I don’t have a magic wand to make your financial situation better. I can give you the steps to get your finances in a better place. However, the only person who can actually make that change is you!
Why Should I Make a Budget?
You say you know where your money goes and you don’t need it all written down to keep up with it? I challenge you! Keep track of every penny you spend for one month and I do mean every penny.
You will be shocked at what the itty-bitty expenses add up to. Take the total you spent on just one unnecessary item for the month, multiply it by 12 for months in a year and multiply the result by 5 to represent 5 years.
That is how much you could have saved AND drawn interest on in just five years. That is all the reason that you need to create a budget.
If we can get control of the small expenses that really don’t matter to the overall scheme of our lives, we can enjoy financial success.
The little things really do count. Cutting what you spend on lunch from five dollars a day to three dollars a day on every work day in a five day work week saves $10 a week… $40 a month… $480 a year… $2400 in five years….plus interest.
See what I mean… it really IS the little things and you still eat lunch everyday AND that was only one place to save money in your daily living without doing without one thing you really need. There are a lot of places to cut expenses if you look for them.
Set some specific long term and short-term goals. There are no wrong answers here. If it’s important to you, then it’s important period.
If you want to be able to make a down payment on a house, start a college fund for your kids, buy a sports car, take a vacation to Aruba… anything… then that is your goal and your reason to get a handle on your financial situation now.
Rebates – Reward or Rip Off?
Cons Pros Buttons Showing Decisions Or Debate
Rebates have become increasingly popular in the last few years on a lot of items and certainly on electronic items and computers. Rebates of $20, $50 or $100 are not uncommon.
I’ve even seen items advertised as “free after rebate”. Do these rebates come under the heading of “too good to be true”? Some of them do and there are “catches” to watch out for but if you are careful, rebates can help you get some fabulous deals.
The way a rebate works is that you pay the listed price for an item then mail in a form and the bar code to the manufacturer and they send you a refund thus reducing the price of what you paid for the item except with a time delay of several weeks.
Rule #1. Rebates from reputable companies are usually just fine.
You can be pretty sure you will get the promised rebate from Best Buy, Amazon or Dell but you should probably not count on getting one from a company you’ve never heard of. If you really want the product and are OK with paying the price listed then buy it but don’t count on actually getting the refund.
Rule #2. Check rebate expiration dates.
Many times products will stay on the shelf of a retailer after the date for sending in the rebate offer has expired so check that date carefully.
Rule #3. Be sure you have all the forms required to file for the rebate before you leave the store.
Rebates will almost always require a form to be filled out, a receipt for the purchase and a bar code.
Rule #4. Back up your rebate claim.
Make copies of everything you send in to get your rebate including the bar code. Stuff gets lost in the mail all the time and if the rebate is for $50 it’s worth the trouble to back up your claim.
Are Travel Agents Obsolete?
I am currently in the process of booking my families summer vacation. I feel that I am very hands on when it comes to finding the best deals, especially in the summertime when deals are few and far between. The amount of travel websites on the innerwebs can seem overwhelming. These travel web sites have been very successful at facilitating travelers to book their own airline and hotel reservations online. So with this huge push from the internet to take over the travel industry, one has to ask, “Are travel agents obsolete?”
If you have browsed some of these travel sites, you have observed that they are amazing in the diversity of travel options that they make available. And it is impossible to deny that many thousands of people have taken advantage of these services. Then, there is the business traveler. The business traveler has needs that are somewhat different than the typical airline passenger.
There are some very specific services that a living and breathing travel agent can provide that simply cannot be replicated by an automated web site like Kayak or Hotwire. Some of those services that a seasoned business traveler would be hard pressed to live without include…
- Focus You as a business traveler are not arranging this trip for entertainment. You have specific business objectives in mind. So if you must take time away from preparation for your business task to worry about travel itineraries, hotel and rental car reservations and the like, that is time that you are not being productive for your business. If you can call a talented travel agent who knows your travel profile well and delegate those arrangements to that agent, they do their job in finding just the right accommodations for you and you are freed to do what you do best, focus on your business and the upcoming business trip.
- Economy It is difficult to find that balance between finding the accommodations that fit the demanding schedule of a businessperson on the road and is respectful of the companies travel budget as well. If you use an automated online travel service, you may have to sacrifice convenience, schedule or location for economy. A good travel agent will work hard to get you the right itinerary while getting as close the corporate travel cost restrictions as possible. And they will do it without taking up a lot of your time.
- Back up. You don’t need help if your trip goes completely as planned. But if you encounter problems on the road, you can find yourself in need or rescheduling flights and finding new accommodations to work around canceled flights, weather issues or other unexpected interruptions to your plans. These travel disasters are not mindful of your tight deadlines to meet your business goals. But if you have a travel agent who is dedicated to providing you service, he or she can find those alternative routes and resources to do all they can to get you to your destination so you can conduct your business on time.
- That personal touch. You may have travel preferences that you want to achieve with each trip you take. A travel agent has your profile and your travel history so they can do what they can to accommodate your preferences. But moreover, if you have specific special needs such as a diet limitation or a need for accommodation due to a disability, it will be a travel agent that sees to it that your needs are provided for and you are well taken care of on the road.
- Complications. If your travel itinerary involves making connections with other business partners who are traveling from diverse offices, complex travel schedules and itinerary challenges that just cannot be described to the generic screens of an online travel service, you can explain these complications to your travel agent and they can work with other travel agents working to organize the meeting and see to it that your itinerary meets your requirements.
While the online travel services do provide a valuable and affordable alternative to the general traveling public, it is easy to notice their limitations if you are trying to book a trip that is tricky or if you have specific needs that the screens do not anticipate. That is why working with a human travel agent guarantees that this travel professional will dedicate themselves to the task of making sure your trip works to your specifications and that you get to your destination ready to conduct business and be successful in your achieving your goals.
What are the Five Easiest Ways to Make Money on eBay?
What are the easiest ways to make money on eBay? Well what do you consider easy? It is my belief that there is no easier way to make money on the Internet than by selling items through eBay. What could be simpler, a straight forward 5 step process.
- Get something to sell.
- Photograph it and write a description.
- Upload your listing to eBay.
- Collect your money.
- Dispatch the item.
What could be simpler than that? Well a lot!
But I suspect what people are really asking is how can I easily get products to sell. From my experience this is what both newcomers and some experienced eBayers find difficult. So, I want to highlight five very simple ways that you can get products to sell without even leaving your computer. This I hope that will be easy enough for everyone.
- What, no photograph?
It is my belief that there is hardly an item listed on eBay or any of the other online auctions that does not benefit from having a photograph or image included in the listing. In fact, most items that are listed without a photograph that sell tend to fetch 20% less than those with. In some categories the figures are even higher. For instance, clothing items offered without a photograph average a 78% lower selling price than those with. So, it would seem to be pretty easy to browse eBay looking for these “photo less” items, buying them and then relisting with a photograph. Money for old rope really.
- Finding the poorly listed item.
There are many reasons why someone’s listing fails to attract any worthwhile bids. Bad title, short or poor description, wrong category, poor spelling and so on. You can find these by browsing around the auction site, but I would suggest an easier method.
Select the categories that you are interested in and look down the search feature for items finishing within the next hour. Here is where you will find the bargains that have failed to attract any bids for the reasons we have mentioned.
- Unsocial hours
In any book about eBay you will find tips on when is the best time for auctions to finish. The most suggested times for most items are Sunday afternoon and evenings and Wednesday evenings. Some experts suggest that for business related items Monday or Tuesday during office hours are best. If you accept that there are times when you will get increased bids for your items there must also be times when if your auction ends you will not do so well. I would think if you have an auction that finishes between say 5 am and 8 am on a Monday morning you will not have too many people lurking to place last minute bids to push the price up. Again, buy and relist with your auction set to finish at a more sociable time and you could easily make a 20% or more profit for very little effort.
- Buy Collections
One of the easiest ways to make money on eBay is to cash in on others laziness. If someone has say a collection of 10 china dogs, it is a fact that if they put all ten in one listing as a collection they will get less than if they had listed each item separately. But it is amazing how many sellers cannot be bothered to do this. I have in the past bought such a collection and made more from one of the items than I had paid for the whole collection.
- Other online auctions.
Over 95% of all online auction sales are on eBay. They have the largest number of registered buyers and items listed for sale. For this reason, items offered for sale on eBay get the best prices. So why not search around some of the smaller online auctions, because in many cases items listed with them will not attract such a good price as could be achieved on eBay. Then all you must do is buy from them and relist on eBay.
So, there are 5 easy ideas for you to consider. Why not give some or all of them a try?
STOP! Are you on Pinterest!
If you have been following my journey you probably have already read about my unexpected work stoppage over the weekend due to a stomach bug. Add that to an EXTREMELY hectic work week and I almost missed my goal of having new content every Monday – Friday.
Almost!
If you are on Pinterest I invite you to join my collaborative board Blog Madness 101! You can gain an invite if you message me on Pinterest @teacherces or leave a message with your Pinterest name and I’ll add you.
Let’s see what we can build and network, together!
Unsuspecting Work Stoppage
As a budding entrepreneur who has a 9 to 5, my weekends are sacred. The weekend is the time that allows me total dedication to my craft. I appreciate the weekend. I love the weekend and usually can get so much work accomplished.
Except, for this past weekend. Although, I have heard about this happening it never happened to me until this past weekend.
My whole entire family came down with a stomach virus. We were ALL sick. It started with my son on Friday night. On Saturday night it was my turn. I was up all night hovering over the porcelain throne for most of the night. The husband’s turn was Sunday morning and my daughter was (hopefully) the last one Sunday night.
As much as I love working, the only thing I wanted to do was lay on the couch with a cup of ginger ale watching old episodes of The Love Boat.
Bad mom alert
I laid in bed until 4 pm. My kids had the rule of the house so it was a complete mess when I went downstairs and guess what, that is okay. Sometimes it takes a stomach virus to slow down and take the time to think. It crossed my mind to go and get my laptop and get some work done but I was so tired from being up the previous night. Plus, I had not seen The Love Boat since I was a kid in the 80’s. It was keeping my interest in all of its 80’s cheesiness. I had a Skype appointment with a client early that morning, so I was especially tired and groggy when I took it.
Despite not feeling one hundred percent, I went into work anyone today. I knew my stomach felt settled enough that I wouldn’t vomit on anyone today but I am still a little fatigued. It is important to take time out when you need to, even if it unexpected. Today I play catch up on all the work I did not get done over the weekend and guess what? That is okay!
The 10 Steps You Need to Know in Order to Sell on Ebay
Selling on Ebay can seem very intimidating before you get started. Here is a simple, ten-step path to Ebay enlightenment.
Step 1: Identify your market. Take a while to sit and watch for what sells and what doesn’t out of the items you’re interested in. Any market research data you can collect will be very useful to you later on. You’ll probably see the ‘sweet spots’ quite quickly – those one or two items that always seem to sell for a good price.
Step 2: Watch the competition. Before you invest any money, see what the other sellers in your category are up to, and what their strategies are. Pay special attention to any flaws their auctions might have, because this is where you can move in and beat them at their own game.
Step 3: Find a product: Get hold of a supplier for whatever it is you want to sell, and see what the best rates you can get are – don’t be afraid to ring round quite a few to get the best deal. If the eBay prices you’ve seen are higher than the supplier’s, then you’re set.
Step 4: Start small: Don’t throw thousands at your idea straight away – get started slowly, see what works and what doesn’t, and learn as you go. Remember that it’s very cheap to try out even the craziest ideas on eBay, and who knows, they might just work!
Step 5: Test and repeat. Keep trying different strategies until you find something that works, and then don’t be ashamed to keep doing it, again and again. The chances are that you’ve just found a good niche.
Step 6: Work out a business plan: A business plan doesn’t need to be anything formal, just a few pages that outline the market opportunity you’ve spotted, your strategy, strengths and weaknesses of the plan and a brief budget. This is more for you than it is for anyone else.
Step 7: Invest and expand: This is the time to throw money at the problem. Buy inventory, and start spending more time on your business. Set a goal number of sales each week, increasing it each time.
Step 8: Make it official: Once you’ve made a few thousand dollars worth of sales, you should really register yourself as a business. Don’t worry, it’s not expensive or hard to do – a lawyer is the best person to help you through the process.
Step 9: Automate: You’ll probably find that you’re writing the same things again and again in emails or item descriptions. This is the time to give up on the manual method and turn to automated software that can create listings for you, and respond to completed auctions and payments with whatever message you provide.
Step 10: Never give up: Even when it looks like it’s all going wrong, don’t stop trying until you succeed. If you keep working at it then you’ll almost always find that you make a real breakthrough just when things are starting to look desperate.
10 Fabulous Ways To Find Low Cost Products to Resell on Ebay
This week I am featuring how you can use Ebay for your side hustle. Although Ebay is not passive income, it is income nevertheless. You will make money but you will also have to deliver products and provide excellent customer service. Here is a guide on where you can find products to resell on Ebay.
Garage sales. The chances are you’ve gone most of your life seeing ads for these and ignoring them. Start going to as many as you can. You won’t find good things at every garage sale, but when you find one person with good stuff, make them an offer for the lot – chances are pretty high that you can get a real bargain.
Flea Markets and Swap Meets. If your area has a market, then go there and look around for anything good. You could buy it there if it’s cheap enough, or try to make friends with the market traders and find out who their suppliers are.
Pawn shops. Pawn shops don’t usually know what to do with the junk they accumulate (unless it’s jewellery, of course). Generally, they put their stock out on the shelves haphazardly, hoping that someday someone with a little money will just happen to come in, search around and buy wildly obscure things. Get them to offer you a discount for bulk.
Real auctions. Go to a real auction, as the chances are that you can resell things for more than they will sell them. After all, they only have a few hundred people in that room – you have a few million people to sell to over the interwebs.
Local newspapers. Place an ad in the local paper that reads “I pay cash for [your item type]”, with your phone number. If you can afford it, make it a big display ad, so it’ll be noticed.
Ad boards. Get one of those little ads in the grocery store.
Friends. Ask your friends if they have anything they’d like to sell you, and ask them to spread the word to their friends.
Become known. Give out business cards, mention to people what you do. The chances are that you’ll come across someone who’ll say “Oh, really? I’ve got a load of [item] I don’t want”.
Shops. This might be a little surprising, but some real shops even sell things more cheaply than they sell on eBay. Take a look around your local deep discounter, and pay special attention to any shop that takes trade-ins from customers. The chances are they take a loss on trade-ins as a promotion, and are dying to get rid of that stock.
And finally: eBay! When you’re looking at the completed items view, you’ll notice the massive range of prices that items can sell for on eBay. Try taking the highest-priced item and searching for it on its own, then sort by lowest price first: I can almost guarantee that you’ll see an auction for the same item where it sold for almost nothing. The trick is to find these flawed auctions before they close, win them using a bid sniping service, and then turn around and resell the item.
5 Main Benefits Of Starting Your Own Ebay Side Hustle
Ebay has always been my go to platform for finding great items at an incredible price. If you are looking for opportunities to earn money online, selling merchandise and services on Ebay should be a popular ways of earning money on the internet.
Regardless of the type of online business you start, there are many benefits that you can enjoy if you have your own business. Here are the main benefits that you enjoy as an Ebay seller making money on the internet.
1. If you start your own Ebay business, you can earn extra income at home doing something that is fun and easy. You can earn extra income selling products and services on Ebay. Keep in mind that it is helpful to have great organizational skills.
2. You are your own boss and you set the targets of what you want to earn from your business. Starting your own Ebay business puts you in control of your financial well being.
3. You can pursue your interests. The best way to make money is by doing what you enjoy. Because you can sell anything on Ebay, you can create your own products based on your interests, and sell them on Ebay. Since you will be doing something that you enjoy, you can never get bored or tired of building your Ebay business.
4. If you start your own Ebay business, you can work from home and you can have a better work-life balance. Since you are your own boss, you can adjust your life to suit your business.
5. Starting an Ebay business enables you to achieve financial freedom. If you take your Ebay business seriously and professionally, you can make a lot of money on the internet selling merchandise. Starting your own Ebay business, can help you achieve financial freedom and make any amount of money you want on the internet.
Given all these benefits that you enjoy if you have your own Ebay business, it’s a good idea that you start your own Ebay business today!
5 Things to Consider Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant
I hear the term “Virtual Assistant” more and more in business. When I hear of a virtual assistant I envision a person who has made it. A jet setter who is highly successful. Than I realize that almost anyone can have a virtual assistant and it does not have to cost you an arm and a let. Did you know that you could outsource this task and pay a whole lot less? Many VA’s have degrees.
With the growth of virtual assistants there has also been a change in what it means to be a virtual assistant. The leaders and founders of this particular entrepreneurial job have made distinctions between what it means to be a virtual assistant, and what it does not mean. When you are explaining your business to others, you want to make sure to keep this standard.
A virtual assistant is someone who provides a variety of services to businesses and individuals. The first angle that is taken towards approaching what a virtual assistant is includes the idea of being virtual. If you are not working out of your home, or remotely, then you are not considered a virtual assistant. Instead, it is considered to be a temporary job or a telecommuting job. One of the standards for being a virtual assistant is having the freedom to work where you want.
The second part to being a virtual assistant is the distinction that is made in the job description. Most virtual assistants will cringe at the idea of being called a secretary or freelance worker. Technically, a freelance worker is one who only does the job for extra income. At the same time, a secretary is one who doesn’t do the work continuously with only one client. A virtual assistant is provided in order to create a substantial and long term relationship with a business.
Here are 5 factors you should consider when it is time to hire a virtual assistant!
- Professionalism.
Does the VA answer her or his emails, voicemails and other correspondence in a timely and professional manner? It is important that if this person is to work for you, they have the right skills to not keep you or a deadline waiting. Make sure you give a task to her or him to pass that shows commitment to deadlines.
- Project Management.
Multitasking nowadays is essential. We now pull out our smartphones if lines are too long as our society as a whole has grown increasingly impatient. If a person cannot work with a few projects on the go you definitely need to move on. Do not find out that you have a project management problem when it is too late.
- Availability.
It is not unusual that your VA works for several people at the same time. It is not uncommon for you as an employer to be in a funnel system for the VA. You slowly move down the funnel as they take on better contracts from new virtual employers. Keep that in mind and ask if your VA has other employers when you are interviewing them for employment.
- Test.
Give the VA a mini project before going ahead with a contract. It needs to be done correctly and to my total satisfaction before I even consider this person. It is simple to hire one of the first few people to come along but please shortlist at least 10 and give the tasks to 2 of the 10 you shortlisted. Obviously make sure these tasks are something you actually want done, you do not want to waste any money.
- Get References.
Can the VA give you a list of people whom you can contact who will tell you about working with her or him?
The main distinction that most virtual assistants will work towards creating is the idea of being in a relationship with a business, and making this their business. This goes beyond the expectations of any temporary work or telecommuting job. It also means that the services a virtual assistant can provide will go outside of job descriptions that are made in the office. By understanding the standards for being a virtual assistant, you can best approach this in your own relationships with businesses.
The Beginners Guide to Finding the Perfect Hotel Room (at a reasonable rate)
After finding reasonable airfare, it is necessary to find accommodations when staying in a city where I do not have any family or friends. I believe I spend an unbelievable amount of time researching when it is time to book a hotel room. The number one factor for me is location followed up by value. I spend an embarrassing amount of time reading reviews on Yelp. Then I have to follow up to see if the reviews corroborate with TripAdvisor.
Regarding that value component, I hit the interwebs and Reddit to find the lowest rates. Through all that work I realize that my best option is to go to the hotel’s corporate website and join their rewards program.
Through that I found my latest hotel find, Courtyard by Marriott New Orleans French Quarter/Iberville in New Orleans, LA. This Marriott branch was conveniently located about two blocks away from Bourbon Street. The staff was very friendly and allowed us to check-in early! I was struck with how large the rooms were and very clean. The beds felt cozy and I liked how the room had a living area and sleeping quarter.
The bathroom was clean and the cleaning staff did a stellar job of cleaning the room daily. I appreciated that the staff was on point. Being that we were in New Orleans, we had several late nights and even later mornings (really afternoons). I was impressed that no matter what time we left, we always came back to a clean room.
The bathroom was stacked with plenty of white towels and standard shampoo/conditioner/soap if needed. Since I bring my own products, these were not sampled. The shower was hot and could get even hotter (which is always a plus to me).
The only surprise (I will not call it a disappointment) was the view. We had the perfect view of a pretty sterile looking courtyard. Another surprise was the entry to the hotel. You must come up from the street level on the elevator. Then you need to find the registration desk. Again, not a big deal but it did take some getting used to.
The television was equipped with Wifi and they even had Netflix. Full disclosure, I do not travel often so finding out that Netflix is now a “thing” to have on the hotel room television is a score. I was glad the location was away from the “activity” (read noise) of Bourbon Street.
I look forward to going back to New Orleans. I would stay at the Courtyard again but I usually try to stay in a new hotel everytime I go out of town.
How to Fly Frugally
A few positive financial changes in our household have allowed me to travel more frequently. While still frugal, I have a few hacks that I have found that have really helped me to save money, time, and my sanity when it is time to fly the (not always so) friendly skies.
1. Be nice.
Yes, seriously. Being naturally easy-going, being laid back and nice is not too difficult for me. My husband is 6’8. He usually has a very uncomfortable time flying. Being frugal, we don’t want to pay to upgrade his seat. So when we travel together, I ask for a seat with more leg room for him. I greet the ticket agent with a smile, show them my husband, and explain that we don’t need to sit together. This works about 80% of the time. The other 20% of the time, they don’t have the room to accommodate this request. Unfortunately if this happens I’m not going to walk away upset.
2. Join your airlines frequent flier club.
The past few years, I’d be lucky if I found myself needed air travel at least once a year. Now that I’ve vowed to travel more often, I have joined the frequent flier club to every airline I use. I keep an open mind to airlines and although I do have a favorite, I will fly almost any airline with a good rate. I live near three major airports, which is a huge advantage when it is time to travel. I do have a preferential airport but that’s due to the proximity to my home. I’ll go to another airport if I feel that it makes my air travel less stressful (i.e. no layover) or if it really is a great deal.
3. Tweet, Facebook, Yelp, or any other type of review your POSITIVE as well as your negative experience.
We’re quick to review something when we’re pissed off but how about when you are satisfied? I enjoy writing reviews. Most of my reviews are positive. I’m usually a pretty easy person to please so it takes the moons being aligned just right, to piss me off.
Do you have any hacks you’d like to share? Comment below and don‘t forget to subscribe!
How to use Canva to stand out!
Are you familiar with Canva? Canva is a free user friendly graphic design tool that I use to make stationary, Pinterest pins, and pretty much anything else that makes me feel tech savvy without the intimidation of Photoshop (and all those damn buttons). I used Canva to create this Pinterest pin!
I love that several templates are already created for you, so you can just point and click your way to success. I started out with the free version but eventually upgraded. Again, the free version is great, but I upgraded so I could have the ability to add my own graphics and pictures to my creations.
If you haven’t tried Canva, give it a try and comment below.
Tips for the Side Hustling Entrepreneurs
We are all given the same twenty-four hours in one day. If you ever found yourself saying that in a perfect world you would be a full-time entrepreneur, you are not alone. Truthfully, I enjoy my full-time job yet I also find it fulfilling to work for myself as well. Here’s another truth bomb, my full-time position offers great benefits so at this point in time I do not wish to leave my full-time job.
That being shared, I simply don’t have the time or know how to fulfill everything that I want to get done. I have admitted to myself that DIY is a bad idea when it comes to building your website and brand. I have bit the bullet and have become an advocate of hiring people to outsource the technical side of my entrepreneurial endeavors.
In the past, I would watch YouTube tutorials and try to emulate what I saw. I have no IT background, so the result was usually, for a lack of a better word, a hot mess. Fast forward to today. I have a full-time job, husband, kids, and household to maintain. So, I do not have the time nor the patients to work on something that will not get me the desired results.
I proudly admit to outsourcing. I think that outsourcing should not be a dirty little secret. I currently use onlinejobs.ph but in the past I have used Upwork, Fiveer, and (here’s a secret) eBay. Yes, you can outsource on eBay too. I will say that eBay isn’t as well known as the other websites listed so tread with caution, but it can be done.
What are some great outsourcing websites that are missing here? Subscribe and comment below.
Completely Add to Your Income with DadaABC, A Guest Post Review.
I have permission to share Iwillpickonelater’s review of DadaABC. If you are interested in working for DadaABC please you the referral code:
https://www.DaDaABC.com/teacher/job/r8J9p0q005/
DadaABC ,The online company I’ve been teaching for, is looking for new teachers. It’s an easy gig and the pay is good considering how easy it is, so if any of you are looking for a job or want to supplement your income, it might be worth checking out. Here’s my review of working for DadaABC –
The Goods
- PAY – The pay was the highest I could find for any online company, after some negotiation I got $22US (150RMB)/hour, but it is based on experience. I believe the range is from $15-$25.
- SHORT CLASSES – regular classes are only 30 mins and trial classes are 14 mins, so it’s over and done pretty quick.
- OWN HOURS – There are set hours to choose from (Evenings during the week, mornings on the weekend (Shanghai Time)) but you can choose to work as little or as much as you want
- 50% PAY IF NO CLASS – during your set hours if you don’t have class, you still get 50% of your pay, although personally my schedule filled up right away
- MATERIAL – the company provides it’s own software that acts as a virtual textbook. It’s not the best, but I’ve also seen worse. Either way I do absolutely no prep time before class, I don’t even have to preview the material.
The Bads
- THE PENALTIES – Every time you mess up they fine you, and the fines can add up pretty quickly. Be 10 minutes late for a class and you’re basically teaching the rest of the class for free. If you miss the whole class, then not only will you not get paid for that class but they’ll take an additional fine out of your paycheck.
- TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES – as we all know sometimes your internet cuts out and there’s nothing you can do about it. Well they consider this to be your fault and they’ll penalize you for it. I find it acceptable however because of their high wages and the fact that these outages are fairly rare for me, but if your internet connection isn’t stable, then this probably isn’t for you.
- LOOK PROFESSIONAL – for me this is a no-brainer, but I think they’ve had big problems in the past with teachers eating during class, teaching in their pajamas, teaching while laying in bed, being on their phone during the lesson, etc. All of these will get you penalized.
TLDR – Don’t be late and be professional and you shouldn’t have any problems. The job is really easy and you can work as little as 2 hours a week, so it’s a good way to supplement your current income. Super easy format so it’s especially good for new teachers.
Online Teaching vs. a Brick and Mortar School, Which is Really Better?
If given the choice, would you rather teach online or in a traditional school? After teaching online for over a year and in a traditional school for over seventeen years, I realize I do have a preference. I feel like online is more of a hit em and quit em style while brick and mortar is a classic style of teaching where the teacher is the authoritarian and students maintain a routine.
I think it takes a certain discipline to be able to learn online. I have two children and I know that one child has the attention span to sit 25 minutes in front of the computer to learn something while the other one does not. In terms of pay, B&M wins hands down and also offers benefits packages while online usually does not in most cases.
I do believe that everyone can learn in a classroom setting but it takes a great deal of discipline to learn online. Where do you think the future lies regarding online teaching and B&M schools?
Behind the Scenes of Cryptocurrency. Is this the best investment for your future?
What do you think of the long-term investment opportunities with Bitcoin and Altcoin? Right now, the market is looking shaky and when I really do my research I question the long-term possibilities with this whole thing. Yes, I’ve read stories and heard about people losing their life saving with Cryptocurrency but just about all the investments gurus I’ve read and watched advise that you don’t put in more money than you can afford to lose.
Since this is an venture of the blind leading the blind, if you would like to get started with Bitcoin use my link here:
Once you buy or sell $100 of digital currency or more, you and I will both get $10 of free Bitcoin.
As an educator, do you feel that cryptocurrency is a good investment? Right now I’m watching my initial invest seriously dwindle. What do you think of the long-term possibilities with cryptocurrency? Do you think we will still be investing in ten years or will we be on to the next big thing? What coins do you invest in if you are an investor and why?
Completely Add to Your Income with QKids. A review by Guest Blogger Jadie C
I’m so happy to have Jadie C as my first guest blogger this week. Jadie is reviewing QKids which is an online school for teaching English to students in China.
If QKids seems like a good fit for you please use Jadie’s referral code: Jadie7377
You can find the link to apply below.
I’m now in my 3rd week with QKids, and I thought I’d write my honest review!
All I can say is “Where has this company been all my life?!”
First, the basic requirements (I didn’t make the rules):
• Native American English speaker (or good American Accent I would imagine)
• Live in the US or Canada (not sure if they make exceptions to this, like if you’re a US citizen living abroad for example)
• Bachelor’s degree…. However! I didn’t know the bachelor’s degree “requirement”, and I applied with just my TESOL (and experience) and I got hired. So… I say it doesn’t hurt to try??
Second, the application requirements:
1. Along with resume, they ask for a 1 minute video demo with a brief intro (name, state, education), and you telling or reading a short story as if to a child. They will be looking for things like enthusiasm, body language, facial expressions, proper lighting and sound.
2. You will need to provide a screenshot of your computer system specifications (the page on your computer that says what processor/RAM/OS, etc you have)
3. Your availability. They offer up to 38 slots a week (more during school holidays), typical Chinese hours, Monday through Saturday early EDT hours (5:-40am-8:10am), and Friday and Saturday EDT nights (7:40pm-10:50pm). You must be available at least 6 hours a week.
Third, the hiring requirements:
1. Install WeChat and Qkids software
2. Ethernet cable (they really stress this), and headset
3. Self-paced study/practice materials training (paid)
4. 2 demo lessons/sessions with the staff (paid)
5. 3 trial lessons with kids (paid)
6. You’re hired!… if you don’t get hired, your training is still paid!
Fourth, what they’re like:
After an initial good, and in the end not-so-good experience with GVE, I decided to look at other options, and I’m so glad I did! Qkids impressed me from the beginning with their training, communication, and professionalism! I have never once felt lost or alone, they are very helpful and always available right away (or within a reasonable amount of hours, time difference after all). My schedule was completely full by the second week! No begging for hours here. Their platform is easy to use. (I used to look at the lessons for a few minutes before each shift to review them, but after the second week this wasn’t necessary any more. They are simple, fun, interactive, and user friendly) Classes have up to 6 students in them (all classes paid at same base rate). Unlike with zoom, you can see all the students faces at once, and can easily mute/unmute as necessary. Activities are arranged by individual and group types, so it’s not overwhelming. The kids ages are 5-12. Because the platform is so fun and interactive, they are happy and eager to learn!
What I don’t like: WeChat is annoying. It’s not the teaching platform, but the chat program used to communicate with the staff. They require a QR code or approval from your cell to log in to another device, and if you lose your cell, like I did for a few days last week, you can’t get into WeChat at all. I was thankfully still able to contact them when I needed to via email. I also don’t like that even though I’m working, say, 5:40-8:10, I’m only getting paid 2 hours, not 2.5 because there’s down time in between lessons that we don’t get paid for. I guess this is pretty typical for online teaching jobs, it’s not the first time I’ve encountered this. At least with Q Kids, we don’t have any reports or evaluations to do!
Time off:
No dock pay!! No 6 month (or any) contract commitments!! They do ask for 24 hour notice for time off, and ask that you not have “too many” (interpret as you can) short-notice absences. Classes are scheduled Sunday for the following week. I actually didn’t realize this my first week, and checked my schedule the Friday before instead, and missed Monday and Tuesday altogether thinking my first class was Wednesday. They forgave me when I explained and took the absences off my record.
Pay:
$16-20/hr. The base pay is $8/30 min class. You get a point for each day you show up to class, and you lose a point if you’re absent. The points equal dollars, so if you’re present in every class each week that’s an extra $1/30 min. You get an extra $1/30 min for getting good ratings by the students/parents. So if you do the math, $16/hour is easily actually $20/hour. I’ve actually always been scared of working for a company that does rating systems, but so far, the parents have been gracious 🙂 Once in a while you might have a “standby” lesson in one of your slots (In 2.5 weeks, I’ve had one of these). If there is no need for you to fill in, you will still get paid $4/30 min class just for being available. If there is a system glitch and you can’t teach, you still get paid. If no students show up, you still get $4/30 min class!
Have I missed anything? Feel free to reach out to me, I’m happy to help! I was referred myself, and I’m happy to refer you, too!
How to apply?
Email Apply at QKids with your resume, 1 minute demo video (can be an attachment or a YouTube or cloud link), screenshot of computer specs, availability, and, if you would be so gracious, my referral ID too: Jadie7377 🙂 (yes, there’s a bonus potential for me here:-)
One more thing, If you do use my referral code, please send me an email so I know who I’ve referred, but also because I’m more than happy to answer any questions, give you tips, guide you through the process, etc!
All the best to you!!
Jadie 🙂
Why I Still Need a Podcast.
I’m putting it out there. I want to have a podcast by the end of the year. I have several ideas floating around but my issue is making the time to get the idea into fruition. It is also important to have the time to show consistency in being able to record. I need to do a better job with my episodes than I do keeping this blog up to date. What are your favorite Podcasts? What genre do you enjoy and why?
Behind the Scenes of My Vacation, Travel with TeacherCes. Review, SLS South Beach Luxury Hotel
Living up to some of the words in its title, SLS South Beach Luxury Hotel is a hotel on the beach and quite luxurious. Upon entry onto the property, I made note of the offer to rent a luxury Lamborghini. Making note does not necessarily mean that I will blow my latest paycheck on such opulence but it is always nice to know that the option is there if I so choose to do so (which I don’t by the way).
The front desk check-in was actually to the side of the entrance. I made note of the imported Brazilian Cherry Wood (note, I have no idea what type of wood that was used for the front desk so Brazilian Cherry Wood sounds good, but probably not true). The staff at the front desk was very friendly, I mean friendlier than the average hotel friendly, and very accommodating to hold my bag while I look for the rest of my party. Fortunately, I found my friend quickly in the lounge/bar area and proceed to enjoy a Jasmine’s Margarita which I found tasty and not too heavy with the blanco tequila pour (but they could have been heavy with the pour and it would have been alright with me).
I found the elevator quite intimate (small) on the ride up to the fourth floor. 
I think it is safe to assume that most older buildings on South Beach have elevators that might be on the smaller end. The hallways were a cross between dark like the club or dark like those cheesy haunted houses that pop up every October. Not feeling the dark hallway at all, put in some light. The hallway also had a very pungent marijuana odor that was on and off throughout the stay at SLS (not judging but you should know this).
The room was very sexy and very small. No closets or dressers anywhere to be found. However the beds were very plush and comfortable. I appreciated that the room was facing Collins Avenue, yet one could not hear noise from the street. That my friends is always a big plus. The bathroom was also on the smaller end but if you like showering with multiple people, this is the hotel for you! The bathroom had the longest shower, with rain-shower type head on one end and a more traditional head on the other. Since I find great joy in showering alone, I only used the rain-shower head and left the other head off.
Overall, SLS lives up to its brand of style, luxury, and service. Yet with that there is a hefty price tag that comes with it. My hat is off to those who come here often but this is a great hotel for celebrating a special events for the “average” person.
When it is time to hire someone to do your dirty work
This is not a post about my adventure into the underworld. Although I do like the title and think it sounds pretty bad ass. I most of my community have figured out I have multiple side hustles. One of them is slinging shirts. The world of the side hustle is not a new world to me. I was side hustling back when I was a freshman in college.
I have held down various jobs since I was fourteen years old. I promised my mom I wouldn’t get a job freshman year as I attended college not only out of state but out of state and a place where I knew nobody. Being a woman of my word, I did not get a job per se but I needed money coming into my room. Therefore I became the candy lady of the second floor.
My co-partner and I bought a hand basket with wheels and we were in business. We took the subway several stops to Sam’s Club and bought about $50 worth of goods. Pastries, sodas, candy, ramin, and every other type of delicious a freshman girl could want. I went to the library, created and printed a menu, and a business was born. I made decent money but I didn’t keep records so the amount is unknown. I always had enough change for the laundromat so that was a plus.
I’m getting off topic. Fast forward twenty years (damn I feel old writing that). I realize that I have my limitations in terms of time, ability, and capabilities. I have spent the past few days on Skype, which is a platform I don’t use often, interviewing graphic designers to help me business grow. I think I found someone I like, so I’m feeling hopefully. I have positions I would love to be able to hire but I’m taking it step by step at this point so I can only afford to hire a graphic designer. The end goal is to be able to hire a virtual assistant and really just be the manager of my operation. Has outsourcing become a part of your business plan? How do you find people to outsource in order to help your business grow?
Make sure you subscribe to my blog. It’s kinda cool and I love my followers. Also if you are interested in finding a reliable source for outsourcing use my link:
Full disclosure, there is a monthly fee. Although, I don’t agree with the $69 a month fee, the quality of workers are REALLY great.
Why is a Disney Cruise Better than a Carnival Cruise?
Asking for a friend (not really, I’m asking for myself).
If a Disney Cruise sounds like an awesome idea but you can’t afford it, what would be a great alternative? I can’t see paying what they are asking for at this time for my family of four. I’m thinking about either just taking the fam to the actual Disney World or taking a Carnival/Royal Caribbean cruise this summer. We don’t go on family vacations every year so I want to make it semi-special this year. Of course if you are a representative from Disney, Carnival, or Royal Caribbean I would be more than happy to blog and Instagram about my experience. What is a good family oriented cruise line? Leave your comments below.
A Quick Update on Pinterest
I’m going to link this information about Pinterest promoted ads. I received it in my email today. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE POWER OF THE PINTEREST PROMOTED PIN! It is my favorite way to promote. I will say that I already had a pretty active Pinterest account before I learned of the power of promotion. If you would like to collaborate on a Pinterest board leave me a comment.
New Video Live on YouTube
Have you ever wondered how to use Pinterest to help your business grow? I made a video about it. If you’d like to see it here it goes:
Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, & Educators
I am the last person who should be teaching anyone ANYTHING about cryptocurrency.
My brother has been my tutor regarding getting started so I am not an expert. I do enjoy watching YouTube videos about which coins are worth investing in but at the end of the day, you are responsible for your own money. You do your own homework.
With dreams of grandeur I jumped on the cryptocurrency train. I have watched several YouTube videos and only really have a surface level understanding of what exactly this could mean financially. However, the one thing that has been made perfectly clear is this is a gamble and don’t put in more money than you can lose. With that understanding I have jumped on the crypto train.
Since this is an venture of the blind leading the blind, if you would like to get started with Bitcoin use my link here:
Once you buy or sell $100 of digital currency or more, you and I will both get $10 of free Bitcoin.
So far, I haven’t lost all my money, so that is a plus. The negative is I haven’t really made money either. I’m open to advice as the whole point of this is to make money. How do you feel about this whole cryptocurrency thing? Leave your comments below.
I’ll leave some video’s that I enjoy.
This channel is updated daily so try to watch the most up to date video.
Crypto Coin News
Super Basic Explanation of Bitcoin
Guest staring . . . ME!
Alrighty, in case you missed it(and you probably did). I was a guest on Elaine Heney’s Podcast Merch Enrepreneur
Elaine and I had a cornucopia of topics and chatted for a listener friendly fifteen minutes. I highly encourage you to take a listen and learn more about Merch by Amazon.
Teacher Ces, Where have you been?!
It’s been awhile, as I have been busy on tour . . . Nah, who am I kidding! I’m busy, I’m a mother, I work (full time), I’m an entrepreneur. I’m doing good just being on time to the places that I need to be. This post will contain a freebie to anyone in my online teaching community. Especially those that are teaching to students in China. I’m exploring branding especially branding that will continue to get me booked. So I have created a template that can be used as an opening slide to parents. I’ll leave a link for upload here:
This or That . . . Grocery Store Edition
Let’s unpack this . . . Are you spending hundreds of dollars grocery shopping to impress people who don’t really give a damn about you are eating?
🛒🛒🛒🛒🛒
Maybe not. Perhaps you have been conditioned to think that only Whole Foods has high quality food and everything else is commercial garbage.
🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑🗑
You could be putting your money elsewhere or even better, having your money work for you.
💰💰💰💰💰
Honestly, I don’t know where your head is at on this matter but the point is to stop wasting money shopping weekly at the high-end (Whole Food) grocery store.
🍽🍽🍽🍽🍽
Where do you do your weekly grocery shopping?
Let me know ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Why starting over is the perfect time to get your money right!
Long story short, my web page has to start over again. Not only is it starting over but it will have to rebuild what it once had. With that being said, I am okay with it. Just like everything else, sometimes it is best to just start anew.
This is the accompanying website to my one-woman operation podcast. I also have a Facebook page and a very private Facebook group that is by invite only. I help women who have gotten a late start get a hold of their finances and take control so that they don’t end up old bitter hags who are still working even though they are well past the age of retirement.
Kidding . . . kinda . . .
Seriously though, take control now so that you can do what you want to later. I know it is hard. We all want to have that . . . .
I am Cecily White aka Teacher Ces. I have a podcast that you can find here:
Find Out Which Rules to Break and Which to Follow! – Teacher Ces Podcast
#femaleentrepreneur #sidehustle #teacherlife In this video, I explain to you that The Teacher Ces Podcast is coming back for season three. It is time for my return. 🌻 LET'S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: See my life and my biz-ness https://www.instagram.com/teacherces 🌻S U B S C R I B E. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYnq… 🌻 F O L L O W Website | https://teachercesblog.wordpress.com/… 🌻Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/teacherces/ 🌻Facebook | TeacherCes 🌻Twitter | @TeacherCes 🌻 W H A T I ' M R E A D I N G The Simple Path to Wealth: https://amzn.to/3xTyMPH *Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate. By clicking and or purchasing, I may receive a monetary reward. It does not alter the price or change your buying experience. As always like and subscribe. Follow me on all of my social media platforms! 🌻 TeacherCes Podcast http://teacherces.libsyn.com 🌻 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teacherces 🌻 Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/teacherces 🌻 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/teacherces 🌻 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/teacher_ces
Teacher Cecily White (Teacher Ces) is all about financially empowering teachers in a matter-of-fact and supportive way. I have obtained a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in communications. I also hold advanced university certification in teaching English as a Second language. When I am not teaching at home online, I can be found working in the public school system as an English as a second language teacher fight outside of Washington DC. Since I haven’t done it enough already, I want to plug my podcast. I am the host of Teacher Ces Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. My schedule is always busy as the divorced mother of fraternal preteen boy/girl twins.
Back to School with Distance Learning
Virtual learning sucks. Now that we’ve got that out of the way it is the reality for millions of kids right now. How can you make it a little less painless? Well, you’ve got to have just enough organization in your life so that you won’t go crazy. What you won’t find with my system is perfection. What you will find is how you can make digital learning easier with just a little bit of planning beforehand. This is what I do to simultaneously make working from home and digital learning a little less painful.
Step 1
How do I get online? Relax? To make life easier, I give step by step instructions and print them out. I include screenshots of the sign-in page and their username/password. The instructions are included in their learning caddies.
Step 2
Classroom Caddy
Compartments to hold education items.
Space is at a premium at our home. With that being understood, everything has to be portable and easy to store. Keeping all of that in mind, I bought these classroom caddies. I let my kids choose their color theme for the year. Not so much so that it would look cute, but it will help them stay organized (without the arguments). I coordinated the colors with all the school required folders, notebooks, and such. Now they know whose stuff belongs to whom.
Step 3
It’s annoying but I sign up for any alerts that notify me about assignments that my kids need to turn-in. I hold both of my kids accountable for doing their work. Therefore, since they are only in third grade, they might not know what needs to be turned-in and graded.
Step 4
It’s five o’clock somewhere.
Wine. Yes, wine, lots, and lots of wine. Although, I save the wine for the weekend.
These are my tips for getting through the virtual school year. What are yours? Make sure you share them below in the chat. Make sure you are tuned into The Teacher Ces Podcast! Click here to listen: https://teacherces.libsyn.com/
Staying Healthy on the Road
You can tell an experienced business traveler from one who is new to the experience. It is easy for someone new to business travel to participate in excesses on the road. As business traveler, you are an adult and you are trusted by your company to conduct yourself in a businesslike fashion during your time out representing the firm. But it is easy to let the idea of an expense account and free time in a far away town get the best of you and to let yourself go as you travel.
These kinds of excesses are the types of behavior that you will see an experienced business traveler avoid. If you are setting out on a lengthy business trip perhaps lasting many weeks and traversing many cities, the road itself can take a toll on your health and well-being. The disruption to your normal life patterns, the hard work and the stress of making connections and moving from town to town can introduce levels of fatigue that can take a toll and even lead to illness on the road. And there is no more unpleasant experience than to be ill while traveling for business and to still have to do your duties despite your poor health.
It is for this reason that observing some strict rules of good living on the road will pay off over the life of the trip and make the rigors of travel much less serious. Much of the discipline of business travel involves simply introducing a daily routine to your life that includes some healthy activities so you can keep your physical, mental and emotional state in good shape and ready for business each and every day. Some simple but effective rules to live by for a healthy business travel experience include…
* Sleep routines. A good night’s sleep is something we take for granted. And to get into a rested state takes more than just a bed and an alarm clock. You have routines at home that you use to cycle down toward rest. Adapt those to life on the road and allow yourself that hour before bed to get ready to rest as well as ample time to rest as well as sleep. Both are necessary for good health.
* Regular exercise. Most hotels have an exercise room or pool you can use to get some motion into your muscles. Sitting in airplanes or conference rooms can cramp your muscles and keep you from maintaining good flexibility. Even if it is nothing more than taking a walk after dinner or doing some simple exercises at night in the hotel, give your body some movement so stretch those muscles and get some fresh oxygen into your blood.
* Time not working. For the sake of your mental health, take some time just for you. If you are in a town that has some fun things to see, get away from the business side of business travel and go to the zoo or a museum or see an attraction to give your mind a break from the stress of business. And take a few hours at night to relax in the hotel and read a book or watch your favorite TV show. You need that mental down time to recuperate and process all that is going on during your trip.
* Good foods. Don’t cave into the temptation to eat fast food. Look for restaurants that will serve you well-rounded meals. Make sure you eat fruits, dairy, vegetables, breads and good healthy proteins each day.
* Don’t drink. Alcohol, while fun, is a huge drain on your body’s resources. The time drinking and recovering makes demands on your body that take away from your stamina and ability to stay healthy each day. So avoid alcohol other than perhaps a glass of wine at night. You will survive the trip so much better if you are careful about your alcohol consumption.
Some of these ideas seem almost ridiculously simple. But if you have done any business travel at all, you know that sometimes the simple requirement of a healthy diet and some time to yourself to exercise and rest can be elusive in a busy work schedule. But if you make it a priority to live well on the road as you do at home, you will come home ready to deal with home issues without having that long time to recover from the trip.
The Real Teacher Ces 