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How to Prepare for a Job Interview

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Learning how to prepare for a job interview can be a tough challenge. We are here to give you some professional and hands-on advice for you! #careeradvice #lifeadvice #selfimprovementInterviewing for a job is one of my least favorite things in the world. My two best friends, including Andrew, love though. One thing that helped me get over the anxiety was learning how to prepare for a job interview.

Typically, preparing for anything will help you get over your nerves a lot more quickly. I found this to also be true when preparing for a job interview. Preparing will give you more confidence entering the room.

Today we will go over how to prepare for a job interview. Hopefully, this will lead you to hear the words you want to, “You are hired!”

1. Learn as Much as You Can About the Company

Okay, you just got off the phone with the hiring manager for a position you are very excited about. They have asked you to come in for an interview and you two have agreed on a date. What next?

It is time to pull out your computer to research more about the company. It is okay to sign up for newsletters, follow the various company social media accounts, and read through external news about the company.

Your goal is to find things you relate with from the company. Your relations can be with the company’s core values, the leadership team, collaborations the company has, or even as casual as company gatherings.

Lastly, it is good to know who the competitors are within the industry. This can give the impression you are well versed in the profession.

Being very prepared will display a passion for the profession as well as how excited you are for the opportunity.

2. Research the Interviewers

This one is a little creepy but the people interviewing you are doing the same thing back at you. Especially with your LinkedIn profile.

When the hiring manager calls to set up the initial meeting, do not be afraid to ask about who will be interviewing you. With this new information, it is time to stalk these people a little. Check out their LinkedIn profile. Do they have a bio on the company website?

Try looking for information that you can relate to, to talk about during the interview. Are they fellow alumni of your college? Using LinkedIn’s alumni networks, do you have any mutual friends with one of the interviewers? Having something in common or knowing someone might just be the edge you need to get the job. Knowing the same person as the interviewer who can make a recommendation is a HUGE win.

3. Dress Professionally

This is simple. Please dress appropriately for the job interview. Do not show up in gym shorts and a tank. I did not even do that for my interview with Dick’s Sporting Goods where athletic gear was the dress code.

Having a professional look will give the interviewers the impression that you are serious about the job. If you walk into the room wearing casual, you will give the opposite impression you want to give.

Picking out the proper dress level can be like walking a tight rope though. Overdressing for an interview might also have a negative impact on the interviewers. A common rule is to dress a level or two above the normal dress attire of the workplace. You will hopefully be able to figure out what level of dress you need to be based on the research you do into the company.

When in doubt, just ask the hiring manager.

4. Clean up Your Social Media

We live in a digital world where we as a society provide WAY too much information about ourselves on. Your resume and cover letter are your first impression. In most cases now, your social media is now your second impression as most hiring managers will look through your LinkedIn and other social media profiles.

Make sure you clean up these profiles and timelines to display an image you want to show.

Really, you should be doing this before you start applying for jobs.

5. Be Respectful

This one, to me, seems like common sense but sadly it is not. As someone who also has been a hiring manager, I have seen some very disrespectful interviewees.

Be sure to be respectful and polite with everyone you encounter from the receptionist to the CEO. If you are rude or condescending, you better believe your actions will be reported to the hiring manager. Who would want to introduce someone like that to the culture of the office?

Another note to remember, be kind when talking about existing business processes or infrastructures. Never be condescending about them. If asked how you would improve something, be kind about the way you would go about it. During one interview I hosted, we had someone that was very condescending about some systems architecture. His approach was very negative and off-putting. This was not the type of energy we wanted to introduce into the office.

Also, his critique might have been valid at a large company but not for one our size. So it showed a lack of knowledge compared to other candidates.

Interviewing for a job is one of my least favorite things in the world. My two best friends, including Andrew, love though. One thing that helped me get over the anxiety was learning how to prepare for a job interview. Typically, preparing for anything will help you get over your nerves a lot more quickly. I found this to also be true when preparing for a job interview. Preparing will give you more confidence entering the room. Today we will go over how to prepare for a job interview. Hopefully, this will lead you to hear the words you want to, "You are hired!" #lifeadvice #career #jobinterview

6. Turn Off Your Cell Phone

This is “How to Prepare for a Job Interview” 101. Turn off your phone for the interview. Even on vibrate, the notifications that come in during the interview can easily throw you off while trying to answer a question.

Don’t worry, everything can wait an hour or two until you are done with the interview. Fidgeting with your phone during the interview will most likely get you disqualified instantly.

If you need something to do while you wait to be called into the meeting room, reread your resume. Maybe you can practice your responses some more. If they are not too busy, you can talk with the receptionist at the front to learn more about the company. Or read a magazine.

7. Arrive Early

I grew up in a rural part of the Midwest in the United States. Here if you are not at your destination 15-minutes early, you are late. Anytime you have an interview you should obey the rules of my small-town Iowa roots.

Arriving late or even in a rush will show the interviewer that you do not care about the job. Who is going to hire and pay someone who appears to not care?

It’s okay to arrive at your destination super early. Better safe than sorry. Just hang out in the car till 15-minutes before your scheduled interview time. Take this time to get your fix in with your phone.

If you are one of those people that always shows up 15-30 minutes late than you better plan to leave 30-45 minutes earlier than normal.

8. Display You Are Serious About The Position

We have already mentioned this several times above so you should have started to understand that it is important to display you are serious about the position. This starts with arriving early and showing respect to anyone you interact with at the company you are interviewing with.

Next, you need to show that you are serious about the profession. Be ready with examples of awards, successes, and how you championed projects in the past. Having these examples ready will display your passion and willingness to grow for the job.

It’s okay to still bring some printed resumes (yes, even in this digital world just be sure to use quality paper) and a portfolio to the interview. Most people lose track of time and forget to print things out beforehand. You being ready will give you the opportunity to show how prepared you are for the interview and how serious you are.

9. Finally, Visualize Your Success!

Visualizing your success is a key piece on how to prepare for a job interview. This is the time to take a deep breath and visualize yourself introducing yourself to the hiring manager as well as other interviewers. Practice how you will introduce yourself and answer some test questions. What will be your questions for them?

It is okay to grab a friend or partner to practice some questions with. The more prepared you are, the better you will be. The more confident you will be!

Once done, put everything down and go relax. Make sure to get eight hours of sleep the night before.

Concluding How to Prepare for a Job Interview

As I mentioned at the beginning, I HATE interviews. My anxiety levels hit the ceiling the moment I set up an interview with a company I am very excited about. That is why I wanted to write this article because I know I am not alone. Hopefully, you find these tips helpful and calming. I know my nerves have even calmed down a bit.

Being well prepared will help you succeed in any interview. Even if you don’t get the job, every interview opportunity is great practice for the next one. After every interview, be sure to write down some notes about the successes as well as the failures. You need to learn from the mistakes made so you can better yourself for the next interview.

Good luck to those with an interview coming up soon!

 

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How to Choose a Career With These Steps

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How to choose a career is not an easy task. I can speak from personal experience, if you are having trouble deciding what to do for your career, I promise that you are not alone. This can be a very nerve-racking time in your life. Trust me, I went through a career change in my late twenties that was stressful but it worked out really well in the long run. My goal is to use the lessons I learned to help you out. #lifehack #lifeadvice #jobsearchHow to choose a career is not an easy task. I can speak from personal experience, if you are having trouble deciding what to do for your career, I promise that you are not alone.

This can be a very nerve-racking time in your life. Trust me, I went through a career change in my late twenties that was stressful but it worked out really well in the long run. My goal is to use the lessons I learned to help you out.

We will help walk you through some very simple steps that will hopefully point you in the right direction. Even if they don’t, you will at least have some very good questions to ask yourself.

1. Find What You Like

To start answering the question, “How to Choose a Career?” you need to ask yourself a much easier question, “What do you like to do?”

At this point, let’s not worry about other important factors such as income, lifestyle accommodations, or other factors. We will talk about those later. For now, let’s just focus on what you like.

Do you like computers? Do you like animals? How about being outside?

These are all interests, including hundreds of others, that can lead to a promising career. In today’s modern world, just about anything can be a career as well. I am amazed by some of the jobs that are out there such as playing video games full time. Middle school Adam wishes the internet was built for streaming games back when I had the time.

Career Tests

Are you having trouble coming up with ideas? That is okay, not everyone can come up with ideas right away or even know what they like. Trust me, you are not alone. There are many people out there also trying to figure things out. This is normal.

To get your mind jogging, take some career tests to help you out. Here are some tests to get you started.

Just a heads up, some of these tests do cost money. I would start with the free versions first to see what kind of results you get then move to the paid versions. I think of this as part of the investment on how to choose a career.

One last note, take your time to figure out what you like. This is not the time to rush.

2. Consider Important Factors

Once you find what you enjoy in life, it is time to consider various important factors to help you choose a career within that area.

Here you need to think about your current lifestyle and what you are willing to give up or take on. A career should be rewarding to what you need in your life right now. It should also provide opportunities beyond today.

If you need money today, that is okay to make it your priority. There are so many other factors to consider when researching a new career path.

  • Consider the growth opportunities a career path can provide.
  • Remember life/work balance.
  • Are there jobs available?
  • What are the education/training opportunities? Are they expensive?

The last bullet brings up a good point. For someone making a career change later in their life, it might not make sense to spend another seven years in school and $100,000 in debt to become a doctor (This could make sense for you but generally it probably won’t). What I am trying to say is you should be aware of the time and cost it will take to get trained in your new career choice.

3. What Career Paths Can You Take?

After deciding what career you want to move into, you should make sure there are different paths you can take once in the area.

One way you can find out is by doing some research on the internet. This is what I did to see what areas of growth there are in the Salesforce area. I watched a lot of videos on YouTube to listen to testimonies from other Salesforce Admins and what paths they took.

Another way to understand career paths is to reach out to existing professionals in the career. With LinkedIn, this is extremely easy to do. Do not be afraid to network with complete strangers. I actually used this method as well when I was looking at getting my Master’s degree in software development. I was nervous but very relieved by how friendly and willing people were to talk about their careers. All I did was a search for people in the career I wanted within the area I lived in.

Lastly, you can do some research on the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics website. Here you can research how many jobs there are in a profession, along with the forecasted growth. You can also find out what the average salaries are and much more.

4. Mistakes to Watch Out For

  • Choosing Money First – If you don’t care about anything else, sure prioritizing money first is okay. For most people, this is not the case though. Most people will prioritize family, traveling, work/life balance, benefits, etc over money. A happy balance between money and life is usually the best approach to life.
  • Not Growing – Never stop learning. This includes after you get a job. Once you become static, you will lose out on so many opportunities.
  • Choosing a Career With Little Growth Opportunities – Be careful to not get pigeonholed. Make sure the skills that you learn in your career do not go to waste. Make sure they can be used somewhere else so you can continue growing and moving up in your new career. This is similar to the career paths we talked about earlier.
  • Choosing a Dying Career – Very similar to growth opportunities, be sure that the new field you are moving into is not dying. Most careers that are dying out are because of better technology such as travel agents and photo processors.

Concluding How to Choose a Career

As we already mentioned, choosing a career can be a tough task no matter your stage in life. Young 18-year-olds might not know enough about themselves yet and people in their 50’s might feel lost. This is a normal feeling and there is nothing wrong with this.

This article is intended to help you find the perfect career. Hopefully, something within this article will help you accomplish just that.

If you are not ready for a new career but would like to earn some more money every month, we have a page for you. Hop on over to our Ways to Make Money page to check out the 70 plus ways to make some extra cash.

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What to Do When You Are Facing a Job Relocation

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We all wish that the perfect job was right in our backyard, or better yet, that we could all work from home. However, a fact of life is that many times, the perfect job is miles away, and you have little choice but to move to a new city, state, country, or even continent. Sometimes, maybe your current employer asks you to move and fill in a much-needed position in your company's branch office.We all wish that the perfect job was right in our backyard, or better yet, that we could all work from home. However, a fact of life is that many times, the perfect job is miles away, and you have little choice but to move to a new city, state, country, or even continent. Sometimes, maybe your current employer asks you to move and fill in a much-needed position in your company’s branch office. 

While it may thrill you as I was with the idea of a fresh start, new experiences, and the possibility of adventure, job relocation is not always easy. As they say, your current position, whatever it may be, is still the Devil you know. However, job relocation opens you to an endless list of exciting unknowns. It also affects the non-work-related facets of your life, such as your family and friends.

Therefore, before taking the plunge, here are a few tips to help you before you make your decisions:

1. Determine the Details of a Relocation Package

One of the first things you need to know before you accept to move is to find out the company policy on employee relocation packages. Most companies offer some level of relocation help. In my case, my employer paid for my moving and travel expenses, besides a two weeks hotel stay allowance. 

In other instances, the company may only reimburse your moving costs. Then, it will be prudent to ensure that you have all the moving receipts and documents of all your moving expenses for claiming the refund of the moving costs.

If you find that the company does not offer any relocation package, ask for one anyway. However, ask these questions way in advance to allow ample negotiation time for the best possible outcome.

2. Purse The Option Of Tax Deductions On Your Moving Expenses

Maybe your employer will not offer a relocation package. Depending on where you live, you may still claim a partial reimbursement of your moving expenses. In most cases, the requirements to qualify for this tax deduction are that: –

You moved to start a new job.

Your new job and new home are more than 50 miles away, 

You worked full-time for over 39 weeks during the year of your move. 

Are you self-employed? Then, you will need to provide proof of working full time for over 78 weeks within the first 2-years of your relocation.

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3. Visit Your New Office.

As far as humanly possible, create time to visit the proposed new office, meet with some of your new colleagues and even explore the new city. Such a visit allows you to see the workplace environment and some changes to expect. 

When my employer asked me to move, I had a two-week handover process one month before the date of my actual move. I made a specific trip to my new job location. I’m glad I did so, as it allowed me to meet with my new coworkers and get a load of tips and advice on the workplace, how to get around, and absolute must-haves. This information made the relocation a lot easier to adjust.

If you can’t visit the new region beforehand, find out more information from the internet and social media sites. Better yet, your friends who might know the area or live in the new location. These online resources could include the region’s government sites, tourism sites, online forums, blogs, and newspapers.

4. Determine the Cost Of Living

The cost of living varies significantly depending on the state, city, or country. Therefore, it is good to find out the cost of living in the new region and compare it against your salary offer. Knowing the cost of living will make it easier for you to budget accordingly. If the area is more expensive to live in than where you currently stay, ask your employer to adjust your salary accordingly.

Are you moving to a completely different country? Then, try to find out the salary rate for people in your line of work in that country. Remember to factor in financial benefits, incentives, and other region-specific costs, such as Spain health insurance cost.

I’d advise you not to make the same mistake I did. Trying to negotiate a salary increment after you have already moved might prove unsuccessful. 

5. Determine the New State’s Tax Laws

Is the job relocation in a new state or country? Countries and some states have law regulations that you have to meet. Therefore, before you move, it is beneficial to you to determine which taxes you need to pay in the new state. This tax information will help you know the range of salary expectations to request and budget accordingly.

6. Think About Your Loved Ones

 

It is important to remember that your job relocation will affect your loved ones. Why not hold off signing on the dotted line until you consider the opinion of your loved ones? Honest and open communication is essential, as it will go a long way in helping you find solutions.

Let’s take, for instance, you are married and have children. Your working spouse might have to leave their job for a while looking for another job in the new state. Remember, for some time before your spouse gets another job, you’ll solely depend on one income and not two. Your kids have to register for new schools. They lose out on the friends they have formed through the years. Depending on their age, it might make it harder for them to readjust to a new location. 

Some companies may provide you with job placement leads that might be helpful to your spouse. Alternatively, the relocation could move you closer to your family and friends.

In hindsight, this is another factor that I failed to consider. I was so excited about the relocation that I did not stop and think about how my moving away would affect my family. 

job-relocation-family

7. Hold Off On Long-Term Commitments.

It is the course of wisdom to hold off on buying a home or taking up a long-term lease in the new state until you are sure that you are comfortable with your new neighborhood or the new job. Maybe, take a month-to-month house rental lease. Take time for yourself and your family to adjust to the new surroundings, workplaces, and schools. In time, when you are sure that you and your family like the new location, then make permanent financial investment decisions.  

Check with your employer to determine whether there is a provision for corporate housing for a short time to allow you and your family time to adjust to your new surroundings.

8. Change Your Mailing Address

The list of things to get done as you prepare to relocate is long, and changing your mailing address could be the least of your concerns. However, as you readjust to move, you may receive notices or forms in your mail about your move or your new job that you would not want to lose.

Conclusion

As the decision to move to a new job location is often tough, it might be helpful to jot down all the positives and potential negatives of the relocation. Examine all the factors involved in relocating. Weigh the potential gains against the losses. You will be in a better position to accept the job relocation offer, walk away from an unsuitable deal, or negotiate for a better agreement.

If you decide to go ahead with the job relocation, stay as organized and efficient as possible. Keep a checklist for everything to get done before your relocation. You then can move to ensure a successful transition.

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What Does an Extended Warranty Cover on a Car?

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It’s great to have the security of a warranty so that you know expensive repairs will be covered. But what happens when that warranty times out? That’s a particular key question when it comes to your car, something you likely use every day, or close to it. Is it a good idea to get the prolonged protection of an extended warranty? Will it cover everything that your original car warranty covered? Maybe, maybe not.It’s great to have the security of a warranty so that you know expensive repairs will be covered. But what happens when that warranty times out?

That’s a particular key question when it comes to your car, something you likely use every day, or close to it. Is it a good idea to get the prolonged protection of an extended warranty? Will it cover everything that your original car warranty covered? Maybe, maybe not.

Here’s information to help you decide what makes the most sense for you.

What Is an Extended Warranty?

Typically, when you buy a new car, you get a manufacturer’s warranty, which covers you for certain repairs. But that warranty doesn’t last indefinitely, and you might still want protection once it has expired.

An extended warranty is essentially an insurance policy on your vehicle, protecting you against expensive unforeseen repairs. It typically kicks in after your manufacturer’s warranty expires to cover repairs for a specified period of time or number of miles, whichever comes first.

Extended auto warranties are also called vehicle service contracts or aftermarket warranties. They cost extra and are sold separately from the car. And they are technically not warranties, so they are not subject to the same federal consumer protections.

How Does a Car Warranty Work?

When you buy a car, it typically comes with a warranty. This is best described as an agreement with the car’s manufacturer that it will cover the cost of certain repairs or issues that may crop up —particularly issues that result from vehicle defects or poor workmanship. While car warranties vary, you can generally expect that things like problems with the engine, transmission, and steering system, for example, will be covered.

Types of Extended Warranties

There are two primary types of extended warranties. There are those that you get from the carmaker (or, in-car jargon, the original equipment manufacturer). And then there are those offered by third-party vendors, like an insurance or warranty company that is independent of the car manufacturer.

Car Manufacturer Extended Warranty

When you buy a new car, it generally comes with the manufacturer’s warranty. But also, when you are buying your car and/or when your original warranty ends, you might be offered an extended warranty by the manufacturer, too. If you choose to purchase this coverage, you will be charged for it. And while some manufacturers may replicate the terms of your original warranty, others may not, so you’ll want to check the terms very closely if you move forward with one of these policies. You’ll also want to check when the extended warranty begins, because there’s no point in paying for duplicative coverage.

Third-Party Warranties

Similarly, there are also auto service contracts that may be offered by dealerships or by third parties. Costs and what’s covered can vary widely, so if this is something that interests you, be sure to spend time comparing prices, coverage limits, deductibles, and terms before making a decision. It’s also a good idea to check the payment process for repairs. You might have to pay upfront and then file a claim for reimbursement.

Some third-party warranties may have exclusions, rules, and requirements that manufacturers’ warranties typically don’t. These downsides can include strict limitations on where you can have your vehicle fixed and hefty deductibles. There may be no guarantee that parts from the original manufacturer will be used.

What is Usually Covered Under an Extended Warranty on a Car?

Make no assumptions. Warranties differ, so if you opt for an extended warranty, be sure you know what’s covered and what’s not.

You might be able to get comprehensive bumper-to-bumper coverage. You may be able to find coverage for air conditioning and heating systems, electrical components, airbags, engines, transmission, and more. Or you might sign up for more targeted protection for the powertrain only or for other specific components.

Plans can also vary in duration, with most providing three to five years of coverage.

Your contract should also clearly spell out where and from what providers you can get assistance.

What’s Not Covered in a Car Warranty?

If you’re looking at extended warranties, this is a list you want to pay special attention to. It can be nerve-wracking as well as potentially quite costly when something you thought was covered is in fact not covered. Policies vary, but most often you won’t get coverage for routine maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations or the normal wear and tear on headlights, brakes, or holes in the seats or broken plastic, or scratches in the paint caused by your dog or children, among other things.

Are Tires Covered Under Warranties?

It’s a rarity for tires to be included in the manufacturer’s warranty.

Most often, the tire manufacturer provides the warranty on their tires and the typical duration is about four to six years. That coverage can include free repair if the tires develop problems during that window and/or replacement of tires if the original tires have manufacturing defects. Know however that if you need to make a claim, you will likely be asked to show proof that you’ve been taking good care of your tires regularly.

How to Qualify for an Auto Warranty

The newest car on the block is likely to get more love when it comes to auto warranties. If your vehicle is newish (definitely less than 10 years old), it’s likely to qualify for the most favorable coverage. If your car is brand-new, it’s probably under its manufacturer’s warranty still and chances are that most extended warranty policies that run concurrently would involve duplicating coverage. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure you know when exactly your extended warranty begins.

And the lower your mileage is, the better the odds that you’ll be eligible for a full coverage extended warranty. Some extended warranty companies cap mileage for eligibility at 100,000 miles. This isn’t surprising, since when you have a lot of miles on your car, repairs are likely not too far down the road. Low mileage also helps lower the price of your coverage.

Cost of an Extended Warranty

How much is this extended protection going to cost you? Naturally, that depends. Factors include the age of your vehicle, how often you drive, the number of miles on your car, your car’s brand and model, condition of the car, coverage type, and your deductible (if you have one your premium will be lower), among others. For a ballpark figure, the average cost of an extended car warranty is about $2,800.

Pros and Cons of Extended Car Warranties

This chart sums up some of the top pros and cons when you’re deciding about getting an extended car warranty.

Cons Pros
You may not end up using the warranty, even though you’ve paid for it or the cost of repairs may be less than you paid for the warranty. You have help covering the cost of repairs that are included in the plan.
These warranties may involve multiple exclusions, restrictions on where you can access service, and deductibles. It may give you peace of mind to know that you have a plan to help deal with unexpected repair costs.
You may not have full protection even for parts that are covered. If the warranty is transferable and you’re planning to sell your vehicle, it can increase the car’s value.

Is an Extended Warranty Worth it?

If you’re buying a vehicle with a reliable track record, you may not need extra protection, especially at the price you’ll have to pay for it. The smarter play may be to “self-insure.” For this, you’d sock away some cash in an emergency account to take care of any repairs that might come up. Then, if you don’t need to use the funds for your car, you still have them available for other purposes.

But in the end, you know yourself best. If you’ll sleep better with an extended warranty, just in case, do what brings you peace. Just be sure to do your homework first so that you get what you need.

The Takeaway

There’s no way to know in advance whether an extended warranty could pay off or not. One alternative is to save the money you would have spent on one in a separate emergency account. If you do decide to buy an extended warranty, do your research and shop around to find the best product for you.

If you’re also thinking about refinancing your car loan, Lantern by SoFi can help. Fill out one simple form and receive auto refinancing offers from multiple lenders in our network.

 

The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.SOLC0621106

How People Transition to Make a Living Online

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How to People Transition to Make a Living Online

Are you ready to leave the routine of your nine-to-five job behind for good? Do you want to take full control over when, where, and how you work? If so, you should aim to make a living online. Whether you start your own e-commerce platform, whether you operate a blog, or whether you try your hand at freelancing, there are a plethora of ways for you to generate an income solely via the internet.

If you’re to succeed with your web-based entrepreneurial venture, it’s imperative that you heed the following advice. Here are four things you must-do if you’re to stand a chance at earning a living online:

Consider your money-making options

If you want to make money online, then it can help if you find something you love. Rest assured, there are plenty of profitable avenues for you to take in this sense, so this will be easy enough to do. Whether you are interested in the digital marketing industry and keen to start offering affiliate marketing or social media influencing, or you are considering the benefits of offering an online course/e-book creation, there is so much to choose from.

Other ventures to consider include:

  • Dropshipping
  • Print on demand
  • Vlogging/blogging
  • Freelancing
  • App design
  • Translation work
  • E-commerce retailing

Each money-making opportunity will require a slightly different set of skills and offer various benefits to those who find success with it, so take plenty of time to research before you select your chosen option.

Be professional

You might not be meeting the majority of your clients in person, but this doesn’t mean that you can afford to act in an improper manner when conducting business online. If you’re serious about making a living via the internet, you need to take this venture seriously. More to the point, you need to be incredibly professional at all conceivable points. The way in which you converse with your web-based clients will make or break your ability to generate leads, which in turn will have a profound effect on the monthly wage packet that you earn. It is for this reason why you must go above and beyond to cultivate an executive online presence for yourself.

To build a professional web-based reputation, you must:

1. Start and build a blog that is specific to your niche market (advice on how to produce great blog content can be found here).

2. Manage your social media accounts to ensure they don’t display any content that may damage your brand image (in this instance, it is best to keep your professional and personal lives wholly separate).

3. Ensure that your profile photos are up-to-date, taken by a professional photographer, and showcase your image in the best possible light.

4. Interact with your target audience members on a consistent basis (this means responding to their queries in a timely fashion at all times).

5. Showcase your industry expertise by building a professional LinkedIn profile.

Study your competitors

No matter what web-based money-making market you wish to enter, you can guarantee there will be a number of companies already plying their trade within this niche sector. This means that you will face stiff competition as soon as you embark on your entrepreneurial endeavor, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The work that your rivals have previously produced can be used as a blueprint for success in your field; in order to create this all-important blueprint, all you need to do is study your competitors.

Thanks to online comparison sites such as SimilarWeb.com, this need not be a long or arduous task to undertake. Whether you’re looking to compare today’s biggest gambling platforms or today’s top ecommerce sites, you can use this type of website to unearth crucial information regarding your target market. With this data at hand, you will then have the capacity to avoid making the mistakes that your rivals have themselves previously made.

Build your following

Cultivating your own unique web-based reputation is the next important challenge that you face. This will help you to stand out from the crowd in your market, which in turn will increase the likelihood of you turning over a substantial profit from your money-making venture.

There are a number of tasks that you can perform in order to grow your online brand, one of the most important being to build your following. The type of leads that you generate and visitors that you attract will have a profound effect on how you are perceived via the web. Either this will help you to attract the right attention going forward, or it will have an adverse effect on the ongoing profitability of your entrepreneurial endeavor.

In your quest to cultivate a robust following, it’s advisable that you take some time to find social platforms that work for you. The sites that you use will either help you or hinder you in your attempt to access your target market, as each individual social platform is tailored around the specific wants, needs, and desires of a different audience.

There are a number of key demographic trends that you might want to consider studying in this instance, age being one of the most important. As detailed by Business Insider, it is stated that Facebook consistently draws the oldest audience (45-54) of regular web users. Conversely, it is said that teenagers are now starting to spend more time using ‘digital hangout’ apps, such as Houseparty and Zoom. Depending on which online market you wish to appeal to, it is recommended that you scrutinize your options in order to unearth a worthwhile social platform.

If you want to take control of your ongoing professional growth and development, you should seriously consider utilizing the web as a money-making tool. Thanks to the rise of web-based communication/collaboration technology, there’s no reason why you can’t make a living from the comfort of your own home.

In order to stand a chance at succeeding with your internet-based endeavor, you should put all of the advice laid out above into practice. Be professional, study your competition, build your online following, and find a vocation that actively engages you. Once you do all of that, you’ll be sure to get more out of your day-to-day life as an entrepreneur.

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65 Funny Life Quotes to Put a Smile on Your Face

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Let’s start with 50 anonymous funny life quotes to put you in a good mood. Then, I end with 15 funny life quotes from famous individuals to get you thinking about your life and where you might want to take it. Today we live at the crux of many generations. Some of these generations have lived through world wars, the space age, and the rise of computers and technology. Some are still trying to figure out life.

But no matter what generation you belong to, everyone claims that they have the best formula for success and happiness.

Maybe they do. After all, the recipe for success does evolve throughout the years.

But as we all know, the fundamentals of living a good life haven’t changed. Likewise, the benefit of a good laugh in our daily life hasn’t changed either. So, I started snooping around the internet in search of some good clean fun.

They say laughter is the best medicine, and even better if there’s a lesson as well.

Luckily, there are a plethora of funny life quotes out there that will make you laugh. Quite a few of them will give you a genuine reason to laugh. Some of the funny life quotes also may help knock some sense into you, along with a good laugh.

Before I proceed, I want to recognize that most of these funny life quotes are from books, media, and friends. My thanks and kudos to those who said them. All but the last batch are anonymous, so my anonymous thanks to them as well.

Let’s start with 50 anonymous funny life quotes to put you in a good mood. Then, I end with 15 funny life quotes from famous individuals to get you thinking about your life and where you might want to take it.

50 Funny Life Quotes to Make You Smile

  1. Research has shown that laughing for 2 minutes is just as healthy as jogging for 20 minutes. Now I am sitting in the park laughing at the joggers.
  2. An employee complained this show is really boring. Boss answered: we are in a Zoom conference, idiot.
  3. People are prisoners of their phones, especially the millennials. That is why it is called a cell phone.
  4. Tell the millennials that their brain is an app, they will start using it.
  5. Many told me that we learn from our mistakes. I decided to make a lot of mistakes to become a genius.
  6. With great power comes a great electricity bill.
  7. Broccoli says it looks like a small tree, mushroom says it looks like an umbrella, walnut says it looks like a brain, and the banana said, can we change the subject?
  8. My bed and I are buddies and get along really well, but the alarm clock continues to break us up!
  9. If I had only one hour to live, I’d rather be in a math class; it never ends.
  10. Dear math, grow up and solve your own problems. I am tired of solving them for you.
  11. Math is fun. It teaches you to sit in the corner when it is cold. It is 90 degrees.
  12. You want to know who I am in love with, reread the first word.
  13. Life offers you a second chance, just a second, a new second.
  14. My spouse’s credit card got stolen. What a relief, the thief spent less than my spouse.
  15. If you don’t like me, remember it is mind over matter. I don’t mind, and you don’t matter.
  16. I don’t need a psychiatrist to prod into my personal life and make me tell them all my secrets. I have my friends for that.
  17. If you have an opinion about my life, please raise your hand. Now put it over your mouth.
  18. Why should I prove it is me when I pay bills over the phone? I didn’t call you to pay someone else’s bill. On the other hand, if someone is paying my bills, please let them.
  19. Mom yelled at her son, saying, “Why is everything on the floor?” Son replied, “Gravity, mom.”
  20. I always thought air was free until I bought a bag of chips!
  21. Dance like nobody is watching because they all are checking their phones.
  22. I just want someone to hug me and say, “I know it is hard, but you will be okay. Here is a drink and a million dollars.”
  23. Dear life, can this day get any worse? Please, it is not a challenge, just a rhetorical question.
  24. I try to sing loud to get a break from my problems, but my voice is worse than my problem.
  25. Why is Monday so far from Friday and Friday is so close to Monday?
  26. My boss asked me who is stupid, him or the employee? Everyone knows you don’t hire stupid people.
  27. When you wake up at 6 in the morning, you close your eyes for 5 minutes, and it is already 6:45. When you are at work, and it is 2:30, you close your eyes for 5 minutes. It is only 2:31.
  28. In the morning I cannot eat, I am thinking of you. In the evening I cannot eat, I am thinking of you. In the night, I cannot sleep. I am so hungry.
  29. If someone is laughing, laugh with them. If someone is singing, sing with them. If someone is working, let them work, don’t ruin their concentration.
  30. Can we start the weekend again? I wasn’t ready.
  31. On Mercury, a day lasts 1,408 hours. Just like every Monday does on Earth.
  32. I’d rather call my bathroom Jim instead of John. Then I can say that I go to the Jim every morning.
  33. I got up this morning and ran around the block ten times. Then I got tired and put the block back in the toy box.
  34. Your mind needs exercise just as much as your body does. That is why I think of jogging every day.
  35. I did a push-up today. Well, actually, I fell down and had to use both my arms to get back up.
  36. Every morning I do ten sit-ups just to hit the snooze button on my alarm clock.
  37. Teacher: Why are you talking during my lesson? Student: Why are you teaching during my conversation?
  38. There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
  39. Why don’t I use my turn signals? It is nobody’s business where I am going.
  40. What is the best thing to do when you have a hole in a boat and water is leaking in? Make another hole and drain the water.
  41. Did anyone walk out of a store and rip off their mask as if they just finished a disappointing surgery on Grey’s Anatomy?
  42. Well, if you have to choose between eating tacos every day and being skinny for life, would you choose the hard or soft tacos?
  43. How can you hurt someone with words? Hit them with a dictionary.
  44. Do lazy people go to heaven, or do they wait for someone to pick them up?
  45. Ever wondered why the pictures are square when the camera lenses are round?
  46. Anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot, and anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac. So, you are both an idiot and a maniac.
  47. Red, white and blue represents freedom unless they are flashing behind you.
  48. Yes, officer, I saw the speed limit. I just didn’t see your car.
  49. At the end of the day, life should ask us, “Do you want to save the changes?”
  50. Life was much easier when Apple and Blackberry were just fruits.

Hopefully, the above funny life quotes helped you crack a smile. Regardless, I bet these funny life quotes made you think about your life events a bit.

With that in mind, I felt that this article would not be complete without listing some wise and funny quotes from several famous individuals. Even though each will likely make you chuckle, there are many valuable life lessons in them as well.

Whether your goal is to become independently wealthy, make the next scientific breakthrough, be a famous artist, start a business, make a lot of money, or just live a good life, know that it will take some time to develop the wisdom to get there.

The following funny life quotes from famous people will give you strength and a positive attitude even when things may not be going your way. They did for me.

15 Funny Life Quotes from Famous Individuals

  1. “Wisdom comes from experience. Experience is often a result of lack of wisdom.” Terry Pratchett
  2. “The average man does not know what to do with his life yet wants another one which will last forever.” Anatole French
  3. “Some people have no idea what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” George Carlin
  4. “Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh.” George Bernard Shaw
  5. “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” Dalai Lama XIV
  6. “Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.” Ray Kroc
  7. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” Attributed to both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain (Origin Still in Question)
  8. “The simple act of opening a bottle of wine has brought more happiness to the human race than all the collective governments in the history of the earth.” Jim Harrison
  9. “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” Bernard Baruch
  10. “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.” Attributed to Mother Teresa
  11. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Mahatma Gandhi
  12. “Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.” Alan Dundes
  13. “The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” Albert Einstein
  14. “A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it.” Bob Hope
  15. “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.” Elbert Hubbard

Final Thoughts

Funny life quotes will give us plenty to laugh at. Of course, that itself is a break from the not-so-funny times of our life.

But the best funny life quotes also make us think, helping us shed some new light on our world and maybe even changing our perspective.

Hopefully, you found the above quotes worthy of a chuckle and also helpful. See what wisdom you can glean from these cracks and how you might be able to apply them to your life.

I would say that it’s hard to be wise without getting a degree from the universe. Can that be my quote?

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How to Prepare for a Pandemic: 9 Things You Need to Know

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Early on in the 20th century, the world saw the Spanish influenza pandemic. In the early 21st century we had the coronavirus pandemic. One of the ways that a pandemic becomes a pandemic is through global travel. As we've progressed in life, so has the risk of spreading disease. Given how connected the world is at this time, another pandemic is not just a faraway event that "may" happen; it's an inevitability. Knowing how to prepare for a pandemic can help ease fear and improve your safety. Much of what happened in the last year can guide you to what you may need to do if another pandemic occurs. To keep it simple and easy to remember, below is a list of things to consider. Early on in the 20th century, the world saw the Spanish influenza pandemic. In the early 21st century we had the coronavirus pandemic. One of the ways that a pandemic becomes a pandemic is through global travel. As we’ve progressed in life, so has the risk of spreading disease. Given how connected the world is at this time, another pandemic is not just a faraway event that “may” happen; it’s an inevitability. Knowing how to prepare for a pandemic can help ease fear and improve your safety.

Much of what happened in the last year can guide you to what you may need to do if another pandemic occurs. To keep it simple and easy to remember, below is a list of things to consider.

A Bit On How Disease May Spread

The origins of Covid are mired in controversy. We may never find out the whole truth about where it came from and how it initially started to spread. However, one thing is certain; with gentrification and the expansion of cities into the new wilderness, animals become displaced or come into contact with humans in a way they never have before. Exposure equals risk. Someone getting bitten or getting exposed to animal body fluids stands the chance of getting sick from a new virus or disease. Remember, many diseases that animals carry don’t affect them. So these creatures will look normal and healthy. If you get sick from them though, you may not have the same fate. Most of us aren’t in these situations directly. Instead, we come into contact with people who have been. You could run into them on an airplane, restaurant, or at a party. Now, this doesn’t mean we have to run and hide and isolate ourselves. It does mean that we need to be aware and be prepared for the potential of a new virus.

How To Prepare For A Pandemic

1 – Supplies

Masks (regular ones and N-95’s), sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizing gel, cleaning supplies, and soap should be at the top of your list of how to prepare for a pandemic.

You don’t need to go crazy and fill your basements or garage. Just be sure you maintain a few weeks’ of supplies of each. This way, if something does happen, you’re good to go and don’t need to worry about potential shortages.

In addition, be sure you have the following:

  • A working thermometer
  • A pulse oximeter (measures your oxygen levels, can be found on Amazon)
  • A first aid kit with up to date medications, including anti-inflammatory medicines & antibiotics

2 – Working From Home

While many employers are transitioning to a hybrid model of work (part work from home, part office time), many are requiring that employees come back full time. Understand that in another pandemic situation work from home will likely be back. If you plan on being at your job in the long term, then look into the equipment you need to make work from home successful. If you already invested in the equipment you need, then hang on to it. Find ways to keep using it to work from home, or convert that new home office into a permanent fixture that can be used by the whole family. If you plan to leave your job for another, then be sure to ask the new company/employer what they have planned if another pandemic or lockdown situation occurs. Entering a new job that has contingencies will help set you up for success in the future.

3 – Beef Up Your Emergency Fund

This past year there were layoffs, furloughs, and pay cuts that people suffered. Having a financial cushion worth up to 6 months of expenses (or more) can go a long way towards easing your stress should you find yourself in this kind of situation. So, if you don’t already have one, take a look at your expenses and your spending habits and find a way to get that emergency fund off the ground. You won’t regret it.

4 – Take Care Of Your Health

People with chronic medical problems were hit the hardest during the pandemic. Being obese, having diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, or underlying lung problems increased the severity of symptoms and made the coronavirus all the more dangerous and deadly. One of the best ways to protect yourself during a pandemic (or before it) is to maintain your health. Get your doctor’s checkups, pay attention to your diet, get moving and exercise as much as you can and cut back on those bad habits that hurt you. You don’t need to become a triathlete; but making your health a priority and optimizing it, even it a little bit, can make a huge difference in your risk, boost your immune system and improve the survivability of another unpredictable disease.

5 – Improve Your Hygiene

How many times a day did you wash your hands before the pandemic? I’m sure that changed drastically once Covid took over. Whatever hygienic habits you’ve developed in the last year, keep them. To name some:

  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating or touching your face
  • Wipe down phones regularly with sanitizing wipes
  • Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and use it often
  • Shower daily
  • Reduce sharing of food utensils and beverages (especially from people who don’t know or have just met)

6 – Develop Your Hobbies & Interests

A pandemic, and the subsequent lockdown that comes with it, can be very isolating. Knowing how to keep yourself busy at home can go a long way towards keeping up your mental health.

7 – Be Sure You Are Protected

Disability insurance? Health insurance? Life insurance? Get them all. Being prepared for any possibility makes it easier to deal with the unknown and the unpredictable. Yes, it’s an upfront cost, but it can go a long way towards keeping you safe, healthy and your family protected.

8 – Optimize Your Living Situation

Does your home need repairs? Do you need to upgrade old appliances that aren’t working satisfactorily? Get it done sooner rather than later. During a pandemic, you will be confined to your homes. The last thing you want is to be dealing with broken appliances or a leaky roof. Try to optimize your living situation as much as you can. If not repairs, can you move? If you’re renting and hate it, can you change buildings or location? If you have children and your jobs allow you to work from home, consider moving closer to family. I know plenty of people who lost their childcare options when Covid hit. Family is an excellent cushion of help to have should the need arise again.

9 – Educate and Discuss

The more you know, the better prepared you can be. Just like fire drills and earthquake drills, pandemic preparedness should be a topic that you discuss with your families and kids. Chat with each other about what a global pandemic means, how you would make adjustments should it happen again, and what you would do if you came into contact with someone who was sick. While every infectious disease will not necessarily require the same precautions, having a plan of action can make it easier. Some specifics you can discuss with your family, include:

  • Travel restrictions – be prepared to cancel plans and/or consult with your family before going on a trip if another pandemic starts brewing
  • A plan to self-isolate – how would you and your family implement isolation and distancing measures to keep each other safe?
  • During another quarantine how will you take care of your mental health? Discuss a plan for mental health check-ins with family and friends, and consider a plan for setting aside time each day to take care of yourselves.

Another discussion to consider is one with your physician. Talk to him/her about the pandemic, about what to do in the future, and trust their expertise. The biggest problem with pandemics, especially nowadays, is that new pathogens are unpredictable and we have very little information about them. Only as they learn more can they then teach you. So, check-in often and understand that you won’t get all of the information at once; rather, it’s an evolving process, and they can provide the best context for the information for you and your family.

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of life lessons to be learned from this past pandemic. Our priorities have shifted and we have changed the way we work and live in many ways. While things are looking up and we are moving towards a new normal, we must be prepared for it to happen again. Knowing how to prepare for a pandemic, and taking some of the steps described above, can go a long way towards providing you with the stability and peace of mind to be ok.

This post originally appeared on Your Money Geek.

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Here’s Your List of the Top Gear for the Perfect Road Trip in 2021

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Road trips can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences. However, there are many variables to consider when going on a road trip, from where you will stop to eat to how much time you have before reaching your destination. Having the top gear for the perfect road trip is something that can help make your adventure the best in your life.  Road trips can be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences. However, there are many variables to consider when going on a road trip, from where you will stop to eat to how much time you have before reaching your destination. Having the top gear for the perfect road trip is something that can help make your adventure the best in your life.

The more prepared you are for your road trip, the easier it will be. And that’s where top gear comes in to make your trip easier. Find out the ultimate gear for the perfect road trip and why it matters when going on a long journey.

Why it is Important to Prepare for a Road Trip

When you are packing for your road trip, it is crucial to take into account the following:

– What will be necessary when traveling?

– How long will this journey last?

– Is there a destination in mind before starting on the journey?

What you pack into your bag is just as important as planning for your trip.

Top Gear for the Perfect Road Trip – Electronics

Goal Zero Yeti Portable Power Station

Goal Zero Yeti is a top car accessory for road trips for those with tablets, laptops, digital cameras, and more who want to avoid draining the battery while parked at their location. Goal Zero’s portable power stations are perfect for continuous charging without being plugged in.

Travel Camera

Travel cameras are high-quality compact versions of your typical DSLR. They can be convenient for those who don’t want to bring everything when they travel, as it means you don’t need to lug around a heavy camera bag and lens. A good travel camera is also perfect if you want some nice shots but don’t have the time or patience to pull out all the fancy gear.

Road Trip Playlist

Music is essential to any road trip, so take some time to download some playlists before you leave. It’s nice to have some familiar favorites on hand for those days when you get tired of the music blasting from your car radio.

Taking the time to download some playlists will also come in handy when you are out of cell service and need to rely on the radio for music. Make this more fun by having each person on your road trip make their playlist.

Podcasts are also a great way to stay entertained on those long drives. There are so many genres of podcasts, and it makes the time in the car pass quicker. You can also download podcasts ahead of time, so you don’t need to stream them.

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

If you have taken the time to make some playlists or download some podcasts, a portable Bluetooth speaker is an excellent investment. The speaker is small enough to fit on a table, yet it can quickly blast your favorite songs or podcasts. Turn on the speaker while making dinner on one of your road trip stops or sing along while you are in the shower.

Old School Navigation Maps

Before you begin your road trip, it is a good idea to have a planned, detailed route. However, I still recommend that you bring actual printed maps if there is no cellular service, your phone runs out of battery, you face an unexpected detour, or you get off the beaten track.

Access to smartphones and navigation apps has made buying traditional maps obsolete. While this is useful, we believe investing in a printed map is worth the cost for any extended touring.

The Rand McNally Large Scale Road Atlas is a perfect addition to any road trip if your phone breaks, dies, or doesn’t have service and you need directions using the most up-to-date iteration. It includes an enormous array of easy-to-read maps, including that of 350 cities and US National Parks.

Top Gear for the Perfect Road Trip – Kitchen, Food Storage & Snacks

Cooler

When it comes to road trips, there are many different ways you can store your food. One popular choice for storing perishable goods is the cooler – this is also convenient if you want an opportunity to stop off and have a picnic.

YETI’s Hopper range of coolers has become a favorite due to its durability and selection of soft-sided coolers.

When you’re traveling in a car on vacation, packing for the distance is essential. Unfortunately, traditional coolers are heavy and take up space that you could otherwise use to store bags. So, consider using a portable travel cooler.

Soft-sided coolers are easy to pack, and the Yeti Hopper is a staple on the top gear road trip travel list.

Coffee Maker

Coffee should be at the top of every traveler’s must-have list. Whether it is iced or hot, coffee is a refreshing drink that helps soothe those road-weary travelers who are exhausted from their travels and looking for an energy boost to carry on.

For coffee connoisseurs, one of the best ways to enjoy your favorite hot beverage while you are on a road trip is with a portable electric coffee press. The Aeropress Go is a top gear choice as it brews better-tasting coffee, is easier to clean, and can pack down small for easy transportation.

This on-the-go coffee system is lightweight and compact, with a mug that assembles into the main compartment for easy packing. The coffee kit also comes with 20 free 350 paper filters to get you started so that your creativity doesn’t end at brewing.

Collapsible Tupperware

The best gear for a road trip is collapsible Tupperware. Take food containers that pack down flat or buy ones that are BPA-free, lead, and phthalates-free. They come in handy on those long travel days and serve as storage containers for leftovers if you’re staying at a hotel with a kitchen.

Bindle 24 oz Water Bottle With Storage Compartment

Water bottles are perhaps the most essential item on any road trip. The Bindle water bottle with storage compartment is a genius idea if you want to make a quick stop and go for a hike without having to lug around a day pack or purse. Instead, you can tuck your car keys or a snack in the storage compartment and carry the water bottle as usual.

Top Gear Essentials

Leatherman Signal Multitool

To keep it simple, the more prepared you are for an unpredictable situation, the better off you are. For those road trips that require some maneuvering around unique challenges, a multitool like this Leatherman Surge is necessary for every traveler.

While it would be obvious to pack tools like tire chains, extra supplies, and water bags in a car’s trunk or backseat, you might not consider packing a reliable multitool. Leatherman Signal is an excellent choice when preparing for a long-distance drive with your vehicle.

Day Bag

A good day bag is high on the list of top gear for the perfect road trip. When planning for a trip, the list of essentials is never-ending. Travel day bags can be used in many different ways, such as hiking or shopping, and are among the most critical items to have on any trip. You can slip a few snacks, a water bottle, camera gear, and your other essentials into it.

Rain Jacket

Rain jackets are small and lightweight, perfect for day trips or unexpected downpours. Use your rain jacket as a way to stay prepared and dry if you’re ever caught in the rain!

Pack a rain jacket that is waterproof, windproof, and breathable, made from Goretex. It’s not just useful for traveling in rainy climates but can be used as an outer shell during all types of weather. You can also wear it in the winter over a down coat when it’s needed to stay dry.

Road Side Emergency Kit

A Roadside Emergency Kit is a must for any travel. Pack an emergency blanket, jumper cables, and flares when venturing out on the open road. It is always advisable to prepare for emergencies by carrying a variety of supplies. Gear like coolant, zip ties, excess oil, and tools are also significant for roadside assistance when you need it most.

First Aid Kit

The very fabric of a road trip often takes you onto remote and desolate roads, so it’s best to always bring a solid first aid kit.

Traveling with a first aid kit on road trips is comforting, knowing you have a few essentials should you need them, like band-aids, gloves, or disinfectant. The kit should also have a first-aid kit with bandages, antibacterial wipes, antiseptic cream or ointment, and pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen.

Tire gauge

Racking up the miles on the highway is no problem with a tire gauge. This tool makes it easy to make sure your tires are at an appropriate level, and you’re not driving on dangerously low-pressure levels or balding tires.

Lighter

A lighter is an excellent thing to have on a road trip, especially if you are camping. It is inexpensive and comes in handy for making mores or starting fires. You never know when you will need one, so come prepared for the inevitable.

Personal Items

Toiletries

Make sure you can easily access your toiletries and other personal items on long road trips. In addition, items such as sunglasses, cleansing wipes, and sunscreen are all useful. Finally, make sure to bring enough of your prescription medicines for the length of travel (as recommended by your doctor).

If your car allows for it, keeping medications such as antacids and motion sickness remedies in the vehicle will help when necessary. Be sure to pack wet wipes for use on kids’ faces and hands after meals and to clean up any messes during the trip.

Sunscreen

Some of the best gear for a long road trip includes sunscreen. Sunscreen is essential to have on hand when traveling as you may not always be in an area where it’s easy to get shade or protection from harmful rays. In addition, during long trips, there are often hours spent outside or feeling the sun’s rays from the driver’s seat.

Sleep Mask

Sleeping in hotels or new places can be challenging. A sleep mask is perfect for any time of day or night when you need some shuteye. Sleep masks also come in handy if you have kids who go to bed before sundown.

Stain remover

When you spend hours and hours in the car, you are bound to have spills. To help clean up those messes, make sure you have a stain remover on hand at all times. It’s perfect when it comes to spilled coffee or tomato sauce unexpectedly leaking through the bag – wipe and go!

Road Trip Vehicle Organization

Seat Covers

Before your next road trip, consider picking up gear that is specifically designed to help you stay organized while on the go. For example, seat cover organizers are a fantastic option for those looking for a little more order using the back of the front seat.

Small Trash Can

One item that will make a big difference on a road trip is a small trash can. Garbage can accumulate quickly on the road, and this one small detail will prevent your vehicle from becoming a total mess. Another option for tidy travelers on the go is to purchase some pleasant-smelling air fresheners or an appropriate scent pump top spray that you have already smelt at home and know that you will enjoy the smell.

What do you need for a winter road trip?

Preparing for a winter road trip is essential. The two things you need are a winter car kit and snow chains if you will be traveling in the mountains or heading to a ski resort. Snow chains go over your tires to help stop slipping off the road when it snows a lot. A winter car kit includes heat tape and booster cables, tire gauge, windshield wiper fluid, flashlight, gloves. In addition, it’s important to have a scraper/snowbrush, shovel, extra warm clothes, and a down blanket for emergencies.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

If there is one thing that is essential on this list, remember to purchase travel insurance before you leave. Travel insurance for road trips is inexpensive, so it’s great if you don’t need to use it, but if you do, it will help protect your assets while you’re on the road.

When it comes to road trips, you need to consider a lot of variables before starting. From where and when you will stop for food, the amount of time until you reach your destination, and what gear you’ll pack to make your trip easier – top gear for the perfect road trip can be crucial. This list should help take some of the guesswork out of planning for a long journey on wheels.

This article originally appeared on Your Money Geek and has been republished with permission.

How to Ask for A Raise and Motivate Your Boss To Help You!

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Let's start by saying that asking for a raise is a perfectly normal part of business life. It's business 101 for managers. Yet, for employees, the idea of asking and affecting the status quo of your employee/manager relationship fills many people with anxiety-inducing paralysis. Let’s start by saying that asking for a raise is a perfectly normal part of business life. It’s business 101 for managers. Yet, for employees, the idea of asking and affecting the status quo of your employee/manager relationship fills many people with anxiety-inducing paralysis.

Let’s destroy the “You vs. Them” dynamic and learn how to get your manager on your side when learning how to ask for a raise.

How to Ask for a Raise

First Things First – Prepare

If you are asking for a raise, you control when you ask. You have time on your side, so start doing your research and build your confidence.

  • Know Your Worth – Go through your responsibilities at work and ask can anyone else do this? Are you more uniquely qualified for essential tasks that set you apart? If they fired you tomorrow, what would it take for your employer to replace you? Take an objective look at yourself as how your employer sees you.
  • Create A List Of Accomplishments – Since your last raise, what have you accomplished? Did these accomplishments set you apart or go above and beyond your everyday responsibilities? Having this list of achievements could be key talking points. If your actions are helping improve the company’s productivity or increasing revenue, like starting a company blog, there should be more than a “good job.”
  • Use The Internet To Find Similar Salaries – Sites like Glassdoor and popular job boards regularly post salaries of similar positions in other companies. This easily accessible information can be a huge talking point in meeting with your manager. If your salary is lower than the listings your finding, your manager’s discussion should be on how to increase your salary to industry standard. Suppose your salary is higher than the industry average. In that case, you should be arguing how your responsibilities justify a higher pay or discuss title changes to put you in the next higher bracket.

When preparing for asking for a raise, try explaining what you do, your worth, and your accomplishments with a friend. If you can adequately explain what you do to a friend, you’ll be more prepared to explain it to your boss during your salary meeting sufficiently.

The Best Time To Ask For A Raise

Often people talk themselves out of something by saying it’s not the right time. However, when asking for a raise, anytime is the right time, after 12 months from your last raise.

Annual performance reviews and raises are ordinary meetings. If that’s not normal for your company, you should set up a yearly review with your manager to get feedback and create a forum for these discussions.

Particular Circumstances When To Ask For A Raise

  • After Completing A Big Project – If you just completed a big project, and it went well. It would help if you leveraged that win. It’s often a time to discuss bonuses or raises while spirits are high. It’s ingrained in humans to reward good behavior. Use that!
  • When Your Manager Is Happy – You will always get farther with happy people. However, when approaching your manager about a raise, make sure they’re happy with you and not simply happy about winning a golf tournament.

Set Up The Meeting

When you decide to ask for a raise, remember this is something you’ve been thinking about, but for your manager, it’s out-of-the-blue. If you ambush your manager, they may have a gut reaction to “NO” because it’s their job to maintain the status quo.

One of the more successful ways we’ve seen people approach their managers about asking for a raise is to start with an email to schedule a time to discuss, along with a few key arguments. An email is a controlled way to establish a future time to discuss salary, state a couple of big wins since your last raise, and most importantly, provides your manager time to mull over the idea.

Another benefit to sending an email to set up a time for a salary discussion is that you have the time to perfect the email. Take your time and make it concise. No need to send your manager a short novel on every reason you deserve a raise.

The primary goal of your email is to arrange a time to discuss your salary in person. A secondary goal is to mention your accomplishments, which you should only list 1-3 of these to keep the email concise.

Tips For Your Salary Meeting

Salary meetings don’t need to be adversarial. But rather a collaboration with you and your manager to get you to a salary you want. Here are a few tips on successful raise requests:

  • Don’t make it into a presentation – Your manager should already be aware of your accomplishments by working with you or highlighted them in your earlier email. It could be a simple paragraph “Hi! I wanted some time to discuss my salary as we haven’t met in over 12 months. According to Glassdoor and our competitor websites, here is the average industry salary for people in my position and responsibilities. I want to discuss how to get my salary closer to the industry average.”
  • Be Confident and Specific About Your Raise – Based on your research; you should have a specific number in mind to match similar positions at different companies. This number shows your manager you’ve done your research and gives them a firm number to work. Perhaps your number could be a little higher so you can negotiate down if needed.
  • Practice What You’re Going To Say – They say TED speakers practice 200 times before they present. For a compensation meeting, it’s more complicated because you don’t know how your manager will respond. However, you can still rehearse the main points with polish, such as “Why A Raise Now?”, “Why You Feel You Deserve A Raise?”, “How Can I Justify A Raise To My Boss?”.

If They Say No, Here’s What To Do

In the worst-case scenario, they say “no,” and that’s ok. The simple request of asking for a raise is a huge step in the right direction to increasing your salary. Here are a few tips if they say “no.”

  • Don’t Create An Ultimatum – Don’t force yourself into a corner by saying, “I’ll quit if you don’t give me this raise.” A manager may not have the resources in their budget to give you a raise. Then either quit to keep your word or lose credibility by staying. It’s best to ask for their reasoning and if you don’t like it, secretly start applying for other jobs.
  • Create A Plan For Another Raise Discussion in 6 Months – If your manager feels they can’t give you a raise right now, you should together set a hard time in the future to continue the conversation. This meeting gives you something to look forward to, knowing the conversation isn’t dead. Maintaining hard dates to continue a salary discussion keeps it top of mind for your manager. Remember, it’s always the squeaky wheel that gets cleaned.
  • Discuss Other Benefits That Can Make You Feel Rewarded – Perhaps there isn’t money in the budget to accommodate a raise right now. Other benefits may help you feel rewarded for your work.
    • Additional Vacation Time – Time off is a freedom that can be as beneficial as money. This benefit is sometimes far easier to grant employees when a raise isn’t in the budget.
    • Title Change – If your company can’t afford a raise, a title change may be a compromise. It’ll give you more prestige in your field and open up further salary increases down the road with a more prestigious title.
    • Work From Home Options – If more money isn’t an option, maybe you can work some of your hours at home. Working from home gives you additional freedom of spending time with your family and that time is priceless.

Make Asking For A Raise A Normal Thing

A raise shouldn’t be a “You Vs. Manager” ordeal. It’s a collaboration between you and your boss to give you’re the resources to feel appreciated for the job you’re doing. No manager wants to be the bad guy saying “No” to your raise, so find opportunities to work together to increase your salary to the industry standards you find on Glassdoor and adequately reflect your responsibilities.

For many people, asking for a raise is a terrifying experience, but it’s essential to know that raises are a normal part of business life. The mystery lies behind the closed doors where these discussions occur. Both you and your manager play their cards close to their chest while everyone wants to maintain the status quo. If you follow these steps, and with a bit of practice, you will master asking for raise.

There are always ways to make money outside of work, but asking for a raise is one of the easiest ways to make more money.

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6 Chinese Money Plant Benefits, Care and It’s Epic History!

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Money plants are famous for the exciting myths around their benefits, but their recent popularity on social media has brought a new wave of interest for home offices. As personal finance enthusiasts, we can’t help but cover the benefits of money plants, different types of plants considered “Money Plants,” and their exciting history around wealth. Money plants are famous for the exciting myths around their benefits, but their recent popularity on social media has brought a new wave of interest for home offices. As personal finance enthusiasts, we can’t help but cover the benefits of money plants, different types of plants considered “Money Plants,” and their exciting history around wealth.

6 Chinese Money Plant Benefits

These are the most widely known Chinese Money Plant benefits on the internet. The benefits apply to both money trees and money plants (more on the differences later). We’re not here to say if they’re right or wrong, but simply enjoy the lore around these fun plants!

1. Brings Prosperity and Wealth – Money plants are most widely known to bring good luck and wealth to the homeowners that take care of the plant. The healthier the plant, the greater prosperity it will generate!

When you give a clipping of your money plant to friends, it’s believed that you are giving your friends wealth and prosperity. The clipping will grow with little effort and bring great joy to whoever receives your generous gift.

On the other hand, some lore suggests a power to growing a money plant from clippings stolen from another homeowner. In this case, the thief will gain wealth while the previous homeowner will lose their wealth. It’s like stealing someone’s luck, so some homeowners are protective around their money plants.

2. Reduces Marital Problems – Whether it’s the calming nature of plants or the unique properties of this plant, money plants are known to minimize marital problems.

The five-leave patterns of money trees relate to the five fundamentals of Feng Shui, so many people associate the properties of money trees with the properties of Feng Shui. In this case, money trees kept in the southeast direction of the home help maintain peace and a healthy environment for marriage. This positive environment reduces bad luck, thus providing good fortune and wealth for your marriage.

3. Creates A Positive Environment – This is similar to #2, but we wanted to stress that you don’t need to be married to enjoy the positive environment that money plants create. Plants brighten the atmosphere of any room. Studies have shown that biophilia or viewing nature can positively impact people’s health, so having an actual plant in your home can only help create a more positive environment. You’ll feel calmer, happier and those feelings will lead to a more positive life!

4. Health Benefits – There are many myths around the health benefits of money plants in reducing stress, providing an atmosphere, and bringing calm. Often referred to as biophilia, viewing nature has many health benefits. Many hospitals are filled with photos of nature because it helps feel good and improves recovery.

PLEASE KNOW we’re speaking to the calming effect these plants have. Some plants considered money plants are, in fact, poisonous if ingested. Often they won’t kill you but will cause vomiting and illness symptoms if ingested by dogs, cats, or tiny humans. Check each species of the plant before bringing it into your home.

5. Purifies The Air – In 1989, NASA was involved with a study that tested plants’ ability to filter the air onboard space stations. It was a small study and contained a controlled environment, but the study showed that plants clean the air! Further studies showed that plants could help remove harmful gases in the air, which helps improve health. These studies created a surge of house plants during the 1990s.

Later, reviewers argued you would need hundreds of plants in your house to achieve the same level of air quality that the small NASA study achieved. However, if we take the benefits of money plants to heart, any in your home could improve your health and wallet!

6. Helps Fight Radiation In Your Home – Many people often forget a small amount of electromagnetic radiation radiates from the gadgets in our homes. From wifi, phones, TVs, and more, we’re bombarded with signals regularly. In most cases, these signals are harmless and nothing like standing next to a nuclear reactor. However, some people claim to have electromagnetic hypersensitivity and express symptoms such as headaches and sleep disorders when surrounded by these EMF fields.

Luckily money plants and other anti-radiator house plants help absorb these electromagnetic fields with no harm to the actual plant. You’ll see some people place their money plants by their computer, wifi router, and TV. Their money plants help protect them from the EMF radiation they may be hypersensitive to. Cool right!

Money Plant History Around Wealth

History around the Money Plant has several iterations, as any myth does, but all these myths agree that it started initially from the Money Tree. A petite Asian tree that, when its stems were intertwined, the tree would continue to grow in this pattern on its own.

The unique braided stem of the money tree stirred massive popularity and speculated many myths around its mysterious nature. Some of these myths connected the tree’s five-leaf pattern and the five fundamental Feng Shui elements (wood, water, fire, earth and metal), which symbolized good luck and good fortune. While other wives’ tales speculated, its leaves resembling the shape of paper money could bring wealth to the home.

Types of Money Plants

Numerous plants represent wealth and prosperity as wive’s tales have spread over the years, and it’s easy to get confused. We find it simpler to focus on the Money Tree, whose leaves are said to represent paper money, and the Money Plant, whose circular leaves are believed to represent coins.

 

Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)

Pilea Peperomiodies is the botanical name of what many consider the Chinese Money Plant due to its circular leaves resembled the leaves of the Money Tree but in the shape of coins. Other names for this plant include the coin plant, the friendship plant, the pancake plant, and the UFO plant.

This plant is excellent for beginners as it’s easy to care for, usually only grows 12 inches tall, and maintains beautiful dark green leaves to decorate any home!

The Chinese money plant creates lots of little offshoots to collect and give to friends. However, getting your hands on one can be difficult as not many nurseries keep this plant in stock. We’ve found the Chinese Money Plant on Amazon as the best option to start with a single plant.

Chinese Money Plant Care

To help your Chinese money plant care, beginner houseplant owners need to keep their money plant in a bright room but away from any harsh rays piercing through windows. Usually, watering once a week will be perfect in well-drained soil. A rule of thumb is the 2” of topsoil should be dry between waterings. Also, consider periodically rotating your plant so it’ll grow symmetrically.

To help gauge the health of your plant, here are a couple of guidelines.

Money Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

If your money plant leaves turn yellow, it’s likely due to overwatering, or your pot isn’t draining well. Your money plant roots could be waterlogged and may rot in the damp soil. Simply let your soil dry out before you water again, or if the problem continues, you may need to replace the soil.

Money Plant Leaves Curling, Drooping and Wrinkling

When your money plant leaves are curling, droopy or wrinkling, it’s likely thirsty for water. Think of it like a sponge wringing itself out to get every last drop of water stored. This plant needs lots of light, but direct light may be harsh and drying it out. Give the poor fellow a deep watering.

Give Money Plant Cutting To Friends

These plants are perfect for giving to friends as they produce lots of little offshoots that can be easily separated to place in a new pot. Simply find an offshoot on the edge of the massing and get enough of the offshoot that includes some roots with a clean sharp knife. Place the offshoot in a pot at least 2” wide and care for it as usual. Give it as a perfect gift to friends and wish them a good fortune!

Pachira Aquatica (Money Tree)

The Pachira Aquatica is the botanical name for the Money Tree and one of the most popular indoor houseplant trees. As we stated in the history of the money plant, the Money Tree and its mysterious ability to braid its stems are what started the myths bringing owners good luck and good fortune.

Another reason leading to its popularity is its easy care. The money tree needs little water (once a week), will grow in most pots, growing up to eight feet tall.

An exceptional little tree for people to start their house plant collection, the money tree will bring a little wealth to your life. We’ve found several retailers selling them online and found the Money Tree on Amazon one of the best places to start your money tree journey.

Money Tree Care

The money tree is easy to care for as it requires little water (usually once a week) and loves bright light while avoiding direct sunlight. To help grow the money tree, add fertilizer no more than once a month.

To help gauge the health of your plant, here are a couple of guidelines.

Money Tree Leaves Turning Yellow

If your money tree leaves turn yellow and fall off, it’s usually a sign of overwatering or a problem with the light. Remember, the money tree only needs water once a week, so if the soil is always wet, the roots may be waterlogged and leading to root rot. Let the soil dry completely before watering again, and feel free to prune any overly yellow leaves on the tree.

Overwatering is usually the problem, but it may be over or under-lighting. Make sure the tree is placed in a bright area of the house while avoiding direct light.

Money Tree Shriveled Leaves or Trunk

If the money tree has leaves shriveling up or its trunk becoming wrinkly, soft, or shriveled, the problem may be underwatering. Think of it like a sponge where the tree is trying to wring itself out for any last water storage. Use this as an indicator to give it a deep watering.