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How To Keep Your 9-5 Job While Starting An Online Business

Your path to frugality has two options: you can either cut down your expenses or expand your income. Without a doubt, doing these two options simultaneously can increase your chances of achieving your long-term financial goals.

Establishing an online business is a great way to earn that extra money!

UTILIZE YOUR EXPERTISE

Whether you are an experienced real estate agent or a financial consultant, you can utilize your expertise by becoming an online consultant. The beauty of this is that it does not have to consume much of your time. Help individuals or companies to grow and work more efficiently. Consultancy is taking the world by storm because people would rather pay someone to help them than make their own costly mistakes.

SELL DIGITAL COURSES

It is amazing how you can create and sell your own courses with just a few clicks of a button. Digital courses map out the future and many budding entrepreneurs turn to it for reference.

Do you have to be a master in your field to become a digital instructor? No! All you need to do is to share your knowledge on a particular field and be two steps ahead of your audience. Digital courses can be built through websites such as Teachable and Kajabi. Go ahead! Try navigating through these websites now.

BECOME A GRAMMAR NAZI

I, myself, am caught in a cycle of writing and proofreading. Sometimes, I catch myself editing the past articles that I have written. Proofreading is a task best left to professionals. Writers, business owners, and alike will benefit from editors or proofreaders.

Offer your editing services by advertising it on Gumtree or Craigslist. You can also post on social media while targeting the undergraduate and graduate students.

SEW YOUR WAY UP

If you have a knack for sewing or tailoring, you may offer your services online. You see, some people pay for as much as S$30 for a simple stitching problem. You can offer a friendlier rate that will compete with the existing market.

More so, you may build an online business that sells your sewed products such as sweaters or scarves. Go one step further by offering tailoring classes at a cost.

BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Social media managers are trending at the moment. There is plenty of money to be circulated using Facebook, Google, and Instagram ads. Thus, businesses need someone to facilitate their online presence. Even with your smartphone, you can complete this job during your downtime.

Image Credits : pixabay.com

You can either take online training courses to pick up the skill or learn it through free YouTube videos. With your determination and commitment, you will be able to pick up the social media management skill.

Sources: 1 & 2

How To Efficiently Sell Your Items On Instagram

Instagram plays an integral part in our lives. For many Singaporeans, they treat Instagram (IG) as an catalog showcasing the latest in lifestyle and beauty. It allows retailers to use the word-of-mouth marketing strategy to build their clientele.

With about 75% of online businesses taking part, to miss out on IG can be a bad idea. You need to swim with the waves of time! That being said, you must optimize you must start with optimizing your Instagram profile.

BEAUTIFY YOUR INSTAGRAM BUSINESS PROFILE

Let’s face it! It is human nature to judge based on appearance. Thus, you must optimize your Instagram Business Profile. Spend as much time and effort needed to curate an aesthetically pleasing Instagram feed. Do not forget to include the following elements:

A. Profile Picture allows your consumers to identify your brand easily. So, choose a logo with the highest resolution.

B. Bio lets your consumers know exactly what you can offer. Keep your description clear and concise with a touch of wits or humor.

C. URL section in the bio encourages the consumers to click your website in a snap! Attach a link to shop to increase the drive of traffic to your website.

USE TESTIMONIALS AND FEEDBACK

Parade the people who believe in your brand by checking out the tagged photos. Post your consumers’ photos with their feedback to entice your audience. This phenomenon is called the Social Proof, whereby people respond positively to what others enjoy and avoid what others dislike.

A testimonial photo seems more authentic and reliable as you are giving the shoppers a real sense what the product looks like. Moreover, you may set up an Instagram Story Highlight that includes all the tagged or feedback photos.

REACH YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

It comes as no surprise that using Instagram ads can help sell your products or services. With continued changes to the Instagram algorithm and heightened competition to have your content be seen, Instagram ads are crucial to your marketing strategy. Select a specific target audience to optimize it.

A business profile allows you to set up an ad, to control how much you spend, and to select the length of an ad. It allows businesses to choose target options that best suit their needs. For example, I can choose to target the people in Changi Airport to sell my “Bali Unforgettable Travels” book.

It is easiest to run ads by promoting posts you have shared on Instagram. Select the post you want to boost by hitting the “Promote” button upon posting. Set up your audience and your budget. Double-check the details before hitting the “Confirm” button.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

I suggest that you start with a small budget and run the ad for a few days to test things out. Once you are happy with the results, you can expand its running duration. Track how your ad is performing by clicking “View Results” in the bottom left corner of your ad. It helps to boost the photos that best represents your brand or photos that include some Instagram influencers!

Sources: 1 &
2

Surefire Ways To Save Money As A Freelancer

The essential benefits (e.g., health insurance or retirement contributions) indulged by the freelancers are their primary responsibility. It comes along with a variety of other expenses including operating costs. It comes with a variety of problems including late payment from clients. As a result, freelancers must save more money.

#1: EMPLOY THE ZERO-BASED BUDGETING SYSTEM

Zero-based budgeting entails telling each dollar where it is going to go. Simply put, the money that comes in (net income) minus the money that comes out (expenses) must equate to zero. How will you assign your money efficiently? Well, you must prepare for the fixed and unexpected expenses. Assign an amount to fix expenses and variable expenses first. Then, the rest of your money will be put to savings.

For instance, you earn S$4,000 a month after taxes and you spend S$3,500 on your monthly expenses. Let your extra money be transferred to your savings account. Ensure that you have somewhere to place it with each month.

#2: ASK FOR A RAISE

Say that you cannot afford to cover all your expenses or you cannot commit to your savings. Consider asking for a raise from your loyal clients.

Working with a client for a couple of years can help you prove your worth. There is no harm in asking for a raise as the worst thing that can happen is rejection. You are putting yourself if the position where you are on the present time. So, negotiate your salary. Having an increase of a few dollars per hour or per project can help you save money each month. Trust me, it will add up!

#3: PAY YOURSELF FIRST

One of the most influential factors that will enable you to save is paying yourself first. Transfer a portion of your income to your savings account to cover insurance and retirement plans. Since your income varies per month, having a cushion will help you worry less. Have a minimum savings amount to keep track of your saving goals.

Making sacrifices along the way entails that you will not have to struggle during retirement or during the next big crisis. Be responsible with your finances!

#4: AVOID CREDIT CARD DEBTS

As much as possible, you must not participate in credit card debts as it is bad for your credit score. Friends of mine who carry credit card balances pay hundreds of dollars per annum in interest alone.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Re-frame your mind! Never purchase anything that you cannot save up for. Following this statement will help you avoid flushing down your money due to interest. Cash should go to your savings and not your debts.

Sources: 1 & 2

KonMari’s Guide To Sparking Joy In Your Desk

From a best-selling author to a Netflix superstar, cleaning queen Marie Kondo has an efficient way of de-cluttering your own house and your workplace desk.

Her KonMari method is so powerful that most of her clients never turn back! When practiced regularly, the results become everlasting.

STEP 1: TOSS OR KEEP

With an honest outlook, select an item from your desk. Hold this item and ask yourself this question: “Does it spark joy in your life?” If your answer is affirmative, keep the item. Items that hold a special place in your heart, items that brighten your day through the toughest days, and items that make you smile are worth keeping.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

If your answer is “no” then, please get rid of the item. State your gratitude towards the item before tossing it away. Remember, it served its purpose to help you in your career. Do the same process for every item on your desk.

STEP 2: PHYSICAL CLEANSING

Marie Kondo believes that you must set a clean slate for all the items that spark joy in your life. After all, your desk is dirtier than you may think!

According to Microbiologist Charles Gerba, the average desk has more bacteria than an average toilet. It is important to disinfect your desk or working space with paper towels, wet wipes, rubbing alcohol, or disinfectant spray.

STEP 3: DIGITAL CLEANSING

Aside from the physical arrangement of your items, Marie Kondo has a way of cleansing your work inbox. She recommends limiting the creation of folders.

Afterwards, go through your email or Facebook inbox swiftly and completely in a single sitting. Rather than checking your inbox throughout the day, she prefers to get things done as quickly as possible.

STEP 4: HERE OR THERE

The last step is to assign a designated place for all the items that spark joy. She loves putting items in boxes or baskets! For instance, you may store your clips, tapes, and other stationary materials in a small box. Put this box inside your drawer. The idea is to put things out of your sight.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

The most important thing to remember is to keep your desk permanently organized! In time, repeated behavior will become a habit. Thus, cleaning your desk will be second nature for you.

Sources:1 &2

The Varying Types Of Work Leaves In Singapore

I recently came across with an article featuring a story of a Malaysian employee. He applied for a leave as his mother will be undergoing surgery. To his shock and dismay, his leave was rejected as it was deemed “not too serious”.

Early this year, my mother underwent a surgery and I never tried applying for a leave. The thought of having my sister as her companion was enough for me. If my sister was not present, I would immediately apply for a work leave. However, will it be granted?

Let us take a look at some of the work leaves available in Singapore!

Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL)

Gone are the days when fathers are looked down upon! The GPPL grants working and self-employed fathers the right to enjoy the paternity leave benefits. This is to support the shared paternal responsibility when raising a child.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

By default, your paternity leave must be taken in one continuous period within 16 weeks from your child’s date of birth. It can only be taken flexibly, if the mutual agreement between you and the employer states so. The paternity leave, capped at S$2,500 per week, is fully paid by the Singapore government.

Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML)

It is understandable that there are differences between the paternity and maternity leave. When it comes to the later, you can start your leave 4 weeks before the delivery date. By default, your maternity leave must be taken within 12 months from your child’s date of birth.

The Singapore government will pay for the 9th to 16th week of your maternity leave for your 1st and 2nd child. The payment is capped at S$10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of S$20,000 per child order.

Emergency Half-day Leave

Say that your too sick to function, but you still went to work. Even if you leave in the middle of your shift, any leave you take will be considered as a full-day leave.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

However, your employer may consider it as an emergency half-day leave following your contract. Check with the Human Resources department or your employer whether the company grants half-day leaves or not.

Annual Leave

In accordance to the Employment Act, you are entitled to paid annual leave for up to 14 days. If you have worked for an employer for at least three months and less than a year, you will be eligible for a prorated annual leave. The year of service will dictate the days of your leave. For instance, you will get to enjoy 7 days of annual leave in your first year of service. If you have served the company for 8 years and beyond, you will be entitled to 14 days of annual leave.

Marriage or Grievance Leave

There is no statutory entitlement for marriage or grievance leave. These types of leave depend on the contract or mutual agreement between you and your employer. Otherwise, you may treat it as an unpaid leave.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Approach your employer for the leave application procedures!

Sources: 1 &2

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