you think you can make a quick buck. Warren Buffett is never into buying a company for a quick buck.
6. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.
During the 2008 financial crisis when investors were all exiting the market, Warren Buffett invested in a few large companies even though their stock prices were falling. Those deals made Warren Buffett over $10 billion dollars when the market stabilized and it’s continuing to show dividends. When the market goes upside down during world events, politics, market forecasts, those are the times when everyone else is fearful, that Warren Buffet sees an advantage when the markets crash.
Think about it this way, the New York Stock Exchange has been around since 1817, it has always recovered. Chances are, minus a world apocalypse, that the market will always bounce back. Those who capitalize on those downturns are usually rewarded.
7. The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.
One of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes because it has so many applications. You will see many opportunities in your life and you may want to jump on everyone, but it’s ok to be selective and say no. You’ll burn yourself out if you say “yes” to everything. This also applies to going out on a Saturday night with friends drinking. It’s ok to say “no” to save a few dollars or have a night to yourself to finish your article on Warren Buffett quotes. =)
This also applies to going out on a Saturday night with friends drinking. It’s ok to say “no” to save a few dollars or have a night to yourself to finish your article on Warren Buffett quotes. =)
8. Develop and build the habits you admire in others.
Remember all those times that your parents wanted you to hang out with those “good kids”. The habits of the people you surround yourself with rub off you on, consciously or unconsciously. When you find people like Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha, who is one of the greatest investors of all time. You should find out what makes him so successful and learn those traits to improve yourself.
9. Passive investing will make you more money than active trading
Oh my goodness, fees are the WORST! Active trading requires more work and more fees, so more of your money will be paid to your broker. Yet studies have shown over and over that passive investing where you set your money and forget it are far more successful for growing wealth. I don’t plan to ever touch my stocks currently making dividends.
10. There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult.
Great quote, people always imagine things are more difficult than they really are. When I first considered starting investing, I thought there were so many hurdles and financial experts I would have to pay. Yet, when I finally decided I wanted to start investing in the stock market, I just downloaded the Robinhood App and started investing. It took 10 minutes to sign up and buy my first stock when I worried about investing in the stock market for over 5 years. Things are often more simple than you think they are.
11. Tell me who your heroes are and I’ll tell you who you’ll turn out to be.
This is similar to the Warren Buffett quote “Develop and build the habits you admire in others”. If you want to be an entrepreneur, start joining local meetups of entrepreneurs. You learn SO MUCH MORE when you surround yourself with the people you want to be like. You can learn A LOT in a book, but you’ll learn even more by surrounding yourself with people you admire.
12. We have long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune-tellers look good.
No one can predict the stock market, no one. Not even Warren Buffett. Anyone who says they know exactly how the market works is trying to sell you something. You can lump stock forecasters being as accurate as the carnival fortune-tellers. You know the ones with 3 teeth, crystal ball and you’re going to die in 2083.
13. When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever.
If you invest in an outstanding company, even if the stock price goes up, why would you ever sell it? No matter when you sell it, outstanding companies will continually do better and better. Don’t sell until you absolutely have to, otherwise, you’ll just be losing money in the long run. Many of Warren Buffett Quotes are like this, they are all very Anti-Day Trader.
14. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist. Investing is not a game where the guy with the 160 IQ beats the guy with 130 IQ.
If you follow the basic principals of Warren Buffett and buy outstanding companies with strong competitive advantages like Apple (AAPL). You don’t have to be a genius. Just buy and hold forever, you literally don’t have to do anything until you sell.
Many Warren Buffett quotes are similar to this because he stresses that anyone can invest in the stock market. The simplest way is just to invest in index funds that follow the market. Set it and forget it. The market sees an average increase of 7% per year and that’s WAY better than a savings account.
15. I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them. Because sooner or later, one will.
Look for companies to invest in that are so strong that they can weather any storm because soon enough they will have to. Think about Apple (AAPL), as long as they keep pushing out iPhones it doesn’t matter who runs the company, they’ll continue to do well. People were worried when Steve Jobs passed because they didn’t know the future of the company, but Tim Cook stepped in and maintained the same Apple legacy. As long as Tim Cook sticks to the secret Apple recipe, they’ll be in good shape.
16. Buy into a company because you want to own it, not because you want the stock to go up.
If you see a company that you think is going to do well or heard will do well, don’t buy it unless you’re willing to hold it for awhile. If something goes wrong and the stock dives, you’re stuck with a company you don’t believe in and will likely sell at a lower price to get rid of it, ruining the reason you bought it in the first place.
17. Wall Street is the only place that people ride to work in a Rolls Royce to get advice from those who take the subway.
This is just a funny Warren Buffet quote.
18. Charlie and I have not learned how to solve difficult business problems. What we have learned is to avoid them.
I’m sure Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have learned how to solve difficult business problems, but the best way to navigate murky waters is to avoid them all together. The more problems your business can avoid, the better shape you’ll be. You can avoid a lot of problems from being proactive instead of reactive.
19. Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that “Price is what you pay; value is what you get.”
Ben Graham, Warren Buffett’s mentor had this popular quote. I always think about it simply. Price is what you buy a stock for and Value is what you sell that same stock for.
20. It’s better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours and you’ll drift in that direction.
If you can’t tell, Warren Buffett believes in surrounding yourself with the right people. He credits much of his success from surrounding himself with smart, good people.
21. If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.
When you analyze a stock based on its historical performance, it’s called technical analysis. Yet past performance does not necessarily mean future performance. Just because you know what the stock has done in the past doesn’t mean it’s going to follow that same trend.
22. You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don’t do too many things wrong.
It’s ok to mess up, focus on learning from those mistakes for the next time. It just sounds cooler when Warren Buffett quotes it. Or you can take this as no matter how many mistakes you’ve made in the past, you always have a chance to do more good. It’s one of those life quotes that can go many ways.
Wallet Squirrel is a personal finance blog by best friends Andrew & Adam on how money works, building side-hustles, and the benefits of cleverly investing the profits. Featured on MSN Money, AOL Finance, and more!
