Aspiring millionaire

You don't need a smartphone!

2012-02-18T13:55:00.000+11:00

This is what I keep telling myself. Actually I keep saying "You don't need an iPhone!" I really, really want one and only for one reason - Instagram.

I had a really old iPhone for about a week. It was dying, but I played with it anyway and discovered Instagram. I loved how I could post a pic straight to twitter or Facebook and how easy it was to use. Plus the way I could make my pictures look cool.

I had a HTC Desire HD and did love it for many reasons, but also got a little frustrated with it as the calls kept disconnecting. If it had Instagram I would love it more than an iPhone.

I love smartphones for being able to access the internet easily, for the apps you can have like the Bible (I am Christian and loved being able to read anywhere, anytime). I do miss having a smartphone. But there are many downsides to it.

When I had one I was connected more than I should be. I would check my emails, Facebook and things constantly and I really didn't need to. I would play around with apps and when I was bored I would pull my phone out.

Currently I have a little old Nokia which barely gets Facebook or twitter and I cannot check my email or anything else on it. It is a sturdy little thing and works for what I need - to make calls and send messages. But it is not fancy and I do find myself missing a smartphone every now and then.

It doesn't help that 2 of my sisters just got the latest iPhone. Yes, I am jealous a little. I can admit it. Not insanely jealous, but I would like one too.

So much so that I jumped on and started looking at plans. I have a prepaid phone and never wanted to be on a plan again, but I really wanted an iPhone.

Then I snapped out of it. I do not need one. I do not want to spend way more on a plan than I currently spend a month prepaid and I do not want to shell out a few hundred for a new iPhone. I am getting another HTC Desire from my sister soon and while it doesn't have instagram, I don't need it.

Or do I?

Guest Post - 5 Creative Ways to Fund Your New Small Business

2012-02-16T10:28:00.003+11:00

It takes a lot of guts to run a small business these days. You need to be your own boss, your own IT team, your own cleaning crew and, most importantly, your own accountant. Typically, money is always tight in the first year (or few years for some), and things will only get tougher if you can’t find sources of financing to support your early growth track. The problem is that ever since the economic implosion that started back in 2008, the banks have severely tightened their lending criteria. So, what does a small business owner have to do to find funding for his or her business? Get creative.

To successfully fund your new business these days, you'll have to think outside the box, over the box and sometimes even on top of the box. We’re talking Zappa-style unorthodox here. If you’re not exactly the creative type though, it might be difficult to conjure up creative financing ideas. In order to help you kick-start the thought process, we’ve come up with a list of 5 creative ways to fund your small business.

11) Pitch your business to a local university. Institutions of higher learning just love seeing small businesses succeed. Universities worldwide donate millions of dollars in grants to promising start-ups every year. If you think your company brings something new to the marketplace, why not compete for funding from your alma mater? While you might have to take on a few interns if you win, funding from local universities is a legitimate option to consider.

22) Try ‘crowd funding’. In years past, crowd funding was simply a euphemism for begging. But in 2012, asking strangers for a little bit of money has become all the rage in the start-up community. What makes crowd funding different than investing is that donors don’t expect to receive a stake in the business when they hand you $100. Instead, they typically ask for some sort of recognition or reward. For instance, if you’re opening a bakery, you might give a few charitable individuals a plaque on the wall and free cupcakes for life. On balance, it’s another legitimate source of financing that new small business owners should strongly consider.

33) Sign up for a small business credit card. Small business credit cards have gotten a bum rap recently, but the truth is that these cards can actually be incredibly useful tools for launching and managing the financial aspects of any small business. They provide great options for tracking expenses, managing your cash flow and also provide a great backstop in financial emergencies.

44) Make a deal with the angels. If your business has serious growth potential, an angel investor might be a source of financing to investigate. Angel investors are wealthy businesspeople that are willing to provide capital for promising start-ups. The only catch is that angel investors will require an equity stake in the business, which might require a cut of your profits in the short run, an equity position and a voice in management and strategic direction on a long term basis.

55) Get a microloan. The SBA maintains a microloan program that provides small short terms loans to small businesses. Maximum loan amounts are capped at $50,000 but have an average microloan amount of roughly $13,000. These SBA loans are a great way to fund working capital needs or to purchase inventory, supplies, machinery or equipment. While you won't be able to buy a new lot for that new retro diner you just opened, an SBA microloan might be enough to provide that new grill you’ve had your eye on.

Sources of financing for small business have multiplied in recent years, but you still need a very compelling business model to convince investors that you’re worth their time. The reality is that securing an angel investment or venture capital funding is highly unlikely for the vast majority of new businesses. Guy Kawasaki said, “[The] probability of an entrepreneur getting venture capital is the same as getting struck by lightning while standing at the bottom of a swimming pool on a sunny day. This may be too optimistic.” The good news is that most small businesses don’t really need that type of funding.

In the end, the most credible sources of financing for the vast majority of small businesses will still be a micro loan, crowd funding or a small business credit card, which are all viable financing options. All in all, those options aren’t half bad.

This is a guest contribution from Bill Hazelton, CEO and Founder of Credit Card Assist, a leading pro-consumer, credit card information resource.

Money Make Over

2012-02-09T15:39:00.000+11:00

I have started a money make over month on my other blog and I have been loving it. I decided to look at every aspect of my/our budget and what we could do to either make or save money in each area. Every day I am sharing something different form things like setting a budget right through to making and saving money on entertainment, clothing, bills and more.

Click here to check it out.

On top of sharing my ideas my husband and I have really been cracking down on our finances and what we do. There are so many ways I think we could be doing better, but my main thought it I would like to increase my streams of income more.

I have so many ideas, but I seem to get too caught up in wanting to do them all that none of them happen properly. As such I have written down everything it is that I want to do and will only work on one project at a time to ensure I actually complete each project.

Doing it this way will help me prioritise what projects I really view as worth my time, what I am truly passionate about and hopefully demonstrate which projects are most profitable.

How to cope with increased petrol costs

2012-02-01T17:49:00.001+11:00

This week marked the start of a big increase in petrol costs for us. Our bill will double from now for the next 3 months, or so I thought. I need to drive my husband to and from work now, which is not a short trip.

It is a 30 - 45 minute drive to my husbands work, factor in waiting for him to finish when I pick him up and it is about 3 hours each day he is working I am spending driving him to and from work. Unfortunately public transport is not an option for between our place and his work. And since last year we spend much of the year without full time work, we are not willing to give up his job.

I thought I would see quite an increase in our petrol consumption, but I forgot to factor in a few things.
1.) I drive differently. I don't speed like my husband does, I don't drive aggressively so there are no sudden stops and fast take offs. I am conscious of how I am driving and trying to reduce my petrol consumption as well as drive safely.
2.) No more speeding tickets
3.) I am more aware of how much petrol is in the car and can look out for prices on petrol between a variety of suburbs and fill up accordingly.

I no longer thing our petrol will double. I expect to see it increase but not by as much as originally thought. I was also looking at what is available along the route we drive. Since we don't take the toll roads ($7 each way and it would only save 12 minutes!) we go through some hobby farm areas. Many of these farms have signs out the front selling farm fresh produce at much cheaper prices than the shops in our local area. It is all seasonal and looks to be quite good. There is everything from eggs and honey to potatoes, strawberries even meat.

Another thing I noticed was various plants for sale much cheaper than nurseries. We plan on doing our garden and this will be a way for us to keep costs down.

I am hoping that the savings on groceries and plants will help subsidise the increase in petrol. There are a few other things I am looking into to help take advantage of our current situation. I am trying to make the best of it, despite the fact I do not like all the driving I now have to do.

(Just as a side note, car pooling is not an option, public transport is not an option, a taxi fare would be $100 so not worth it and my husband does varying shifts of 12hours in length, so this is not something I have to do 5 days a week, more like 3 days most weeks.)

Power of positive thinking

2012-01-28T12:21:00.000+11:00

The past few weeks have been a little hard with many things happening that threw me into a bit of a sad state. I was unmotivated, looking at everything negatively and getting quite depressed. I felt like the situation we were in was quite hopeless and why should I bother with things.

The other night I realised I needed to snap out of it. I knew my wallowing and self pity were not productive and would not help our situation. The only way to improve things is to change your mindset and then actively go out and do things to change your situation.

I know not everyone is religious, but I am. I said a prayer and asked for help to be motivated in the morning to reach a couple of my goals and for our financial situation to turn around. A bit of a greedy prayer, but I did express my gratitude for other things and it was a sincere, heartfelt prayer.

I fell asleep feeling much better about things.

When I woke in the morning I finally had my bloggy mojo back and the ideas were flowing. Not just for my blog but other aspects of my life. We got a letter about my husbands work and everything is good on that front now (he was off work for a couple of weeks) and I achieved a couple of my goals. A few other things happened to make our financial situation a little better.

Since then things are definitely looking up and I feel much more motivated and positive. I doubt very much that if I had continued with my negative line of thinking that things would be going so well. (My husband would still be back at work, but everything else would be as before I think.)

Positive thinking changes your life.

Review my million dollar plan

2012-01-26T13:19:00.000+11:00

Last night I came across the plan I wrote for how I was going to become a millionaire. It was not my original plan as I lost that when my first computer died, but it was interesting to review how I intended to achieve my goal.

Reading over it my thoughts have not changed much. I still want to do everything I wrote down, the only difference is the types of opportunities that have come to enable me to make income to then invest how I would like.

Have you reviewed your financial plan lately? Do you have one?

A financial plan is pretty crucial if you want to achieve financial freedom. Without one you have no real direction and it is easy to get swayed, not invest properly or put your money towards real financial goals. It is easy to waste what you are earning, not save as much as you should and finish up with much less than you would have if you had a plan.

Having a budget is your first step, but have you thought about retirement, where you want to invest later, how you will pay off debts and things like that?

These are all important things to think about. If you don't have a financial plan, now is a good time to look into it.

Tips On Comparing Credit Cards

2012-01-19T10:37:00.001+11:00

If you are looking at credit cards, how do you know which one is the best for you? There are so many deals out there and so many different types of cards out there, so how do you go about comparing them to see what the best deal is? Here are some tips and ideas for comparing credit cards.

What Do You Want Out Of A Card

The first question you need to ask yourself is what do you want out of your card. Do you want a card that has a lot of perks, a card that has a low APR or something that can help you repair your credit? Answering this question will start to guide you toward cards that meet your criteria.

Fees And Interest Rates Associated With The Card

When looking for a card, you should be on the lookout for cards that have the lowest APR and the fewest fees. If a card has an annual fee associated with it, it might be better to look in another direction. While more cards have annual fees these days, do you really want to pay just for the right to hold a card? Remember that your annual fee and other interest considerations will depend largely on your credit score.

Secured Vs Unsecured

If you have poor credit, you might want to look at secured credit cards as a way or re-establishing your credit score. These cards rely on a security deposit to establish your balance and you have fewer and fewer restrictions as you pay the balance on time. An unsecured card relies on your credit score to get you that loan, but if you have poor credit, you could pay up to 20-30 per cent interest.

When looking for a credit card, you should be aware of what your needs and wants are before shopping. This will help you narrow down the cards that you are looking for and steer you in the right direction. Remember that the best card is the one with the fewest fees and the lowest interest rate. The less you have to pay for the right to have the card, the better off you will be in the long run.

*This is a sponsored post

Free and cheap stuff!

2012-01-18T10:40:00.000+11:00

We have scored quite a few bargains in our house lately. We have been doing a no spend challenge this month, so maybe we have been more away of our surroundings and the opportunities out there.

I have desperately wanted a new desk for my room. It didn't need to be brand new, just new to me. I know what I want but also know as long as we have debt I do not want to spend money unnecessarily. At the end of last week I noticed the preschool up the road was getting rid of their office chairs and desks. They were not exactly what I wanted, but they were out for anyone to take for free.

I had no idea how to get one home as it would not fit in my car. The next night there was one desk left as I drove past. I told my husband about it and on the way back from where we were going he told me to pull over so he could look at it. He pulled out all the drawers and put them in the book. Then he said he would carry the desk home for me! How sweet is that!

He is really strong and it was only down the road, so it is not like he carried it for kilometres. I am not saying it would have been easy, it was probably about 700m. We are so happy with our free desk. He still wants to get me the desk I really want, but I am happy with this one for now.

On top of that the other week we scored some fresh produce from a friends garden. Gotta love free, homegrown food.

When I did our groceries some of the items we like were reduced from $2 to 19cents, so big savings there.

Then yesterday we had to duck down to Canberra for my husbands work. It was perfect timing as we were almost out of meat and we get it for extremely cheap from my brothers work GarranTeed Meats in Garran, Canberra since he works there. It is excellent quality. So we were able to stock up again until next time we go to Canberra. We'll be getting some of the organic berries and free range eggs they sell next time too, they look fantastic!

Then finally my parents had some goodies left over from Christmas such as a giant box of chocolates, a big bottle of pretzels, some long life ice-creams and an unopened ham, so we got to take all that home too.

I cannot believe how fortunate we have been.

What sort of bargains have you scored lately?

When you hit a wall...

2012-01-16T10:05:00.000+11:00

Last week I created my motivation wall, my vision board, set goals and things. then a couple of things happened which knocked the wind out of me. It was strange to go from so excited to completely deflated overnight.

One suggestion I hear a lot is to 'get away' or 'take a break/go somewhere nice for a few days." My thoughts were that I couldn't right now. I have nowhere to go, no spare money to go on a holiday or anything.

Then yesterday my husband told me we need to go to Canberra. I love Canberra as most of my family are there. I immediately contacted my sisters and while it is not a full on break I will get to have lunch with them tomorrow.

It is amazing what just the knowledge I am going to have a mini break has done. Almost immediately my mind filled with ideas again and I felt I could do things

I am really looking forward to seeing my sisters. I don't think we have ever had lunch just the 4 of us (ok, my kids and one of my sisters kids will be there too).

I often do other small things to try and get some motivation when I hit a wall like going for a walk or run, catching up with friends, doing some window shopping (emphasis on the window part, no actual buying), cooking a favourite recipe et..

I have to say though that knowing I will see my siblings and being able to catch up with my family is the best way to get over the wall for me.

What works for you?

Refinancing our mortgage

2012-01-12T15:51:00.000+11:00

This week my husband and I refinanced our mortgage. It is such a relief. We have wanted to do it for sometime as we knew we could be getting a better interest rate and saving on fees, but with my husbands job all over the place we had to wait a bit.

The first thing I did when we decided to refinance was use a mortgage interest calculator and compare rates. I discovered some of the great deals out there and found that by negotiating and discussing things with my bank we were able to switch to a lower rate, stop all fees on our accounts and save a lot of money. It was really easy to do, but I had to be on my guard a little and say no.

One thing that surprised me was when the bank asked me if I wanted to borrow extra since our house valuation came back a lot higher than was necessary to refinance. The first thing that came out of my mouth was “Why?” I was then told about how I could use the ‘extra money’ I have sitting there and take a holiday, upgrade my car etc… I definitely did not want to do that. I know many others would have jumped at the opportunity, but my focus is getting rid of debt.

The next thing she asked was if we wanted interest only. No, I didn’t. Interest only means all your mortgage payments are only covering the interest on your loan. The amount you owe never changes because you are not paying anything towards it. I don’t recommend interest only mortgages for anyone.

We plan on continuing with our current payments so all the money we are ‘saving’ on a lower interest rate and no fees will work to pay off our loan much faster. Paying even $50 extra with each payment can save you thousands over the life of your loan.

My husband and I discussed the best way to set up our loan, make our money work for us and are aiming at getting our mortgage paid off asap. Our first step is to clear our personal loan and then roll those payments over to the mortgage as well.

Have you ever refinanced? Did the bank ask you all sorts of questions to try and make more money off you?

A few words to live by

2012-01-09T19:54:00.000+11:00

Money Traps

2012-01-05T19:58:00.000+11:00

We have been going over our budget and I am sad to see how much money has slipped through our fingers lately.

There are many things out there that can be little money traps and some that are much bigger. For us it has been:

Take away - mainly my husband buying it too and from work
Short car trips when really we could just walk, but are too lazy
No menu plan - with Christmas, New Years and being between other people's houses we didn't menu plan much and it showed.
Electricity usage - it is so easy to use the dryer and leave things plugged in or on stand by all the time, but when the bill comes it can be quite a shock
Interest - We still have a personal loan and I really want it gone. We have been arranging to change our mortgage as well which will save us on interest. It is amazing how much interest we are paying on these debts.

Have you stepped back and taken a good look at your finances to find your money traps?

A few we avoided, but only just were:
Cable/Foxtel - my parents got it and most people we know have it. My husband wanted it for the rugby world cup, but when I showed him the figures he changed his mind.
Christmas/Birthdays - we nearly went out and spent much more than we needed, but held back and have made plans for this year which will ensure the Christmas/birthday budget is kept.

There are so many things in our every day lives that if we look out for them and change our behaviours will save us a lot.

11 Things I learned in 2011

2011-12-28T14:04:00.001+11:00

2011 was a crazy year for me. We were jobless and broke for most of it but it was also the year I published a book through Wright Books, spoke at the Financial Blogger Conference and a whole lot of other things. It was so fantastic and scary in so many ways. Having such a wide variety of things happening in 1 year from opportunities to devastation makes it hard to really categorise 2011.

So what did I learn in 2011?

1.) Opportunities can come from anywhere
I was so blessed in 2011 to sign a contract for my book 365 Ways To Make Money, speak at Financial Blogger Conference about going from blog to book, get booked to speak at Digital Parents 2012, launch my freelance writing career and more. All of these opportunities came from my blog, which is not at all what I expected when I started blogging. Not just that, but the opportunities that came as a result of those different things astound me. I just had to put myself out there and the rewards have been amazing.

2.) You can achieve great things
This year, despite many problems on the job front and issues with our house has ben a year of great achievements for me. I always wanted to publish book and become an international speaker. This year, I put myself out there more and did it. So many people say they can't do things, but that's just not true.

3.) Job loss is hard, but not the end of the world
This year my husband got told there was no more work. We both searched hard for other forms of employment, but only casual was available, which we took, but it was scarce and hard. We relied a lot on government benefits, help from friends and family and our ingenuity to get through. It was hard and we were so grateful when my husband finally landed a full time job again. As hard as it was, it was not the end of the world.

4.) There are free things all around
Having virtually no income meant we got really good at finding free things. That meant everything from food to entertainment. I know we could have done better than we did, but considering our circumstances we did really well.

5.) Owning a house is not that great
We bought back in 2006 and while on many levels the stability of owning (well, with a mortgage) vs renting have been good, it really ties you to one area and with repairs and things houses can cost A LOT! I am sure if we lived where I wanted to instead of where I don't want to live I would like my house more.

6.) Plans change, you just have to adapt
We started the year with big plans such as going to Tasmania and Hawaii, but none of that eventuated since our income changes drastically. While I did have opportunities throughout the year, much of these things will not provide any income until 2012.

7.) If you want something, you are the key to making it happen
I wanted a lot of things this year and while I did not get them all, had I not put myself out there, applied for things or made it known what I wanted to do, they would not have happened. If you want something don't be afraid to go for it and let others know you want it too.

8.) If you focus on being broke, you will probably stay broke
As broke as we were much of this year (and I mean we almost lost our house and everything type of broke) we focused on ways we could make money, how this was a temporary situation and looked at everything we could do to improve it instead of wallowing in the "woe is me, we're broke" attitude.

9.) Balance is important
With so much of our lives seemingly out of our control, we had to find balance where possible. Such as a balance between frugality and looking to increase our income, cutting back on groceries but still eating as healthy as possible etc. If you go too much one way or the other in anything in your life, other areas of your life will suffer.

10.) Never take health for granted
We had a couple of hiccups this year with health. fortunately not as bad as many others we know. We know quite a few people diagnosed with cancer and things recently which has made us appreciate our health and the things we can do because we are healthy even more.

11.) Life is what you make it
Life might throw you curveballs but it is up to you how you deal with them and what you make out of what you are given. It is up to you to rise above things, create opportunities for yourself and live the life you want. No one else is going to do it for you.

What did you learn this year?

New year resolutions

2011-12-22T08:39:00.000+11:00

I am not going for new year resolutions anymore. I feel many see a resolution as something they want to do but since almost no one actually does what they set out to do, it is not such a big deal if you break your new year resolutions.

Instead I am setting goals. I am doing step by step plans for exactly what I want to achieve next year. I know where I want my finances to head and what I need to do to achieve that. I know I want a family holiday, I want my house renovations finished, I want to improve my health by eating organically, growing more of our own produce and increasing my exercise again.

Last year I was not so successful with my goals. I did lose weight, increase streams of income and so forth but we had a fairly rough year and I know I did not do anywhere near as much as I set out to.

We have already started doing things to help us achieve our goals next year.

We want to redo our mortgage so we have compared mortgage providers, spoken to a few and are getting our house valued to enable us to get a better deal on a mortgage. This should all be completed within the first few weeks of January.

We are also going to complete some renovations. We have so many things that need completing but never seem to get around to it. We have set definite times to complete projects and have listed specifically what we want to complete.

Without setting specific time and timeframes goals do not get achieved.

What is it you want to achieve this year? Are you going to set a definite goal, with a time frame to achieve it?

How to manage your business cash flow - Guest post

2011-12-20T22:53:00.000+11:00

A million dollars might seem like a lot of money, but when you’re running a business, a million dollars can be completely meaningless if you don’t have it on hand. Any business owner will tell you that when it comes to gauging the health of their business, cash flow is king.'

Keeping a firm handle on your cash flow can be a struggle for any small business owner as there are many factors that must work together seamlessly. Your need to keep track of your accounts receivable and accounts payable as well ensure that you’ve earmarked funds for tax, superannuation and other overheads.

Meanwhile, you also have to factor in a number of unknowns, for example equipment can break down suddenly and require repairs or you’ll have invest in recruitment if a key staff member decides to depart suddenly.

With so many things to consider, how can you ensure that your cash stays flowing? Here are some tips:

- Collect receivables – for many small businesses, the focus is on making the sale. However, in the long run, the sale means little if the payment isn’t made in a timely manner. Ensure you have a process to collect on overdue invoices. It can be as simple as ensuring you send regular statements and reminders or employing the services of a collection agent.

- Negotiate payment terms – the simple formula to a healthy cash flow is to collect receivables as quickly as you can and then to hold off payments for as long as you can without incurring late fees or penalty charges. It’ll be worthwhile to negotiate extended payment terms with your suppliers. For example, signing up for asset finance with a monthly payment plan can help you manage your cash flow for the long term.

- Offer discounts on early payments – try to limit the amount of credit you’ll give your clients by tightening up payment terms. You can also incentivise clients to pay early by offering discounts.

- Stay on top of your financials – keep an eye on your cash balance and ensure you have a realistic forecast for the future. Pay attention to ongoing market conditions and changes to your client base. Do you know your cash balance today? Do you know what it’s likely to be in 6 months’ time? Always know the answers to these questions to get a handle on your cash flow.

No matter how big or small your business, cash flow is king. By keeping an eye on your cash, you’ll be securing the financial health of your business for the long term.

Author Bio: Paige writes about technology and finance in Sydney on behalf of a commercial finance provider.

2012 Goals

2011-12-16T16:54:00.000+11:00

I have been thinking a lot about my goals for next year. I have many ideas as to what I want to do, but need to discuss it further with my husband. I know our number one goal next year is to get rid of our personal loan. It would have been gone this year had it not been for the work issues we faced.

It's ok though because in the last month we have managed to knock $1,500 off it which was a great feeling and we know we will have it gone within the first few months of the year.

I will also continue with my goal to be a millionaire by 30, but this is where I am torn a little. You see, my husband has an increasing desire to go to Tonga, which I completely understand. We have always discussed going there at some point, but he feels stronger and stronger he wants to go sooner rather than later.

He is 1/2 Tongan 1/2 Maori, and we have been to New Zealand. He was raised mainly by his Maori mum and feels he knows more about that part of his culture than his Tongan side.

A trip to Tonga would not be cheap. Mainly because if we go, it won't just be for a week, it will most likely be for a few months. We would need to be able to cover our mortgage and things here as well as be away for that long.

Part of me feels like that money would be better put off our mortgage, but the other part knows how important this is to my husband and he is so accommodating with everything I want to do and supportive of my choices that I would hate to say no.

So what I am thinking is to work out how much we would need for Tonga, then aim to get double that amount so we pay for Tonga and our mortgage without affecting my millionaire goal as well.

It is a pretty big aim, but I feel confident.

So those are my main goals.

1.) Pay off the personal loan
2.) Save for Tonga
3.) Pay the equivalent of the Tonga trip off our mortgage as well
4.) Continue with my millionaire challenge

What are your aims or goals for this year?

Achieving dreams and goals

2011-12-14T14:02:00.000+11:00

I am very goal orientated. I like to have a goal, a plan and achieve it. I set them high, so even if I don't always reach my goal I am continually stretching myself and close to high is better than just aiming low.

I have been thinking a lot about what I want to achieve over the next few years, things that are on my bucket list, sorting out our finances so we are financially free and more. Some of these things have changed slightly since I set them, but things are happening.

I have planned to complete at least one thing from my bucket list every year. At least one, but preferably quite a few more. Some of my plans are not really doable until my kids are older, but many of them can be done now.

I really want to make 2012 my year. I want to achieve things on my bucket list. I want to pay off our debt and clear it completely. I want my business to have developed and be in a position where most of the income is passive and my husband doesn't have to work.

I know I can do this. I know I am capable of great things and I know you are too.

I look at how my life has changed since starting this blog a little over 2 years ago and I am amazed.

I am now an author.
I am a freelance writer.
I make money from my blogs and other projects online, from home.
I climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
I spoke at an international conference and am about to speak at another blogging conference.
I have gotten through a period of being a single mum, another period of my husband basically being unemployed, nearly losing our house and more. I have come out on the other side and am back on my feet.

Have you ever sat down and listed your recent achievements? Or even any achievements just to see what you have done. You will probably find there are things you have done others only dream of doing.

You have one life and it is happening now! Do what you can, change what you need to and live the life you want.

Travel on a budget

2011-11-30T20:27:00.000+11:00

I love to travel, but it can get expensive, especially when you live in Australia so you are hours from anywhere. Today I am guest posting at PFFirewall with 5 tips for overseas travel from my recent experience with a conference in Chicago. Today I am sharing just a couple of the things I have done to save money traveling. I have been to the USA twice, New Zealand and on various trips around Australia. Along the way I have learnt a few things which saved us a lot of cash.

Stay with others
If you can, staying with others can save you a lot of money. We often stay with friends or family. I cannot even begin to imagine how much money this has saved us. We let people stay with us and growing up we often stayed with others. Sometimes it is squishy and it is not always as awesome as staying a flash hotel, but I love staying with people I know because I get to really catch up with them, it's is more like being at home and when you are with locals, they can let you know the best places to go, get discounts and things for you.

Research
Know where you are going, what free things there are to do and see, where you can get coupons or vouchers for a discount to attractions and what the best times of year to go are. Many holiday locations are cheaper just after school has gone back or once the season has finished. For example with snow fields they have an official ski season, but there is often snow before and after that season. It is much cheaper to go then.

Don't fully plan everything
We pretty much booked our first night or two wherever we were going if not staying with friends and just winged the rest. Yes, I flew to the other side of the world with my first night accommodation booked in LA, the next night in Las Vegas, 2 nights with friends, then nothing for a week, 5 days with another friend, then 1 more night booked and that was it. I was gone for 3 1/2 weeks, but only had planned part of my holiday.

Usually failing to plan results in things costing you more, but by not planning exactly here is what I got:
- Free accommodation for over half my trip including LA and a house on a beach in Maui.
- Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure park were free
- Free meals for most of my trip
- I did not need to hire a car at all
- Free souvenirs and
- I got to see everything I wanted for about 1/3 of the price we expected

Some times it was stressful, but ultimately I would travel that way again.

One thing I did not look in to properly and it probably cost me a bit, but I wasn't so financially savvy then was which credit card to use and how to avoid transaction fees overseas. This week I am guest posting at mozo about this. Click here to check it out.

Is Debt a Deal Breaker? - Guest Post

2011-11-30T12:31:00.000+11:00

Is Debt a Deal Breaker?

Before embarking down the path of marriage, couples should discuss many things: their religious views, their views on life, on child-rearing and if they even want to have children. They should also discuss any debt that either party may have, as this can be a deal breaker for some people. Debt can cause serious strain on the relationship; but there may be solutions for the couple.

Stresses of Debt on a Couple

Debt can cause stress in a number of different ways. It can prevent couples from making large purchases together, such as a home, especially if debt has resulted in a poor credit score for one half of the couple.

It also puts serious strain on the relationship as a whole. It may cause one half to feel resentful of the other, either for having too much debt or simply for being “out of control” with their finances. It may lead to a lack of trust, which can be even more detrimental to the relationship. A lack of trust, especially when it comes to dealing with a couple’s finances, can tear the relationship apart.

Finally, debt can be a complete and total deal breaker for some people. The mentality that if one person can stay out of debt and live within their means, while another cannot, is often baffling to the person without debt. This leads to fear of what the future may hold in terms of financial stability, which can lead to separation for the couple.

Solutions for Debt

If marriage is in the cards, couples may want to look for ways to reconcile any debt the pair may have separately. This may be as simple as keeping the debt separate but making a plan to pay it off so that the relationship can advance financially, such as purchasing a home or vehicle.

Some couples may consider working together to pay off all of their debt through a debt consolidation loan or through a credit counseling service. This can help teach the couple to work together on their budget and more importantly, on their spending habits. Working together to create better financial habits can be extremely beneficial, which may actually make the couple stronger in the long run.

Debt does not have to be a deal breaker. If the couple is committed for the long term, then there are plenty of ways to work together to eradicate the situation including debt consolidation loans, credit counseling or simply working together to create a payoff plan. Though debt can be stressful, it can also be beneficial in the long term by teaching couples how to better manage their finances.

About the Author: Patty Kleen is a full-time writer with a major focus on finances and investments. She knows all too well what it is like to be blindsided by a spouses secret debts. When she is not writing, she works closely with finance staffing agencies to create guides for those looking for work within the industry.

No Spend Christmas?

2011-11-28T08:43:00.000+11:00

As I have been doing my $100 Christmas challenge, which is coming along nicely by the way, I have been wondering if it would be possible to just not spend anything.

I now people do a complete homemade Christmas, but my thoughts were besides making stuff was using a variety of sources to do Christmas, none of which would actually cost me money.

- Giveaways and competitions: Enter what I can and put winnings away for Christmas presents
- Giftcards: I win and earn gift cards occasionally. These could be used for gifts instead of spending our actual cash
- Make gifts: I still have a massive craft pile, so it would be easy to make more gifts to give.

I just don't feel the need to do an over the top Christmas, ever. I might buy a game console or something for my kids to share, but they are pretty happy, easy going kids. We want to teach them to appreciate things and since they are young I see no need to spend a lot of money. I would prefer to do fun stuff, traditions and things and create memories.

What are your thoughts?

Win big with blog giveaways

2011-11-24T19:28:00.000+11:00

I have always like giveaways but this year since I have gotten more into blogging and the whole community behind it I have been blown away. Some of the stuff up for grabs is just amazing! Not just that but the chances of winning on a blog giveaway are a lot higher than magazine, radio and other competitions.

This year I have won:
Books - a few different ones
Clothing - a gorgeous dress for me and one of my daughters
Food - a huge Gluten Free pack
DVD - Spooky Buddies (which was on my daughters wish list for Christmas)
Hair care - Herbal Essence shampoo, conditioner and mousse
Candles - Yankee Candle
Gift vouchers - such as Bakers Delight, Groupon, Karma Soaps and more
Beauty Products
and more!

Prior to this I would be lucky to win something once in a blue moon. Sometimes I don't even do anything but leave a comment. It is seriously that easy!

Not only do I do a giveaway every week on my new blog www.kylieofiu.com so everyone has a chance, but I have been finding so many Australian giveaways mainly through Facebook and twitter to enter. It only takes a few minutes, if that to leave a comment.

Do you enter giveaways?

On top of giveaways I am always on the look out for freebies, samples and things. I have received lollies, drinks, chips and snacks, skincare, make-up and perfume and more. All these things I am able to collect through out the year, combine it with my giveaway winnings and I have some great Christmas presents, (Of course I keep stuff I really love for myself too.)

My tips for entering giveaways are:

Follow blogs that regularly do giveaways and not just on their blog, but through Facebook and twitter as well as they often mention other giveaways on there too.
Enter. It does't take long to leave a comment and enter most giveaways.
Don't worry about how many entries. I have looked and nearly not entered some giveaways because there were over 100 or 200 entries. I entered and much to my surprise I won. Of course, the lower the amount of entries the higher your chances of winning.
Share. By sharing the giveaways on Facebook and twitter you give others the opportunity to enter, usually get a bonus entry and other people are more likely to share with you.

So what are you waiting for? Go enter some giveaways!

Rent vs Buy - Guest Post

2011-11-22T00:33:00.001+11:00

This is a guest post from Jack. He discusses the options of renting vs buying. We have been going over this the last year, my husband and I. We did want to sell our house and rent, but we are staying where we are at this time. I think what it comes down to is what works best for your family and personal situation. No one is exactly the same. Ultimately you should aim to own a home I think, but renting has it's benefits too. This posts gives you the pros and cons of both. What are your thoughts?

Let’s Talk About Renting And Buying: Which One Is Better?
This looks like a crossroad, does it not? Whenever the topic is about real estate there seems to be a never ending dispute between renting and buying and which one is better. So for those who still cannot decide, let us take a look at the benefits and disadvantages of these two.
Benefits of buying a house
• If you are thinking of buying a house, you do not need to hunt. There are lots of houses up for sale and the only difficulty that you will experience is choosing which house to buy.
• Now, when there are lots of products available, it always follows that the price is low. This is where the law of supply and demand works for you. If you buy a house these days, you are in a better bargaining position thus you will surely get your dream house for a dream price.
• Aside from low prices, interest rates are also at a low.
• Your house is your castle and you are the king (let the term apply whether you are a male or a female). Being the owner of your home, you have the right to design it anyway you want and you won’t have to worry about rules and regulations.

One disadvantage about buying a house is that it is quite taxing and draining physically, emotionally and financially. Physically, because you really have to take the time out to look at the house that you are planning to buy; emotionally, because it is but natural that you will feel a little anxious about taking such a huge step and huge responsibility; and financially because you will have to dig down deep in order to pay for the down payment, mortgage, interest, and tax among others.

Benefits of renting
• It is less expensive than in owning your own house because you only need to pay for a fixed amount anytime
• You have the freedom to move out and transfer to another location
• You will not pay for maintenance and repair

The disadvantage of renting on the other hand is that you keep on paying for something every month and for nothing. It is like you are giving away your money for no return except the temporary shelter.

So now what do you think? Should you rent? Or will you buy? The deciding factor between renting and owning a home actually depends on your current situation. See whether you are ready to take on the responsibility of owning a house and investing in your future or if you still have plans, like a career move that may take you someplace else, then renting would be a better option.

When you do buy a house, it is important that you make a home loan comparison online to check on the best option for your home loan needs. There are lots of tools you can use for fast, efficient and accurate results to help you compare home loans from different home finance providers.

Health affects your wealth!

2011-11-21T12:49:00.000+11:00

I have been fooling myself into thinking I am ok with how I am. I am happy to have my hourglass shape, that part is great, but I have let excess weight creep back on. How does this affect wealth?

Well, for me, I have a back problem. When I get close to or above the weight I am now, my back goes out a lot which causes a lot of pain. My husband sometimes has to take time of work and I am unable to work, so it affects our income.

It is also expensive to treat when you get sick. It is cheaper to stay healthy and look after yourself than it is to fix the damage.

When I am eating bad, I am not doing my body any favours. It is not just about weight. Being unhealthy causes all sorts of issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. I do not want any of these things. Being unhealthy lowers your quality of life, as well as life expectancy. I don't want to be an unhealthy example to my kids.

You see, not only does my health affect my life, but the example I set is more than likely the one my kids will follow. My bad eating and exercising habits will encourage bad habits in them.

So on top of my health and wealth being adversely affected, the health and wealth of future generations is affected to.

As such, I have decided to step up and take charge. I am not going on a diet or anything. I am simply changing my life and habits to reflect the sort of lifestyle I want. I want to be happy, healthy and live a long life with my family. As such I need to change what I eat, get more active and be aware of what I am doing.

My first step is to lose 5kgs by Christmas. I am doing this by watching what I eat and exercising more. I am also swapping a lot of our regular foods for healthier options. This will be a gradual process to help the family adjust.

Next year I plan on buying some exercise equipment and setting it up in our back room.

I will be a happy, healthy version of me.

Money Magazine - Review and Giveaway

2011-11-19T05:54:00.001+11:00

Do any of you read Money Magazine? It is one of my favourite magazines. This month there was so much in it including a stack of ways to get free money! (Things like giveaways, government rebates, grants, etc.) Another one of my favourite articles was about being water wise. Did you know water prices are expected to rise 15% above inflation according to the article in there? Our water bill has always been pretty good, but that is because we are pretty water conscious, there are ways we could do better though.

Articles like these are the reason I want a Money Magazine Subscription. In Canberra my library stocked it so I read it there. Here my library doesn’t, so I think a subscription is in order.

Anyway, the article I want to talk about is Party People and it compared Amway, Tupperware and Avon. I have done 2 of these before and whilst they were good, unless you want to spend a lot of time on it and work your way up, you really aren’t going to make much money when you start out or if you stay at that level.

Basically it discusses the business plan for these types of ventures which is essentially a pyramid scheme. One thing that stood out to me was the quote “If, for instance, a 1000-person chain is needed to earn a sustainable income, those 1000 will need a further million new recruits between them to replicate the success. Think about the likelihood of achieving that.”

And it is true. Since the big bonuses come from recruits and you need a ‘team’ to make real money if you are looking at these options as a way to become rich, you are going to have to work hard and recruit a lot of people. But as a way to make some cash on the side, and you are not focused on trying to get massive profits they can be ok.

For example there is a little table in the article

As you can see whilst you can earn money, it takes a fair amount of sales and really, the least amount of effort is required by Avon, which surprised me.

The article also points out you will need to find friends and people to do parties for you, which can be hard. To get started with these party plans it can be difficult, but if you are just after some side cash or pocket money it can be worth it.

What are your thoughts on party plans?

Now I did mention a giveaway…

Be eligible to win one of 10 fabulous Hawaiian holiday packages valued at over $12,000 each with Magshop’s Christmas competition. Simply subscribe, renew or treat family and friends to any of the 35 participating titles including The Australian Women’s Weekly, Top Gear Australia, Australian House & Garden, Shop Til You Drop, UFC, Money, and many more.

Which one of the many Finance magazines is your favourite?

*This was a sponsored post from Nuffnang but the thoughts are my own and Money Magazine really is my favourite magazine. Has been for years.

Finding what works

2011-11-18T13:00:00.000+11:00

Recently I have been here, there and everywhere and have felt myself spread very thin. I had been trying to cut back the other month, but I always get sucked back into working lots. I have come to the realisation that I just cannot do everything.

As much as I want to, I can't.

I need to look at all that I do and work out a few main things.

1.) What do I enjoy the most?
2.) What is most beneficial to my life?
3.) What projects deserve my time and attention?

I have been offered various work things, all online lately but mostly they are not worth my time. When I was first offered them I thought maybe as it would be regular work and then I realised that the pay was so low it was really not worth my time, no matter if it was regular or not. The amount of time it would take me to complete that work would mean I would have been working for about 10% of my usual income for the same work.

This is when I realised I need to look at all areas of my life and change it accordingly. Are there things in your life you are doing which are not the best use of your time?

Our time is our life. How we spend our time reflects our values, and ultimately will be how we spent our life. Do you want to look back and be happy with it or look back and realise you wasted most of your time?