Show up every day. Do your job well. Never complain. Volunteer for extra work. Sound familiar? While these techniques are great at building a successful career, I found a much better trick to continuously increase my salary during my career, and an ADP study has numbers to back it up. Switching Jobs Pays DividendsAccording to the Workforce Vitality Report from ADP, workers who switch jobs are more likely to receive a salary boost than those who keep their existing jobs. “Job switcher wage growth was 6.6% in September [2021], up from 5.1% in the first half of the year,” the report said. This is compared to only a 4.8% increase in wages for those who kept their jobs. My experience matches these findings. Over the course of my career, I could easily expect a 15 to 20% boost in pay each and every time I switched jobs. Taking a new job is the perfect opportunity to negotiate higher wages. Employers expect it now more than ever. In addition, changing jobs has a variety of extra benefits, including:
Extra money is one of the most appealing benefits of switching jobs, and that has never been more true today as businesses practically beg people to work. In 2021, there were about 1 million more job openings than people looking for work. As a result, businesses are using creative tactics to attract talent. For instance, Amazon offered up to $3,000 in signing bonuses to shore up its seasonal staff during the 2021 holiday season. In addition, hot sectors like healthcare and information technology are pulling out all the stops, offering signing bonuses upwards of $100,000, wrote Forbes. “Ascension Health Alliance posted a job seeking a “Physician of Neurology Multiple Sclerosis” in August 2021 that said it will pay a sign-on bonus of up to $100,000.” Many other industries are offering attractive bonuses, flexible working hours, and other perks to lure workers. How Much Switching is Too Much?Switching companies is a great way to boost income, but it’s possible to switch jobs too much. As with many things in life, timing is everything. If you change jobs too many times, future employers may toss your resume aside, assuming you’ll bail after a year or two. In my career, I changed jobs every four to five years on average, but expectations will be different based on your industry. Additionally, switching to new employers for the wrong reasons can have various negative side effects, and smart professionals carefully balance the benefits of switching jobs with the potential drawbacks. Remember that the grass may not always be greener working for another company. Are You Ready for a Switch?If you are thinking about switching jobs, here are several critical questions to ask yourself that will help make this process go much smoother: Are you underpaid? Do your research. Look at the compensation of comparable positions both inside as well as outside of your organization. A good way to do this is to find job openings for similar positions. Job openings generally include expected salary ranges. Do you lack passion at your current employer? It happens to all of us. After several years of doing the same ol’ thing, we get bored. We are ready for new challenges. If you no longer feel any passion in your current role, it might be time to start looking for work elsewhere. Is your commute becoming a burden? According to the U.S. Census, the average commute time in 2019 in the United States was about 27 minutes, one-way. Shortening your commute by switching jobs means you’ll spend less time in your car (and less money to fill your car’s gas tank) and more time with your family. Are you working a “dead-end” job? If there is no opportunity for advancement, you might be hurting your career by staying put (even if your salary is respectable). Dead-end jobs prevent promotions that can open doors for other opportunities, like working on new projects and leading teams or organizations. Is your company struggling? Struggling companies may not be able to afford yearly raises, bonuses, and other perks common to more successful organizations. Worse, layoffs or corporate downsizing might be right around the corner. So if your company is struggling financially, it might be time to proactively put your resume out there. Are you ready for something new? In my career, I always liked to try new things every few years. I felt like I was stagnating unless I got to work on new projects and tackle different challenges, and this often resulted from switching companies. Each switch came with new coworkers and a very different office environment. Routinely switching companies easily helped me grow faster than I would have otherwise. If you think the time is right to look for greener pastures, take the opportunity to update your resume and look for other jobs. It’s an employee’s market out there as companies desperately look for staff to fill open positions. From signing bonuses to boosting your salary, there are plenty of benefits to switching jobs today! More Career Articles from My Life, I Guess:
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/is-switching-jobs-a-lucrative-career-tactic/
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Casual dress codes are on the rise. But when only half of workplaces have an official dress code, it can be hard for new employees to know Are Jeans Business Casual? Fifty years ago, everyone wore a suit no matter their job title. Even as early as a decade ago, most of us were going to work in business formal attire. Now, you’ll be hard-pressed to see someone wearing a tie or a suit at work. Ditching the expensive suits not only helps your finances (allowing you to be better with money) but it helps you do your job better. Studies show that 61% of people are more productive when their employer has a casual dress code. Today, business casual is more of the norm for every day, not just Friday’s. So as you’re navigating your new workplace, you may be thinking, Are Jeans Business Casual? What is Business Casual Attire?Before we answer are jeans business casual, let’s look at today’s idea of business casual attire. Although a broad term, business casual is typically seen as any style of clothing that is less formal than your traditional suit but is still intended to give a professional and businesslike impression. To give you an idea, these types of clothing are typically considered to be part of the business casual dress code:
Well, Are Jeans Business Casual Then?The short answer is yes, most classic jeans are considered business casual attire, but not all styles are appropriate for the workplace. Jeans come in many styles and fashions. But, unfortunately, many are not suitable for work. First off, I know jeans are worn for comfort but don’t pull out your super worn, incredibly comfy pair of jeans for the office. On the flip side, very tight skinny jeans are not appropriate either. Jeans worn in the office need to look clean, no matter the style. They should also not have any tears, rips, frays, or fading elements. If you want to be trendy, you can still wear a classic-looking pair of jeans with a trendy top or accessories. Which Jeans are Best?Typically, classic or “timeless” styles are best for your work attire. Darker jeans with a traditional style or cut are generally seen as appropriate for a business casual workplace. Jean trends such as skinny jeans, acid-wash, ripped jeans, faded jeans(real or fake distress marks), or jeans with glitter or rhinestones should not be worn to the office. Generally, you’re around co-workers, business clients, and other professionals, so the point is to look professional and be comfortable. So save those other jeans for a bar. Are Jeans Business Casual? The Answer Lies in Understanding Your CompanyAs much as jeans have been accepted into the workplace, that doesn’t mean that your company is okay with them in all scenarios. For example, there could be times a company would want their employees to dress up a bit more, and others they are okay with jeans being a part of the attire every day. If you are unsure if jeans would be acceptable to wear, you have four ways to figure it out at your workplace. 1. Ask AroundDepending on the size of your company, the human resources department should be your first stop. Some companies will have more detailed dress code policies in their employee handbook, giving you a better idea of proper attire. The level of detail will likely vary, but this will give you some insight into what the company expects. Or you could ask your manager or co-workers that have been around longer. They’ll know are jeans business casual at your company. 2. Look AroundWhen determining if jeans are appropriate for your workplace, simply take a look around. Are others wearing jeans? If so, what styles? Are they only being worn on “casual Fridays,” or are they worn all days of the week? Pay extra attention to managers and people in management positions. If they are wearing jeans to work, then it’s certainly okay for you to do so as well. 3. Dress for the OccasionJeans might not be appropriate for all occasions as work. It might be okay to wear jeans in less formal settings, time team-building activities, a company happy hour, or for workers that don’t deal with clients. However, if you are more client-facing or spend time with senior management, everyday jeans may not be appropriate. 4. When in Doubt Over Dress (But Just a Tad)Even with asking others or looking around, you might not know are jeans business casual at your company. When in doubt, overdress, but just a touch. You don’t necessarily need to wear a suit, but stick with khakis until you understand your company’s dress code. The worst possible case is you’re the best-dressed person there! Business Casual Doesn’t Have to Be BoringDressing in a business casual fashion doesn’t mean you can’t still look your best. Yes, your jeans might need to be a bit on the less fashionable side, but there is still plenty of accessorizing you can do to spice up your look. Adding accessories to an outfit can make you look more fashionable and professional when done right. Choose some more formal accessories to balance out a more casual pair of jeans. For the ladies, wearing jewelry, a scarf, stylish shoes, belts, or a handbag can add a bit of flair while remaining professional. Belts, bowties, cufflinks, socks, and briefcases can all add to your personal style while dressing professionally for men. If you really want to add more to your look, adding a blazer or sports coat is a great way to add professionalism to a casual jeans outfit. Not only are they a great look, but you can quickly take them off and on to fit any occasion. One Caveat: Don’t Wear Jeans to An InterviewThere are many occasions when jeans are perfectly acceptable in the workplace, but an interview is never one of them. No matter the business’s dress code, you should always aim to look formal and as professional as possible for your interview unless specifically told otherwise. Even then, overdressing just a touch is a good idea. You only get one first impression, and you’ll need to make the best one possible, so proper interview attire is crucial. When going on a job interview, it’s always best to err on the side of looking too formal. Instead, have a casual go-to interview outfit outside of your suit that you know will give potential employers the right impression of you. That way you won’t spend a lot of money unnecessarily at the last moment. This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/are-jeans-business-casual/ Finding the best pre-workout for women can be a challenge. The main problem people have is choosing the one that fits their needs. Understanding the benefits of a pre-workout supplement can help you reach your fitness goals while giving you the endurance you need. Taking these supplements has many benefits, and you must get the correct information before making the right decision. No one likes being disappointed in their purchase, and the same goes for purchasing the right quality pre-workout formula. Here is the information so you can get the full benefit from your workout and choose the right supplement for your needs. What Are The Best Pre-Workout Supplements?Before you can decide to read this list of the best pre-workout for women supplements, you need to take the time to learn more about them. What are these supplements, and why should you use them before your workout routine? They come in different forms, and you need to make sure that you choose the one that will give you enough energy to get through your workout routine but won’t give you any side effects. These supplements come in forms like powder, shake, pill, or even a snack like a bar. You take it about 30 minutes before your daily workout. The Benefits Of Using A Pre-Workout For WomenWhy should you consider using the best pre-workout for women before your daily workout routines? There are many reasons why you should make use of these supplements. But, especially if you want to get the most out of your workout routines, these are the most important benefits of using the workout supplements:
How Will A Pre-Workout Formula Help Your Body?You will get better athletic performance when taking the supplement. This is because it gives you amino acids and nutrients your body needs to train harder for a longer period of time. It offers faster recovery after a workout, especially if you overwork your muscles and they become stiff and sore. It also helps to prevent muscle strain during exercise and hormonal regulation in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). However, following a PCOS diet is essential to weight loss and hormonal management in those with PCOS. Postpartum Exercise And Your Pre-Workout SupplementIt’s best to speak to your doctor before beginning an exercise routine and when taking a pre-workout supplement. A pre-workout supplement can aid in women’s postpartum diastasis recti healing process. The essential amino acids, combined with diastasis recti exercises can help to aid the healing process and repair the rectus abdominis (abdominal separation), known as diastasis recti, in postpartum women. Ingredients to Look ForIf this is the first time you are using a pre-workout, you will see that there are many different brands and types of these supplements. Therefore, choosing the right one can be a problem for a beginner. However, if you know what ingredients to look for in a good pre-workout supplement, you will not have a problem choosing the best one. These are the ingredients that make a high-quality supplement. CaffeineTypically every pre-workout supplement for women and men has caffeine in it. This is to assist with improving strength and performance and to give you energy. However, you need to look for the amount of caffeine in your pre-workout because some people are more sensitive to high amounts of caffeine. A mistake many are making is to think that the more caffeine there is in your supplements, the better it will work. Beta-alanineBeta-alanine is another common but essential ingredient in these supplements. This is an amino acid that will allow your muscles to work harder. It prevents the buildup of acid in muscle tissues, which contains your muscles from working harder without injury. This is one of the essential ingredients to look for when buying a pre-workout for the first time. Remember that some people might be sensitive to beta-alanine, and you can experience a harmless tingling sensation. It’s important to consult your doctor before taking any pre-workout supplement. L-citrullineFor those who don’t know, L-citrulline is another essential amino acid when working out a lot. But, it has an entirely different use and benefit than beta-alanine. The L-citrulline amino acid can boost your nitric oxide production. This ensures that you get more blood flow to your muscles. The result of more oxygen and blood flow to your muscles will ensure more muscle performance and growth. This ingredient has no side effects; if it isn’t in your supplement, you should look for a new pre-workout supplement. L-arginineThis is an amino acid that is usually going with the L-citrulline. However, suppose the L-arginine is the only ingredient without the L-citrulline. In that case, it doesn’t mean this is a low-quality supplement. It might only mean that they have increased the amount of L-arginine in the supplement. It gives the same benefits as L-citrulline. Support your muscles during a workout to ensure that your muscles are working harder. CreatineThis is an essential ingredient in your pre-workout supplement if you are serious about increasing your strength. This is the number one supplement for improving your muscle strength and performance. It can also help repair muscles much faster than without creatine after working out. You can also buy creatine on its own if you already have creatine as an ingredient in your supplements. Ingredients That Can Make Your Supplement Less EffectiveOne thing is essential to remember, not all pre-workout supplements are full of good ingredients. Some have elements that can be harmful and that can cause more problems than benefits. Some toxic ingredients are making the supplement less effective. If you find any of these ingredients in your workout supplement, you should look for another brand.
People Who Should Avoid Taking Supplements
The Best Pre-Workout Supplement For WomenNow that you know more about the best pre-workout supplements for women. You can use it to improve your workouts. You might be wondering which supplements are recommended. There are a couple of these supplements that you can purchase that will benefit you more than the side effects that you might experience. Before you go and buy any of these products we are mentioning here, you need to make sure that you aren’t caffeine sensitive and that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients found in pre-workout supplements. Nevertheless, these are some of the best women’s pre-workout supplements you can buy on the market today. Here is a list: Alani Nu Pre-Workout Supplement: it is the number one pre-workout product for women that contains many essential nutritional components to give you energy and aid in workout recovery. Legion Pulse: an all-natural pre-workout for women who is looking for one of the best workout supplements on the market, with the least amount of side effects. Transparent lab’s LEA: a pre-workout product that is great if you’re looking to lose weight. If you are looking for a pre-workout that doesn’t contain any caffeine but will give you the best results, include the Legion Pulse all-natural pre-workout with no caffeine. Things to Consider When Choosing The Right Pre-Workout SupplementYou need to consider a couple of things when buying the right pre-workout supplement so that you won’t waste money and get the full benefits with results. Monitoring Your Personal Fitness GoalsIn other words, why are you working out? Is it for strength training, fitness, or weight training? There are different pre-workouts for different fitness goals. The ingredients that you can find in the supplement are just as essential. You want to ensure you buy a natural product without any harmful components. Price Shopping For a Quality SupplementThe price of your supplement is important. You want to ensure you’re getting a quality supplement at an affordable price. Don’t be fooled by purchasing the most expensive supplement. Some affordable ones will give you the same results as the more expensive ones. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for better performance during your workouts or if you are looking for a product that will give you more energy while working out. It is a good idea to consider making a list of what you are looking for in a pre-workout formula. This list may help to ensure that you get the complete guide to what to look for in a pre-workout supplement. In ConclusionA pre-workout formula can help to improve your energy, feed your muscles and help in workout recovery. It’s best to remember that everyone’s needs are different. When choosing the best pre-workout formula, choosing a formula that fits your individual needs and making a list of what you are looking for in a pre-workout formula can be helpful. Ultimately, choosing a healthy, nutritious supplement that will give you the energy to perform and recover from your workout is vital. This post originally appeared on Hello Sensible. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/the-best-pre-workout-for-women/ One of the main levers you can pull to achieve financial freedom is the amount of money you earn. For most people, earning more money requires getting a promotion at work. Maybe even getting multiple promotions over a career span. Most promotions usually move you up a level in an organization or increase your compensation. They’ll generally require you to take on more responsibility, pick up additional projects, or even supervise some co-workers. In a traditional company, however, there is a specific type of promotion that takes you into a whole different realm of responsibility. It’s where the rules of the game change and where your preconceived ideas of what you thought you wanted are get tested. I’m talking about getting promoted to a senior level within an organization. Typically the goal of many ambitious individuals looking to climb the infamous corporate ladder. What is the Senior Level?Titles can vary quite a bit across companies and industries. Traditionally, a senior level within an organization would carry a title that may include the following:
I do not include titles that contain the word manager in the above categorization; I’ll get to why in a minute. I couldn’t find definitive data on the number of individuals who carry these types of titles relative to the general employee base of an organization. Based on personal experience, I would expect approximately 3-5% of individuals to fit the senior level categorization in a given organization. In my company, which is made up of approximately 15,000 employees, there are only 400 people who carry a senior-level title and corresponding role — starting from a standard director all the way up to the C-level suite. That’s almost 3% of the total employee base. It’s possible that if you drew a similar line at your own company that some senior managers would make the cut, however, that’s unlikely to be universal. This is why I left out the manager titles from my list. I’m talking about the upper levels of an organization, which usually take many years to reach. Not to mention a tremendous amount of sacrifice, perseverance, and in some instances, luck (i.e., timing, networking, etc.). Think You’re Ready? Consider These First:Sometimes getting that big promotion may not be the best career move. Again, when I say big promotion, I’m explicitly referring to getting promoted into that senior-level echelon of a corporation. This type of promotion indeed carries some benefits:
However, the above benefits come at a high cost. Before you jump into one of these roles with both feet, you should consider not only the downsides but whether you want that promotion. Here are some signs to watch out for and consider before crossing that senior-level threshold. Your Bullshit Tolerance is LowIf you get easily frustrated by bureaucracy and having to jump through hoops for every decision, keep your hand down. Operating at a senior level requires a high degree of patience and the ability to put up with other people’s bullshit daily. If you’re the type of person who likes to get things done quickly and prefers not to rely on others to complete an objective, you will struggle in a senior-level role. At that level, gaining consensus and addressing faux concerns is the name of the game. Dealing with bureaucracy is indeed prevalent at all levels in a company, but the senior level takes it to another realm. Be prepared to spend a significant portion of your time in this category. Don’t cross the threshold unless you’re willing to throw on some severe bullshit kevlar. You Refuse to Play PoliticsI get it, you have principles, and some strong convictions. Why should you compromise on a solution, or accept a less than ideal arrangement? Unfortunately, when you’re operating at this level, you’re surrounded by individuals looking out for their best interests. Every statement you make and every decision you push for will need to be vetted by your peers to ensure it has the right level of support. Gaining that support may require compromises and concessions that aren’t always in the best interest of your team. If you believe you can operate without playing politics, I can confirm it’s possible. But only if you’ve reached financial independence. Otherwise, you’re highly exposed. You Hate Making Tough DecisionsOne of the critical responsibilities of individuals in these roles is the ability to make hard choices. There’s a reason why most people punt decision-making to their boss and beyond. Some of those decisions can be quite tough to make. Most people don’t want that kind of responsibility and the pressure it entails. It could be choosing someone’s career, a risky decision on growing sales, or changing the company strategy. The potential pitfalls are endless. The stress associated with that level of decision-making is off the charts unless you’re a psychopath. You Value Your TimeFor most people working in a senior-level role, their time is no longer theirs to control. The boundary between work time and family time becomes blurred, and very little is off-limits. You’re expected both by your company and your employees to be available at all times, regardless of whatever work/life balance culture exists. Although this is something that can be managed, it is challenging to do. If you prioritize your personal life over work in one of these roles, you indirectly limit your progress. It’s always essential to evaluate the benefits gained from such a role against the time lost, which is usually severely underestimated. This is one of the biggest traps of climbing the corporate ladder. Most people justify the sacrifice by convincing themselves they are doing it for their family, but in the long run, the opposite is often true. You Don’t Like Exposure and UncertaintyWhenever you take on one of these roles, your job becomes inherently at risk. It’s easy to hide deeper in an organization and go unnoticed. There’s a certain level of security in that diminished exposure. But once you step into the limelight and take on that big promotion, you’re exposed to all the elements. Companies churn through those top-level jobs more than any other level in an organization. One day you think you’re doing great, and the next day the political tides have shifted against you almost overnight. This is another excellent reason to be financially independent in those roles. You never really know when things can turn south. You Enjoy What You’re DoingIf you’re happy in the role you have, and you’re great at it, think twice before making this type of change. It’s common to see people get promoted to senior-level roles and become miserable. That’s usually because the kind of work at this level is very different from what they’re used to doing. Senior-level roles tend to be very administrative, and the problems that need to be solved are more complex. The work also tends to be more strategic. Very little work is ever really “finished.” Instead, it’s progressed to the next step. If you enjoy instant gratification, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing tasks, you may struggle with the adjustment. Should You Walk Away?Most people get blinded by the promotion’s compensation increase. They never bother to factor in the impact on their lifestyle, or even the personality changes they’ll need to adopt. I’m not implying that you should walk away from a senior-level promotion. That’s, of course, a profoundly personal decision. I’m merely pointing out some elements of the promotion that many people either ignore or only figure out in hindsight. All good decisions are made with eyes wide open. As someone who has had to learn some of these insights firsthand, I can tell you they are real and challenging to address. Coming up with a financial independence strategy before taking on one of these roles should be mandatory, in my opinion. These types of roles are not sustainable in the long run because they are too demanding. Something eventually has to give, whether it’s your personal life or your career. Make sure you have a solid exit strategy if you’re considering this type of role in your career. It’s also essential to have a very open and frank discussion with your family before considering that type of job. They will need to support you during your journey; otherwise, you will struggle to succeed. In the end, you will need to balance the desire for financial independence and the sacrifices it may take to reach those goals. This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/are-you-sure-you-want-that-big-promotion/ There’s no denying it. Meal planning takes work. And when you are on a strict budget and want to make healthy meals for your family, meal planning may seem daunting. But creating a healthy meal plan your family will love is possible, even when your funds are limited. The key is to combine concepts of healthy eating and money-saving strategies during the meal planning process. This guide will help you integrate these three things to conquer mealtime in no time. How to Create a Healthy Meal Plan SuccessfullyThe first step in creating a healthy meal plan for your family is committing to regular meal planning. Here are tips to help you stick to meal planning for long-term success. Find a Meal Planning SystemIf you want to start feeding your family healthy meals regularly, you’ll want to find a meal planning system that works for you. Consistency will become much easier once you figure out the most efficient way to create your healthy meal plan. Here are the two main questions you’ll need to answer to develop your plan for healthy meals. How often will you meal plan for your family? Many people find weekly meal planning to be the easiest. However, if finding time to meal plan every week is challenging, biweekly or monthly meal planning may be better. Where will you write down your meals? A meal planning binder is an excellent tool for staying organized. However, it’s not the only solution for keeping track of your family’s meals. You could use an inexpensive planner, a decorative chalkboard in your kitchen, or even a piece of paper. The important thing is to figure out what works for you. Keep a List of Simple and Healthy MealsTo stick to meal planning for the long-term and maintain healthy eating habits for your family, you will want to have a list of nutritious yet simple dinner ideas you can refer to when choosing meals. In addition, preparing easy meals on a busy night will help avoid resorting to unhealthy takeout and fast food. When you find a simple and healthy meal that’s a hit with your family, don’t forget to write it down. Keep the list in a convenient spot to pull it out when it’s time to meal plan. Then, as your list of your family’s favorite meals grows, you can use it as a resource to help create your healthy meal plans more quickly. Related: Cheap Dinner Ideas To Save Your Budget From Rising Food Costs Keep a RoutineAfter you have decided on your meal planning system, you will want to incorporate meal planning into your schedule. For example, if you are going to meal plan once a week, you’ll want to designate time each week to complete it. Doing your meal planning around the same time each week will help you stay consistent with creating a healthy meal plan for your family. Think about your current schedule and the amount of time you have available to devote to meal planning. If you are busy with work and your kids’ activities during the week, monthly meal planning may be ideal because you only need to think about it once a month. Got more time on your hands? Weekly meal planning may be the way to go. Decide When to Grocery ShopAnother important decision you will need to make for successful meal planning is when to shop for groceries. If you are meal planning every week, you’ll need to head to the grocery store every week after making your meal plan. However, if you decide to plan your meals every other week (biweekly) or once a month, you’ll have more flexibility with grocery shopping. If you create a biweekly meal plan, you can choose to do your food shopping every week or every other week. If you create a monthly meal plan, you can choose to do your grocery shopping weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Related: 10 Easy Ways to Save Money at the Supermarket The Core Concepts of a Healthy Meal PlanCreating a healthy meal plan is the same as making any meal plan. However, the difference is in your meal choices and how you prepare your food. Choosing healthy foods and preparing those foods to maintain their nutritional qualities is essential for a healthy meal. Here are some tips to make your meal plan healthy. Buy Lean MeatsLean meats are meats that have a lower fat content. Skinless chicken and turkey, pork, lamb, veal, and fish are considered lean meats. Even ground beef is regarded as lean meat when you choose 90% lean or higher. If you buy a cut of meat with visible fat on it, trim off the excess before preparing it. Budget-friendly lean cuts of meat include bone-in pork loin chops, beef sirloin, lean ground beef, bone-in chicken, and flat-iron steak. Limit Foods High in Saturated FatsSaturated fats are a type of unhealthy fat found in food. Eat foods that are high in saturated fats sparingly for healthy eating. Some examples of food products that contain saturated fats are:
The best way to identify foods high in saturated fat is to read labels. Look for the Nutrition Facts label on the product to check for the number of grams of saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6% of the calories you eat be from saturated fats. So, for example, if you consume 2,000 calories a day, you should keep the amount of saturated fat you eat to less than 13 grams a day. Eat Your Fruits and VeggiesFruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet. However, some fruits and vegetables are more beneficial than others. Therefore, when making your healthy meal plan, you will want to include as many healthier options as possible. Here are the most nutritiously dense fruits and veggies and the less nutritious options. Healthiest fruits and vegetables:
Least healthy fruits and vegetables:
Know Proper Portion SizesControlling the amount of food you eat is just as important as what you eat. You should base the number of calories you will need to consume on how active your lifestyle is. In addition, you’ll want to consider any weight goals you or family members have when determining caloric intake. As a general rule of thumb, a person who eats a 2,000-calorie diet should include:
Be Mindful of How You Prepare Your FoodPreparing your food to avoid adding unnecessary calories and fat is essential for healthy meal planning. Unfortunately, it is easy to turn healthy food into an unhealthy meal during the cooking process. Avoid deep frying foods and sautéing foods in oils. Steaming, baking, grilling, and roasting are all healthier cooking methods. Use non-stick cookware to avoid the need to coat food with oil. Instead of boiling vegetables, steam or microwave them to keep their beneficial nutrients intact. Use low-fat versions of ingredients instead of full-fat versions (cheese, milk, sour cream, dressings, etc.). Related: Hungry? Here Are 11 Ways To Get Free Food Money-Saving Tips for Creating a Healthy Meal Plan on a BudgetThe third component of creating a healthy meal plan on a budget is saving money on your food. There are numerous money-saving strategies and life hacks to reduce your grocery expenses. In addition, many cheap foods are also some of the healthiest options to include in your meal plan. Meal Plan Around SalesIdeally, you’ll want to check your pantry, fridge, and freezer for food that’s about to expire to meal plan around what you already have. Using up what you have first will help you avoid food waste and help lower your grocery bill. Check your grocery store ads for sales once you plan meals around what you have on hand. Then, plan the remainder of your meals based on foods on sale that week. Use Your LeftoversLeftovers are excellent for helping your money go further. Buying a larger quantity of food for one meal can be cheaper than buying the food needed for several different meals. Integrate leftovers into your healthy meal plan by cooking up large batches of meals to either use within the same meal plan or freeze to use in the future. There are many ways to use up leftovers, even if you don’t have enough of them to feed your family a second time. Here are some ways you can incorporate leftovers into other meals:
Use In-Season ProduceProduce is expensive, especially if it’s not in season. Strive to use seasonal produce in your meal plan. Check the frozen aisle first if you need out-of-season produce for a particular recipe. Frozen fruits and vegetables are as healthy as the fresh versions and are typically cheaper. Buy in BulkBuying food in bulk when you find it at rock bottom prices can save you money in the long run. If you plan to buy in bulk, keep a list of the food you frequently purchase and the food’s lowest price to help you spot deals. However, only buy food you know you will use or freeze before expiration to avoid food waste. When shopping at a membership warehouse club, check the unit price before purchasing and compare it to your lowest price list to ensure you are getting a deal. Eat One Meatless Meal Per WeekMeat is typically the most expensive part of any meal. If you are trying to keep food costs low and make cheap meals for your family, eliminating meat from at least one meal a week can help. But be sure to keep your meals healthy by replacing the meat with equally nutritious food. When you omit meat from a meal, you cut out essential protein. Add protein back into your diet with these protein-rich foods:
Final Thoughts on Making a Budget-Friendly Healthy Meal PlanIt is possible to feed your family affordable, nutritious meals. Building a healthy meal plan does take effort. But when you have a sound meal planning system in place, all you need is a basic understanding of healthy eating to make the right food choices. Then, use some of the money-saving strategies discussed above to reduce your food costs, and you will have a healthy meal plan on a budget your family will love. This post originally appeared on Hello Sensible. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/how-to-make-a-healthy-meal-plan-on-a-budget/ Do you find it difficult to choose an outfit each morning? Do you feel like you have nothing to wear even though your closet is full? You are not alone! Many people find it hard to decide what to wear each day. If you are sick of your wardrobe and have no idea what to wear, a capsule wardrobe may be for you. You can have a small but versatile wardrobe that you can mix and match to create many different looks. When you have a capsule wardrobe, you will always have something to wear, no matter the occasion. What Is A Capsule Wardrobe?A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing that doesn’t go out of style. It typically includes staples like button-down shirts, tee shirts, jeans, black pants, and cardigans, but it also has a few seasonal pieces to keep your wardrobe fresh. You can switch the items to create many different outfits, from casual looks to formalwear and work clothes. A capsule wardrobe is a great place to start if you want to simplify your wardrobe. Strategically investing in a few key pieces can create a flattering, flexible, and fashionable wardrobe that is easy to maintain. Why You Should Have a Capsule WardrobeThere are several advantages to having a capsule wardrobe. 1. It Saves You MoneyA benefit of a capsule wardrobe is that it makes shopping much easier. You know exactly what you have and what you need. By investing in a few high-quality pieces that will last for years, you can avoid constantly buying new clothes to replace low-quality materials or keep up with the latest trends. It also forces you to be more mindful of your clothing purchases, making you less likely to impulse buy or overspend on items you don’t need. Instead, you purchase clothes you truly love that will fit nicely into your existing collection. 2. It Saves You TimeA capsule wardrobe saves time by streamlining your clothing choices and simplifying getting dressed. When you only have a few pieces to choose from, you won’t spend hours agonizing over what to wear since you will already have several possibilities in mind. They are perfect for busy (or lazy) people who want to look their best with minimal effort. 3. It Simplifies Your LifeHaving a closet full of clothes you never wear can be overwhelming. A capsule wardrobe will help you eliminate this problem and make it easier to find the clothes you need. When you have fewer clothes to choose from, you avoid decision fatigue and adding unnecessary stress to your day. You’ll also have more time to enjoy the things you love because you won’t be spending as much time shopping and getting ready for the day. Creating a capsule wardrobe is also an opportunity to declutter your home, organize your closet, and save space. 4. It Helps You Dress Better & Boosts Your ConfidenceWith a capsule wardrobe, you only have clothes you love that fit you. You’ll feel more confident when you know you look good in what you’re wearing. This boost in confidence can be helpful in all areas of your life. Although you may have to get creative with your outfits, this can be a fun challenge that will help you develop your style and a cohesive look. But you know you will always look your best! 5. It’s Eco-FriendlyA capsule wardrobe is more sustainable. It contains fewer clothing items, requiring fewer resources to produce. That’s good for the environment. Additionally, having a capsule wardrobe can help you be more conscientious about your clothing choices and how they impact the environment. You’ll be more mindful of what garments you purchase and what clothing companies you support. Overall, a capsule wardrobe can help you to save money, time, and stress and is better for the environment. How To Create A Capsule Wardrobe in 10 Easy StepsWhether starting from scratch or overhauling your current wardrobe, building a capsule wardrobe is a great way to invest in timeless pieces that you’ll love wearing for years to come. Creating a capsule wardrobe is not as difficult as it may seem. There aren’t any “rules” to creating a wardrobe you will love, but here are some helpful tips to follow: 1. Organize Your Current WardrobeStart by taking an inventory of the pieces you already own and decide what you wear the most. These will form the basis of your capsule wardrobe. Take everything out of your closet and dresser drawers, and organize them. You could sort by type (shoes, skirts, tops, etc.) or by how much you like and wear each item (love it and wear it, like it but don’t wear it often, or hate it and never wear it). From there, you can build your collection by choosing items you know you will wear often. 2. Define Your StyleNow that you’ve gone through your clothes reflect on your personal style. Do you tend to gravitate towards casual or more formal looks? What colors make you feel confident? Do you prefer timeless pieces or trendy items? These questions will help you find the types of clothing and accessories that work best for you. 3. Make a List of Essential ItemsThink about your capsule wardrobe’s clothing and accessories before you start curating it. To get started, list essential items that you feel would work well with your style and everyday life. Your list will probably include clothes for:
4. Purge Your ClosetDonate, sell, or get rid of anything that you don’t like, doesn’t fit, or is too damaged to be fixed. If you come across something you’re just not ready to let go of, set it aside. There’s no harm in keeping it for now, in case you change your mind later. Just because you haven’t worn something in a while doesn’t mean you can’t revive it with a few new pieces. Then, if the season or year passes without you needing these items, you can purge them. 5. Shop SlowlyIt can be tempting to rush out and buy a bunch of new pieces you think you need to complete your capsule wardrobe, but that’s a bad idea. Doing so could completely defeat the purpose. You want to shop slowly to ensure you buy only what you actually need. Before you go shopping for new clothes, shop your closet first. Chances are, you already have some pieces that cover what you need. 6. Start With the BasicsA capsule wardrobe should include neutral pieces or clothing that follows one color pallet that you can wear in various ways. These basics might include a white button-up shirt, dress pants, jeans, a classic blazer, and a little black dress. If you don’t already own these items, consider whether or not you need them (and will wear them) before making any purchases. 7. Add a Pop of ColorA capsule wardrobe doesn’t have to be boring. You can experiment with colors and patterns with a few statement pieces like a printed dress, a cute jacket, or a bright-colored scarf. The key is ensuring they all match each other and add interest to your looks. 8. Choose Versatile PiecesThe perfect capsule wardrobe pieces are those that you can dress up or down. A denim skirt, for example, can be worn with a blouse for work or a t-shirt for a casual weekend. A few well-chosen, interchangeable pieces will take you far! 9. Invest In QualityChoosing well-made pieces that will last for years is crucial because you want quality over quantity. Investing in a few high-quality pieces is better than filling your closet with cheap, trendy items. When you find something you love that fits you perfectly and is well-made, don’t be afraid to buy more than one! (Especially if it comes in multiple colors.) 10. Edit Your Wardrobe RegularlyAdd new pieces as your taste and style evolve so that your capsule wardrobe continues to work for you and reflect who you are. Be careful not to add too many more pieces, or you will slowly become overwhelmed again. To maintain your capsule wardrobe, follow the “one in, one out” rule. Every time you add a new item, get rid of one that you no longer use. Once you’ve curated your wardrobe, you will be amazed at how many different looks you can create. Capsule Wardrobe FAQsWhat Does a Capsule Wardrobe Consist Of?A capsule wardrobe consists of clothing, shoes, and accessories that can be mixed and matched to create various looks. It typically includes basics (like jeans, a white tee, and a black blazer) and a few statement pieces. How Many Clothes Should Be In A Capsule Wardrobe?A good rule of thumb is to start with around 30 pieces. You can adjust this number based on your needs and preferences. If you have a busy lifestyle, you’ll need more pieces than someone who is more low-key. And if you live in a colder climate, you’ll need more clothes than someone who lives somewhere warm. Rather than overwhelming your closet, consider storing your seasonal pieces separately. You don’t need shorts and sandals in the middle of winter or sweaters and jackets in the summer. How Many Shoes Should Be In a Capsule Wardrobe?You likely need anywhere from 3 to 10 pairs of shoes to complete your capsule wardrobe, depending on the types of shoes you choose to include. For example, if you only wear flats, you’ll need fewer pairs than if you wear a mix of heels, flats, and sneakers. How Do You Build a Capsule Wardrobe On a Budget?You may need to get creative when sourcing your capsule wardrobe items on a budget. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and online retailers can be excellent sources for affordable clothing. You can often find high-quality pieces for a fraction of the price. You can also look for deals and coupons to help offset the cost of your new wardrobe. What Capsule Wardrobe Essentials Do I Need?Everyone should have a few capsule wardrobe essentials in their closet. A basic white t-shirt or button-down shirt is a great start, as is a pair of jeans. You can dress them up or down, and they’ll always look great. A black dress is perfect for any occasion, whether you’re going to a party or a meeting. Pair it with a blazer for a professional look, or add sparkle with jewelry and heels for an evening look. And, of course, you need a great pair of shoes to complete your look. Whether you prefer flats or heels, make sure you have a pair that makes you feel confident. How Do You Build a Capsule Wardrobe For Work?A capsule wardrobe for work should be professional, comfortable, and affordable. Depending on your profession, your work clothing may include:
With these capsule wardrobe essentials, you can create various professional-looking outfits for work. Is A Capsule Wardrobe Worth It?Having a capsule wardrobe can simplify your life. It can help you save money and space in your home. It can also help you get dressed more quickly. If you are looking for a way to simplify your wardrobe, a capsule wardrobe may be the perfect solution. This post originally appeared on Hello Sensible. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/capsule-wardrobe/ The pandemic has shifted priorities for many, and thousands of people are quitting their jobs. The good news for job seekers is that there are a lot of options. So if you are itching to make a career change and looking for a job right now, this is a great time to be in the market. I have interviewed hundreds of candidates as a senior manager in management consulting. So if you think you may find yourself sitting in front of an interviewer soon, make sure you are well prepared for all the tough interview questions. The candidates who stand out prepare well-crafted, honest answers that correlate their experience and goals to the job position. You may be asked many questions during an interview, but one that I can guarantee you will be asked to elaborate on is: Why are you interested in this position? This question is one of the most common interview questions that hiring managers ask. But, unfortunately, it’s also one of the toughest to answer. The question is intentionally vague and open-ended. In this post, I will share tips on how you can respond to ‘why you’re interested in a particular job role’ so that your response doesn’t seem forced or unnatural. Why Do Employers Want to Know ‘Why’ You Applied to the Position?The answer is straightforward! Employers want to ensure that:
5 Tips on How to Prepare Your AnswerLet’s talk about preparation! As you begin your interview preparation, collect your thoughts in a document or on a piece of paper. Then, write down specific one-line answers to the below points. Doing this will not only help you formulate answers for this question, but it will also help you prepare for many other types of interview questions as well. So grab that pen and paper, and let’s get started. 1. Write Down 1 or 2 Goals That You Have Set for YourselfIn itself, this can be a time-consuming and soul-searching exercise. You can have many goals, whether you want to increase your net worth, get physically fit, etc. For your interview, limit yourself to career-oriented goals that relate to the job position. All leadership seminars and career coaches provide training on approaching this exercise in an organized manner, using the SMART technique. What is the SMART Technique? When setting career goals, make sure they are:
Here’s what a good goal should look like when you finish: “In the next two years, I see myself leading the regional sales strategy for a large company in the physical fitness field.” 2. Next, Give Some Thought to How This Job Takes You Closer to Your GoalsSetting goals can re-confirm if the job you are applying for is a good fit for you and will help you reach your professional goals. For example, if you have sales experience and your interview is at Bowflex for a senior-level sales role, you are heading in the right direction with the sample goal above. Another example: if your goal is to become a successful trader in the stock market, interviewing for the same position at Bowflex may not bring you closer to your goals in the near term. Remember that it is as much about how the specific role will fit your career goals, not just how you meet the job requirements. 3. Review the Job Posting and Prepare a Couple of Points That Interest You About the RoleHere are some ideas to get you going:
4. Think About How You Will Benefit the CompanyChoose a couple of points from your resume or experience that you believe have prepared you to succeed in this job. What makes you the ‘perfect and only candidate’ for this role? These should be specific examples of taking on new challenges or building experience directly related to the job posting requirements. 5. Finally, Time to Pull Together the Perfect ResponseOnce you have your notes from working through the four questions above, you need to put them together in a concise answer that flows and responds to the employer’s question. Follow this order as you’re bringing the information together:
Sample AnswersYour answers should not sound rehearsed or memorized, but you need enough preparation for the responses to become second nature. Therefore, I polled multiple friends in senior management and HR positions. As per consensus, here are some sample answers that hiring managers want to hear from candidates. “I am very excited to work for a brand like Tesla. The company is a true representation of what it means to be innovative and cutting edge. I have also read a lot about how Tesla’s regional divisions contribute to their respective communities through the outreach program, and I’m genuinely impressed. I am interested in the Project Manager role you posted as it allows me to lead innovative cross-functional teams across business and technology. I have over ten years of relevant experience at a management & technology consulting firm where I led technology teams to launch multi-million dollar products. I was also the lead for all executive reporting, and I have a clear understanding of what is required to excel in the PM role at Tesla. And finally, I believe that this position will allow me to thrive in challenges that are necessary for me to grow into an Engagement Manager role in the next five years for tech delivery & implementation projects.” ConclusionAs you’re preparing for your next interview, I hope that the tips above help bring you one step closer to that dream job! The key is to be concise and remember that you want these responses to sound conversational. Work out two to three great examples of your achievements and formulate your responses around them. Test out all your answers on friends or family, go in prepared, and remember always to ask follow-up questions. Good luck! FAQsThings to Avoid in Your AnswersAs a bonus, here are some tips on what NOT to include in your answer.
What are Some Similar Job Interview Questions That Are Actually Asking the Same Thing?Interviewers can phrase the question in many ways, but ultimately they are looking for a similar answer. Some variations of the question why you applied to this position are:
This article was originally published on Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/why-are-you-interested-in-this-position/ If you are like most people, then you are probably making several mistakes with your money, and you don’t even know it’s happening. These mistakes very often fly under the radar. They are hidden. But, the results are not. Making the wrong money decisions keep us from building wealth and prevent us from achieving our goals, and the results can be drastic. If you want to earn more money and build life-changing wealth, make sure you’re not making these five stealthy money mistakes. 1. You’re Not Exploiting Your 9 to 5 JobMany people believe that you cannot build wealth working a 9 to 5 job, but I’m proof-positive that assumption is untrue. Your 9 to 5 job offers plenty of opportunities to build wealth for your future, and it all starts with your organization’s benefits. For instance, many companies offer:
A lot of companies offer a “company match” if you invest in their company-sponsored 401(k). This means the company will match your contributions up to a certain percentage of your salary. This is free money and a great way to build consistent wealth over time.
2. You’re Following Your PassionHere is an uncomfortable truth: Our passions don’t tend to pay our bills. Our passions are those things we do without having to worry about earning a full-time income. Fishing. Word-working. Working out. Golfing. Cooking. Our passions bring fulfillment. Our strengths, on the other hand, do pay our bills. Our strengths are very often different from our passions. Strengths are the things we’re naturally good at. For example, if you’re a natural problem-solver, a career in information technology or computer science might be right up your alley. If you like numbers, maybe accounting. Love talking to people? You could make a great salesperson. You might love to work with your hands and build furniture, but you’re far more likely to build serious wealth with your skills and strengths (i.e., computer science) than your passion (building furniture). 3. You’re Only Saving 10% of Your Salary“Save 10% of your income, and you’ll be fine” is the most outdated piece of money advice that exists today. Why? Inflation is killing the value of the dollar. As a result, everything is more expensive today than it was five years ago, and this same economic phenomenon will continue. Don’t just save. Invest. Aim to invest at least 20% of your salary in index or mutual funds. If you can’t invest 20% yet, that’s fine. Work your way up. Write down a tangible goal and work to achieve it. For instance, let’s say you’re investing about 5% of your income today. Make a goal to bump that up by another 5% (for a total of 10%) in two months. Then, in six months, double that. Note that this might include cutting back on unnecessary expenses and building better money habits to free up extra money to invest. But trust me, your future self will thank you. 4. You Don’t Have an Emergency FundYour emergency fund is your lifeline. If you don’t have money set aside for a rainy day, you’re living your life at risk. Your emergency fund is money set aside for an unexpected expense. It is money that we can use in an emergency situation to help live our lives, save our lives, or make our lives just a bit easier. For example, emergency funds are used for:
Emergency funds are critical. Here are a few tips for building your emergency fund. Separate your e-fund from your checking account. Resist the temptation to save your emergency fund directly in your main checking account. Why? Because that money will be far too easy to spend if it’s housed with everything else. Instead, physically separate your emergency fund into a different account. Aim to save 3 to 6 months of living expenses. For example, if you typically spend $4,000 a month to live (including rent, insurance, food…everything), then you would need to save between $12,000 and $24,000 in your emergency fund. Start saving as much as you can. If you have no emergency fund (or just a small fund), it can be tough to think about saving six months of living expenses. Remember that emergency funds are not built in a day. If you can only save $200 a month for a while, then do that. That’s okay. Start with whatever you can, then slowly increase that amount as you make more money (or reduce your expenses). This isn’t a race. Make it automatic. I am a huge fan of financial automation. Automation takes discipline out of the equation by setting up automated routines that will help you build your emergency fund. And, most banks offer online systems that let you easily set up recurring monthly transfers. 5. You’re Not Paying Off Your Credit CardCredit card debt is the worst type of debt, period. Why? Because it’s high-interest debt, and credit card debt destroys your credit score over time. The average credit card interest rate is over 16%, which means you are paying 16% more than the original price of everything you buy because you did not pay off your credit card in full at the end of the month. Think of your credit card as a convenience, not a way to spend money that you don’t have. Credit cards offer many benefits, including cash-back, travel points, and even warranties on some of the things you buy with the card. But, you need to pay off the card each and every month for it to be worth it. Always pay off your credit card. Always. This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks Via https://mylifeiguess.com/hidden-money-mistakes/ Are you looking for an alternative way to make money outside of the 9 to 5? Whether you hate your job and desperately want to quit or just want some extra income, you’ll find something on this list that suits your needs and interests. According to a new report by Gallup Inc., only 30% of the U.S. workforce are engaged by their work, which means that 70% of Americans spend 35 or more hours a week doing something they aren’t passionate about! Working under these circumstances can drain your energy and take a toll on your mental and physical health. But what if we could make a living in a way that offers more flexibility, less time commitment, and more income? This article explores making money without a job (or at least a “traditional” job). There are some great options to consider, from blogging to taking paid surveys to becoming a day trader. A few of the ideas we will cover are investments that can provide you with spendable cash flow. Others will offer you equity growth, which increases your net worth and gives you more job flexibility in the future. Some of these ideas could even provide both. Alternatively, some of the items below are not investments at all but are instead ideas that can produce extra money for you for either little or no work. You can combine a couple of flexible side gigs to invent your perfect mix. Ready to learn how to make money without a job? Let’s do this! I rank each money-making method on a scale of effort, with “10” requiring the most hustle to make moola and “1” being utterly effortless money in the bank. How To Make Money Without a Job1. Invest in Dividend StocksEffort Level Required: 2 I started with this one because it’s one of the easiest ways to make money without a job. But you do have to have money to start with. Dividends are cash or stock payments made by companies to shareholders (usually quarterly). If you have a sum of money at your disposal, investing in dividend stocks is an excellent way to produce a (relatively) stable source of cash flow and spending money. So, how does it work? Let’s say you invested $100K in a company paying an 8% dividend yield. In this case, you would receive $8000/year from the company in the form of dividends (or $666.66/month) without doing anything! That’s actual spendable money in your bank account (pre-tax). If managed correctly, dividend investing can be a great way to grow your wealth and provide passive income. It does take effort to find and pick the stocks, hence the “2” on the scale. Now, you can undoubtedly make money investing in regular stocks as well. But they won’t all offer regular spendable money. Before you invest, learn how to make your money work for you by comparing a few investment philosophies. Not sure how to buy stocks? Why not try an investment app? If you Google “Acorns vs. Robinhood vs. Webull vs. M1 Finance,” you’ll find lots of info on various brokerages. 2. Invest in Real EstateEffort Level Required: 2-6 Depending on Investment Type You may have heard that real estate is a fantastic vehicle to build wealth. Well, you heard right. You just need to uncover a real estate strategy that works best for you. The approach you choose will determine how much effort is required. Own Your ResidenceThe easiest way to get into the real estate game is to own your residence. You have to pay rent anyway, so you may as well turn it into an investment. That’s a “3” on the effort scale. If you’re strapped for cash but want to buy a home, a duplex can be your ticket into the market! You live on one side and rent out the other. Genius! That’s “4” on the scale. You can even use the rental income to help you qualify for the loan. Rental PropertiesAnother way you can use real estate investing to make some income is to own and rent out a property yourself. It’s not entirely passive income (more like a small business effort), but it gives you myriad advantages over a typical 9-5 job. I give this a “6” on the effort scale. If you’re not so keen to manage a property yourself, you can look into investing in turnkey rental properties. Basically, instead of running the property yourself, you control the managers. It’s much more passive than renting out properties yourself but typically provides you with lower returns. This is a “3” on the scale. Real Estate Syndication & CrowdsourcingIf you’re looking for truly passive income, real estate has another avenue you can take advantage of: real estate syndications and crowdfunding. The total rates of return (or IRR) on these partnership and group deals are often lower than that of turnkeys and actual properties. However, they can work out to be higher if you take advantage of the research available on the modern real estate syndication platforms. Look up Fundrise vs. DiversyFund vs. CrowdStreet, and you will find great information. As you can glean from that last statement, there is still research and decision-making involved in real estate syndication, so it gets a “2” on the effort scale. 3. Save on TaxesEffort Level Required: 3-4 By doing your taxes efficiently, you’re saving yourself money without putting in much work. In this way, you’re “making money” without a job! The approach to saving on taxes will differ depending on your situation. Namely, whether you work as a W2 employee or own a business will determine the difference. Paying less tax as a W2 employee will be more challenging, but it’s still possible. If you own a small business, you will have a far greater chance of paying less tax! I know not everyone owns a business, but you can work around that. Find a way to start a side hustle, perhaps with an evening part-time job online, and take advantage of the awesome business tax deductions that way. If your side hustle takes off (congrats!) and you start making extra money, you would be wise to learn how to incorporate yourself. By creating an INC or LLC, you may be able to save even MORE money in taxes! Last but not least, if you are pondering whether you’ll get the best tax results with TurboTax vs. H&R Block vs. an accountant, I’d say it depends on your situation. If you’re very young and have simple finances, you can do taxes on your own using something like TurboTax. But, for most relatively higher-income individuals, you should pay someone else to do it. You will save money by spending money on someone who knows how to save you money! The real difference a good accountant makes is that they can provide tailored advice and tax planning. Hiring an accountant is A MUST if you have numerous assets and investments. Just be aware that you will need to provide your accountant with an accurate set of books. And that leads me to my next idea. 4. Manage Your FinancesEffort Level Required: 4 The most reliable way to save money is to keep track of your earnings and spending. And as the adage says, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Poof! More money without a job! Why? It’s simple math. If you’re spending more than you earn, you aren’t actually making any money! You are just working for debt. And you certainly won’t have any cash to invest and help grow your nest egg. So, enter personal bookkeeping, which allows you to identify the areas of your life where you have the most significant overspending issues. Once you know how much you spend in a given category annually, you can make changes in your habits and amass some data for creating a budget to stick to your financial goals. This information is part of a financial planning process that can get you on the road to financial independence! The first step to managing your finances is to buy the right software! Research potential options such as Personal Capital vs. Mint vs. Quicken. A relatively small investment in the appropriate software can have a substantial positive impact on the health of your finances. If you’re a business owner, you’ll need to compare Freshbooks vs. QuickBooks vs. Quicken to hone in on the bookkeeping software that’s most beneficial for you. 5. Get a Cashback Credit CardEffort Level Required: 1 Another way to take advantage of cashback is through credit cards. I like cashback (instead of other rewards) from my credit cards because it’s completely flexible and easiest to access and use. If I want to use it for travel, I can, or if I want to put it in an investment account, no problem. The following credit cards all have pretty good cashback deals, which could make you some easy money. This information is accurate as of 12/10/2021.
Cashback credit cards are the only category I gave a “1” on the effort scale. 6. Shop Using Cashback AppsEffort Level Required: 2 Do you consistently spend hundreds of dollars a month on clothes, food, and travel? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that apps like Ibotta and Rakuten provide cashback rebates in thousands of different stores, hotels, and even airlines! Your only work is to sign up and shop based on their requirements. You’ll earn money in the form of cashback without having to do so much as getting off your couch. If you buy groceries online, Ibotta is a simple way to make money off your purchases, and they add up quickly! Seriously! I enjoyed a free turkey plus all the fixings this year for Thanksgiving. 7. Lend Out Your CryptocurrencyEffort Level Required: 4 If you own cryptocurrency, you can lend it out via platforms like Gemini and earn up to 8% APY! This idea can be a hipster way to put your money to work (and make some sweet passive income for yourself). But the downside is that, like dividend stocks, you need to start with some money. Fair warning: when you lend out your crypto through a platform like this, you take a certain amount of risk. You’re allowing Gemini to lend it to other folks to use in their margin accounts. Theoretically, that should be fine, as Gemini would margin call your crypto back before disaster strikes. But you never know! Gemini is not the only crypto trading platform out there, but Gemini seems to offer some of the highest rates I have found, particularly on their Gemini coin, which is throwing out 8% currently. Note that rates do vary depending on the currency you’re lending. I made this an effort level “4” because there is a huge learning curve if you don’t know much about cryptocurrency. But once that is over, it gets easier. 8. Become a Day TraderEffort Level Required: 10 Does your 9 to 5 job make you feel trapped? If you HATE the bureaucracy of a 9 to 5 and LOVE being in charge of your schedule, you can become a day trader of stocks, cryptocurrency, and options for both. OK, OK, day trading is not a workless endeavor. But if you are merely looking to escape a 9 to 5 for something more exciting, it’s an option. I also included it because it seems to be a big thing right now. Day trading was also a big thing back in the late ’90s when no one could lose money on internet stocks. People quit their regular jobs to day trade. Cut to 2001, and they were all looking to get their everyday jobs back. And unfortunately, they had far less money than when they quit their jobs. So just to warn you, unlike with a day job, there is the risk of losing all your money when you day trade. It’s certainly not for the skittish, and in all honesty, it will be a lot of work. If this STILL sounds like a good idea, there are many trading platforms to choose from. Most will even guide you through the basics! 9. Become a Hard Money Lender for Real Estate InvestorsEffort Level Required: 3 Yet another way to make money via real estate is to become a hard money lender. Meaning a loan of money you already have. Do you see the pattern here? Money makes more money! (It seriously helps in life to have money.) The idea here is that you’ll lend out money to real estate investors who will use your money to buy the property and likely flip it. They will pay you a set percentage of your capital every month in exchange for you trusting them with your money. There is the chance that your borrower will be unable to pay back the loan with hard money lending. But, if you can stomach this chance, the returns can be pretty lucrative, reaching upwards of 10% per year. You can (hopefully) foreclose on them if they don’t pay and get some or all of your money back by selling the property. I have researched this topic and found The Norris Group a helpful resource. They also act as a broker to get your money lent out. That said, there are a variety of brokers that can help you do this. I gave it a “3” because of the research needed and that you may have to chase down your money if things go wrong. 10. Invest in Alternative AssetsEffort Level Required: 4 When people think about making money outside of their job, they usually think about stocks, real estate, and side hustles. Usually, alternatives are not even on the radar. Alternative assets include real estate notes, business loans, oil wells, art, or anything that earns monthly or quarterly income (paid out via cash flow) or appreciation. Platforms like Yield Street can help you navigate the confusing (but potentially very profitable) world of alternative asset investing. Like crypto, I gave it a “4” due to the learning curve. 11. Become a BloggerEffort Level Required: 11 (wait, are you serious, or is that just a Spinal Tap joke?) No article titled “How to Make Money Without a Job” is complete without the mention of blogging. But I’m just going to burst your bubble now and tell you that blogging takes A LOT of work. I would go as far as to say that it’s genuinely disingenuous when a blogger tells you blogging can be passive income. Anyone who tells you that blogging is passive income is just trying to get you to click on their affiliate marketing links. Seriously though, if you like the idea of blogging and can stick it out for the long term, it can be an extremely profitable endeavor. It is affording you the income of a VERY healthy 9 to 5, without all the stress and bureaucracy of one. If you decide to start blogging, you should join a blogging group early. I joined The Money Mix Insiders, and it improved my blog (and my blogging knowledge) tremendously! 12. Skip Directly to Affiliate MarketingEffort Level Required: 10 If you were wondering how to make money with a blog, one of the primary ways is affiliate marketing (remember, I just made a joke about that above). Affiliate marketing is when you sell another person’s product and receive a commission. If you’re interested in making money online, but the thought of writing endless blog posts doesn’t appeal to you, you can cut right to the chase and instead get started with affiliate marketing. There are thousands of products and services you can promote and endless resources to teach you to be an affiliate marketing master. Like blogging, affiliate marketing takes a lot of work, so it’s more like a job. But you’ll be your own boss, and you have the potential to earn big bucks. Read: The Secret to Creating Gift Guides that Make Money 13. Take Paid SurveysEffort Level Required: 3 Do you spend tons of time on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat and wish you could be more productive instead? Does turning all that wasted time into money sound good to you? Then you should consider paid surveys! They don’t take much work, and if you’re spending time on your phone anyway, why not make some money? I’ll admit you can’t make a ton of money doing online surveys, but it can provide supplemental cash. And it’s entirely on your schedule and pace. If you want to dig deeper into the online survey game, I wrote an article entitled Is Survey Junkie Legit? It will likely answer a lot of questions for you. 14. Life InsuranceEffort Level Required: 4 Not many people know this, but you can use your life insurance as a retirement plan and get tax-free growth while you are working. Part of the reason people don’t know this is because most financial gurus and bloggers always say, “Life insurance isn’t an investment. If you want insurance, just buy insurance. Don’t try to mix the two. It’s a bad idea,” etc. I kind of felt that way too. But then I read this book called The Lost Science of Compound Interest written by Curtis Ray. Admittedly, it’s a comprehensive sales brochure for a retirement planning product that uses life insurance, called an MPI account. But it’s still a good book! It’s pitched as having the ability to compound your wealth at a higher-than-average rate while protecting your principal, eventually providing long-term tax-free retirement income, and then passing the wealth tax-free to your heirs. Sound too good to be true? That’s what I’ve endeavored to find out. I vetted this product extensively and even created one of my epic spreadsheets to test the math. Here is a little peek for you folks that like spreadsheets! Anyway, long story short, I opened an account for my son, wife, and me. So I guess that says it all. I like the MPI account because, at the very least, it tries to solve the undeniable problems with conventional retirement planning (of which there are some big ones). And it likely can (eventually) dish out higher than average tax-free retirement income. It’s a “4” because you need to do the research and decide for yourself. 15. Ask for a Raise at WorkEffort Level Required: 2-3 Have you contributed quality work to your company and are not getting the raise you deserve? Well, it could be because you didn’t ask! Though technically you are still working, asking for a raise might yield more money for you at the cost of just speaking up. In this way, asking for a raise at work isn’t so much “making money without a job” but instead “making more money without much effort.” You absolutely do have to be your own advocate in life, and that statement directly applies to getting paid what you deserve at work. I owned a company with over 35 employees, and it always amazed me how uncomfortable people were with asking for raises. It was good for me in that I wasn’t dishing out raises every year for each person. But make no mistake, there were always a few people asking for raises EVERY year. So if you haven’t had a raise in over a year, ask. Better yet, take some time to figure out how to perform better, take on more responsibility at your job, and then bring that golden info with you when you ask. Employers don’t just like to give out raises because you have been there for yet another year. Instead, they want to give raises as a “thank you” for good performance, and more importantly, as an incentive for you to keep it up and hopefully take on more. The last thing they want is to pay you more, give you an extra week of vacation, then have your performance flatline or go down. So instead, try to be entrepreneurial about your job, look for ways to improve, perform at a high level, then ask for commensurate compensation. You have to make them so scared to lose you because of the insanely great job you do that they will pay you what you want so you don’t leave and go work for the competition. Read: How to Ask for a Promotion at Work: Follow These 8 Simple Steps 16. Play the LotteryEffort Level Required: 2 Though the chances of you winning the lottery are slim, you are technically giving yourself a chance by playing it. It might become your favorite way to make money without a job if you win it! What is life without a little bit of fun? I gave it a “2” because you have to drive back to the store to collect your winnings! Recap: How To Make Money Without a JobSo there you have it: 16 unique ways to make money without a job! Most of the methods covered in this post involve some work and aren’t entirely passive, but they all provide you with an alternative to working a typical 9-5 to make money. As a quick recap, they are:
So what are you waiting for? If you’re sick and tired of your day job, pick something off this post and start making money without a job. Get good at it, and who knows, maybe you’ll replace your J O B altogether! This post originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks and has been republished with permission. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/how-to-make-money-without-a-job/ Remote work is all the rage these days and for a good reason. Covid has and continues to disrupt the traditional office environment. And, as cellular and satellite-based Internet options continue to expand to deliver blazing-fast Internet to even the most rural parts of the world, it’s never been easier to work from home or the occasional vacation destination. There’s just one main problem: High competition for high-paying remote jobs. And, remote work may not be the best fit for everyone. So, before we look at exactly what you need to do to secure a work-from-home position, let’s quickly weigh the pros and cons. Pros of Remote WorkNo more commuting!This might be the biggest perk of flexible work options like working from home. No commute means less time in your car and more time getting your work done, which also means more time with your family or working on your side hustle. More family time.Not only does the lack of a commute provide more family time, but so does physically working around them during the day. Note that this can also be a distraction for some people, so keep this in mind as you consider remote work options. No office distractions.No more watercooler talk and overhearing your coworker complain about their job in the next cube. Change of environment.Studies show that we get more creative when we change up our work environment. For example, remote work gives us the option of working from home, a coffee shop, a friend’s house, or anywhere else during the day. So it’s okay to switch things up! Cons of Remote WorkIt’s not all roses with remote work, and it might not be right for everyone. Your work is always at home.When we leave a traditional office, we tend to leave our work there, too. However, working from home means our work is always right here at home, and some of us might end up overworking as a result. In addition, there’s less separation between work and play when working from home, which can quickly become a problem for many people. No more in-person meetings.Most of us hate meetings, but there’s no denying that in-person meetings can be more productive than video-based meetings held on Zoom. We can observe facial expressions and ask questions easier than over video when in-person. Fewer social interactions.If you are the type of person who likes to be around people and feeds off the energy of others, then remote work may not be the right choice for you. Working remotely may also make it tougher to plan after-work social activities with coworkers. Distractions.Depending on the home, working so close to your family, your television, and looming chores might distract you from getting your work done during the day. What to Do If You Want to Work RemotelyIf remote work is right for you, the first thing you should do is make sure your home is properly equipped to serve as your home office. What Do I Mean by “Equipped”?The best home offices are separate from the hustle and bustle of the house. Unfortunately, this means your dining room table probably won’t work as a long-term solution. So instead, pick a room in the house and dedicate it to office work if it has a closing (and locking) door, even better. Second, make sure your Internet connection is fast and reliable. For instance, video-based meetings require quite a bit of bandwidth. If you don’t have a reliable or fast enough internet connection, then remote work may be challenging for you. Next, ensure your home office equipment is comfortable and easy to use. Remember that you’ll likely be at your desk for at least eight hours a day, so your home office arrangement needs to be set up to encourage productivity throughout the day. This includes a comfortable chair and desk, shelving for storage, natural lighting, and an area that is free of distractions and noises from the rest of the house. Lastly, you will need to find a remote job. But, this may not necessarily mean scouring job boards for a new position. Many organizations are now offering more flexible working options for their staff. If you think your job can be done from home, consider talking to your boss about what that might look like for you. Note that working from home part-time (i.e., a couple of days a week) might be a good way to ease your boss into letting you work outside the office. Some organizations haven’t yet fully embraced flexible working options, but many are open to the idea. Where Can You Find Remote Positions?If you do need to look for another position, here are some of the most popular job boards that cater to remote work positions.
There are also sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer if you’re looking to supplement your income and build wealth with project-based remote working options as a contractor. Are You Seriously Thinking About It?Think remote work might be right for you? First, weigh the pros and cons. Then, if you’re on board, spend some time setting up a productive and comfortable home office that is free of distractions and conducive to working at least eight hours a day. Lastly, talk to your boss about working remotely or use a job board to find a remote position that’s right for you. More Career Articles You’ll Love:This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks. Via https://mylifeiguess.com/want-to-work-remotely/ |
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April 2023
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