Things to consider when moving into a new office space

Whether you’re an existing business owner looking for a new location for your business, or you’re just starting up in the world of business; there are many factors you should think about before you choose a new office space. The first factor which springs to mind is how much the building will cost. Whether you purchase the office outright or rent on a monthly basis, some offices can be a lot more expensive than others, for a whole number of reasons.

If it’s the first time you’ve had to look for an office space and your company is relatively small, then it’s usually a fairly straightforward process in terms of the factors you need to consider. For existing business owners, not only do you have to take your business into consideration, but also the staff who’ve worked for you in previous locations and relocating to new premises will affect them.

If you’re looking to relocate your business and want to know how to look after both your company and staff, here are some areas you may want to take into consideration.

What’s the appearance of the building like?

It’s important than when you go to view a new office space, you pay close attention to its appearance and overall quality. Most businesses prefer to be based in newer buildings, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better. It’s more likely that older buildings will potentially need a touch of maintenance work being carried out so make sure you ask about this during your viewing appointment. Whether your building is old or new, if it has been left empty for a while then it’s worth hiring in professionals such as Real Cleaning, who can provide an industrial clean for the office, prior to your company moving in.

How accessible is the premises for employees?

The chances are, if you’re looking for an office space then you’re more than likely to have a number of employees working for you. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure you take them into consideration when choosing a new location. It’s a given that most people have to travel a fair distance to get to work but you don’t want to make the journey excessively longer than usual, as this could start turning people away from your company. Also looking into local transport links and facilities within the surrounding area always a plus when you’re looking to recruit new people; as well as free onsite parking.

Is the building well equipped for clients?

The line of work your company is in may mean you don’t often invite clients to your office, but this isn’t often the case. If your office is often visited by clients for meetings and events, you want to make sure you have meeting rooms which are equipped to deal with these occasions. Making sure there are meeting rooms of a good size, which can also house phones, screens and furniture is a must, to ensure your office is fully equipped for any type of meeting.

Here are just a few factors you should take into consideration if you’re planning on moving into a new office space. It’s important you carefully consider all your options before selecting new premises, by following the points mentioned and a host of others.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/things-to-consider-when-moving-into-a-new-office-space/

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Ultimate Tips for Reducing Debt Concerns

Debt adversely affects mental and physical wellbeing and can dominate our thinking during the day. Although debt is a serious concern, I have taken a light-hearted approach in looking at ways to save/make money and reduce the load:

SELL YOUR GRANNY

Not really! In times of need cast your sentimentality to one side and search those cupboards, garages, attics and any nook and cranny to find stuff which is saleable. There are many ways to take piggy to market including car boot sales, E-Bay, Facebook and garage sales.

Gumtree estimates that on average each UK household has circa £2500 of items which are no longer needed! You could also offer to sell friend’s and family’s unwanted things (excluding Granny of course) for an agreed commission. So de-clutter, make money, reduce debt and create space!

PENNIES MAKE POUNDS

You wake in the morning and your first thought is money or the lack of it. Followed by a sinking feeling, your motivation levels are low and you believe there is no way out of this money mess. Don’t despair, dig deep and treat each day as a battle to be won against the war on debt! One way people gain a sense of achievement is to list every single penny they have saved or made on a daily basis. Walking or cycling instead of taking the car, ditching the newspapers for online content, saving money on meals by creatively using leftovers and shopping when supermarkets action their reduced to clear offers are some ways to make savings. By recording your savings on a daily basis you will increase your focus and sense of achievement. Just do the maths; if you save 50 pennies a day then you will have made £182.50 pounds per year.

PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES IN YOUR OLD KIT BAG

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag was a popular WW1 marching song, listened to by Snoopy when dreaming of being a WW1 flying ace and featured in various American musicals and movies.  

Putting your various debts into one consolidated loan may well be worth looking at if the overall single payment is less than what is currently being paid. This approach may well be appropriate to some of the people who recently participated in a UK debt survey which showed that just under half of all respondents do not know what their debt to income ratio is and also that they have no financial plans for 2019/20. There are many credible companies offering consolidated loan plans so shop around for the best terms.

BE A FREEGAN – UNUSUAL BUT EFFECTIVE

A freegan is someone who retrieves food, often from supermarkets, which has been discarded as waste but which is still edible. From sandwiches, bananas and meat to non-food products supermarkets chuck away thousands of pounds worth of edible food every day. Why? Due to their super vigilant and exacting standards items which are considered less than perfect, such as slightly bruised or wonky looking fruit, or beyond the sell-by date but not the best before date, will be discarded in order to maintain the company’s image.

Freeganism is becoming increasingly popular as debt to income ratios rise. A note of caution though, freeganism is legally a grey area, however no one in the UK has been convicted of this practice. Also and if you have access to a garden or an allotment, why not grow your own fruit and veg. This was common practice in the UK up until the 1950s and is experiencing something of a renaissance since the start of the financial crisis in 2008.   

RESIST THE DEVIL

No one enjoys being in debt, living for the next pay-check and feeling like they are walking through mud each day. Debt research reveals 33% of UK respondents enter into debt without knowing how they will pay it back suggesting they give into temptation without thinking through the consequences. The trick here is to build a strong-mindedness and resist temptation and tell the Devil to go to hell!

Short to medium term pain for long term gain and freedom from debt is a price well worth paying. Good luck!

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/ultimate-tips-for-reducing-debt-concerns/

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Cutting Out Debt Effectively

5 Tips to Cut Debt Quickly 

Life with debt is a painful reality for a lot of us. The financial strain of owing someone money is bad enough, but add to that the emotional distress, and it’s no wonder people are eager to get debt free as fast as possible.  

Whilst there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to getting back in the black, there are simple steps you can take to drastically improve your situation. That said, here are some tips to help you see a marked reduction in your debts, and take back control. 

Budget and cut 

Understanding where your money is going should be step one. Drawing up a detailed budget is the easiest way to spot needless drains on your income. Identifying these, and making the necessary cutbacks will free up extra cash to pay off your creditors. 

Don’t add to it 

Once you’ve got a budget drawn up, you should know how much surplus cash you have to work with. Wherever possible, leave the credit card at home, and stick to spending within your means. This should allow you to meet all your minimum monthly repayments, thus avoiding a further hike in debts. 

Prioritise 

When you owe money to several creditors at once, it can be tempting to try and eke out whatever dribs and drabs of cash you have evenly. The truth is, some debts are more pressing than others. List them in order of importance, taking into account factors like interest rates, late fees, final warnings, and so on. Making your way through this list, really knuckling down on them one-at-a-time, can result in more effective reductions overall. 

Take out a Trust Deed  

If you want something that feels a little more formal and secure, seeking help from somewhere like Trust Deed Scotland could be the perfect solution. A Trust Deed is essentially an agreement between you and your creditors to pay back what you can realistically afford each month. If you stick to the terms, any outstanding unsecured debt will be written off at the end of the contract. The structure this approach offers can be a huge help for those feeling overwhelmed. 

Downsize 

This could be taken in a literal sense: moving to cheaper accommodation, flat sharing, or returning to the family home whilst you get back on your feet. Alternatively, it could mean a clear-out of unwanted stuff. Just think how much value lies in all the un-worn clothes clogging up your wardrobe, not to mention the discarded gadgets or unloved furniture. They say a tidy house equals a tidy mind, and if selling old belongings also brings in some fast cash, all the better! 

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/cutting-out-debt-effectively/

The Seven Best Ways to Shop Smart

Got a big holiday coming up? Debts to clear? Maybe you’re just looking to be a little more frugal? Whatever the reason behind the penny pinching, here are some simple ways to help you shop smart and save money. 

Use cash or debit cards 

Credit cards are ideal to fall back on in an emergency, or in the face of a temporary cash flow problem. That said, you shouldn’t let their convenience lure you into using them for day-to-day expenses. Using cash or debit cards instead is a simple way to set yourself an automatic spending limit, avoiding the trap of unwanted debt and nasty interest fees. 

Have a cool off period 

We’ve all regretted an impulse buy, but if something catches your eye in a shop window, it’s unlikely to sell out within a couple of days. Take that time to mull it over, and if you still want it, you can go back and get it. This way you ensure you’re only spending money on the things you really want or need. 

Use discount retailers 

Designer labels don’t come cheap, and even some high street shops can be pricey these days. There is a way to get big name goods without the big price tag, however, and the secret lies with discount catalogue stores. Studio is one of the best-known examples, and this Studio 24 catalogue review breaks down some of the labels you can expect to find for less, as well as their Buy Now, Pay Later scheme, which helps to spread the cost. 

Be wary of special offers 

BOGOF! Half price! When it’s gone it’s gone! This kind of sales schtick is hardly new, and yet we’re all guilty of buying into it. Just remember, it’s only a bargain if it’s something you wanted in the first place. 

Take the time to browse 

Looking something up online is a great way to compare prices from different retailers, but also to check out reviews. After all, if you’re forking out cold, hard cash, you want to be sure it’s a quality investment. 

Lists, lists, lists! 

Organisation is your friend when it comes to smart shopping. So, take stock of what’s already in your cupboards, draw up a weekly meal plan, and write out exactly what you need. Arming yourself with this knowledge every time you hit the shops is a sure-fire way to avoid needless spending. 

Embrace the second-hand market 

Pre-loved doesn’t have to mean poor quality. There are some fantastic deals to be found for all sorts of goods on the second-hand market. You could even sell some of your own stuff to fund your next shopping spree – everyone’s a winner!  

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/the-seven-best-ways-to-shop-smart/

Five smart ways to handle a sudden windfall

Life can be an exciting and unpredictable thing. One minute, you are going about your normal daily routine and the next minute, everything can have changed forever. Very often, this can be a positive thing as the life-changing event that comes along can improve your circumstances. One great example of this is getting a sudden financial windfall.

Suddenly getting a large amount of money can happen in a number of ways. Maybe your lottery numbers finally came up and you scooped millions in a jackpot win, or maybe your rich old uncle left you a significant windfall in his will when he passed on. Whatever the exact situation, you can sometimes find a lot of money coming your way out of the blue.

Make sure to handle your new-found wealth properly

Many people assume that coming into money in this way will answer all their problems and make life perfect. While this is entirely possible, it will only happen if you are prepared to deal with all that the windfall brings. Having lots of money can actually feel a little scary as well as exciting! The key is to think ahead to how you will manage it. This is essential so that you do not waste it or get ripped off while also allowing you to enjoy it to the full.

How can you manage your finances to make the most of any windfall?

• Use an asset management firm – top of the agenda for most normal people will be talking to a professional asset management firm. This will ensure that you get expert advice on how to invest your money and make it work for you to earn more into the future. Most normal people will not have the knowledge or investment skills to do this alone and make the right calls.

Al Masah Capital is one of the best around globally and has been helping its clients manage their wealth and assets since 2010. Since then, it has built up a strong reputation for delivering honest advice, performance and value to its customers. With a range of low to high-risk portfolios to consider and various assets classes such as funds and bonds, Al Masah Capital is a wise move for any investor.

• Do nothing! – as well as finding professional help in terms of investing your windfall, there are a few other tips to help make it a little easier. The first thing is to do nothing at all! This may sound strange advice, but it will help you to avoid rushing into bad decisions. Take a little time to think about what you will do with the windfall and how you will divide it up to be used. Giving yourself this thinking time will make it less stressful and ensure that you use it rationally.

• Pay off debts and taxes first – once you are ready to start using your new stash of cash, paying off debt should be high on your list of priorities. Living debt-free is the ideal that we should all be striving for, and a windfall can make this a reality. As well as paying off debts such as loans or credit card bills, make sure to set some aside to pay any taxes associated with your windfall. This could be something like inheritance tax if it is money left to you in a will.

• Set some aside in an emergency fund – while investing some of your money is wise so that you earn more moving forward, do not invest it all. It is sensible to set some aside in a bank savings account for emergencies and those times when you need quick access to cash. If you have it all tied up in long-term investments, then you are in a bad situation if you need liquid cash fast.

• Put money into a pension scheme – one very good way to use your new-found wealth is planning for your retirement. For most people, this will involve opening up a pension plan to put money into if you do not have one or paying extra into a current one if allowed. This will help you enjoy your life when you retire and have plenty to live on.

Make sure to treat yourself

As well as all of the above, it is also vital to treat yourself and your family a bit! While you do not want to go crazy, a nice holiday or new car will make sure that you actually have fun with your new windfall. Just do not get carried away and spend it all. If you have recently come into money and need help, then the above are great tips on how to handle it for the best.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/five-smart-ways-to-handle-a-sudden-windfall/

How to increase your freelance writing earnings

Being a freelance writer looks great on paper, but it can be tough to make it pay. The perks are numerous – you’re doing something you love, working from home and in your own time. But progressing beyond low-paid piecework can be difficult. How do you make the transition from undervalued content provider to in-demand writer, able to pick and choose clients, or be sought after for publication in your own right?

Start a blog

Blogging serves multiple purposes. First of all, it’s a public showcase for your work. By posting articles on a variety of subjects, or different kinds of stories and poems (whatever it is that you create), you’re putting together a varied portfolio that potential clients all over the world can view for free. It’s also something that you can link to whenever anyone asks to see your work. Anyone who remembers the pre-internet days of sending writing samples to editors in the post, accompanied by an SAE, will know that’s not something to take for granted.

If you’re trying to establish yourself as an expert or specialist in a particular field, a blog is the best way to go about it. If you’re good, you’ll gain followers and credibility and get your name known. A blog is also a great way to stay in practice and to always have an outlet, even when you’re not getting commissions. And perhaps most importantly, a blog can be directly monetised thorough advertising, sponsorship or affiliate marketing.

Take care of business

Many writers don’t look after the business side of their affairs as well as they could and may end up paying more tax than they should, or not claiming legitimate expenses. Umbrella companies are tax compliant and offer help with collecting expenses and processing payments. A company such as Crystal Choice offers unbiased advice and recommendations on the best solution for your particular situation. Writers who do contract work should definitely consider looking into this as an alternative to setting up as a limited company.

Find your niche

You need to find that ‘thing’ that you can write about better than anyone else. It should be something that you’re knowledgeable and enthusiastic about and that you have good reason to suspect other people are interested in. The trick is to find the balance between a market that has legs and one that is over-subscribed. For instance, you know that people like romance movies. You also like romance movies. However, if there are already hundreds of people blogging about romance movies then you may need to specialise elsewhere.

Do something different

While you do need to study the market and find your niche, you’ll only be noticed if you can bring something fresh and original to the table. Remember that great writers write from the heart. If you’re just doing it for the money, it will show in your work. It’s all about striking the right balance, so keep one eye on the bottom line and the other on the stars.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/how-to-increase-your-freelance-writing-earnings/

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Why Your Small Business Could Benefit from Team Building

Even if you have a small business team, team building is still incredibly important. Your workforce needs to work well and be successful if you want to change your small business into something more. Within a small unit, it is even more important for all of your staff to know each other and work well as a team, as they will be in close quarters to one another and will see each other daily. If you own a small business, here is why your business could benefit from team building.

Improves Motivation

Although salary is important for many employees, this is not the only thing that they look for in a business. With small businesses being opened every day, you need to stand out to retain your employees. Employees also look for businesses who care and actively engage them to be part of a helpful and friendly team. Team building increases motivation, helping employees feel more enthusiastic about their role. This in turn ensures employees enjoy coming to work and will allow for increased productivity.

Improves Communication Skills

Both employees and employers need to be able to appropriately and efficiently communicate with one another for a small business to run smoothly. Team building often incorporates activities that will improve communication within teams and may help for different members to find their strengths and weaknesses around communication. Verbalising any issues in the workplace also allows for changes to be made. This could be done via weekly or monthly meetings and gives a chance for staff members to discuss concerns rather than quietly struggle.

Make Your Workplace Fun

Work doesn’t need to be boring and employees who are satisfied in their role will work better and want to stay. If you have some amazing employees that you do not want to lose, bringing a little bit of fun to the office will improve productivity. You can find team building activities  on offer from the likes of Team Tactics for both small and large businesses. If you want to incorporate some fun into your team building, Team Tactics run a treasure hunt in London. This activity can improve communication within your team and allow employees to work with other members of your workforce, who they may not usually have contact with. This can bring your small business team together and allow for a happier and more fun environment at work. If this sounds like something your team would enjoy, check out the following option: https://www.teamtactics.co.uk/team-building/treasure-hunts/.

Recognises Good Work

If your small business has some good employees who you want to reward for their hard work in getting to where you are today, team building exercises can be a great reward. This could be a staff night out or an activity of their choice. If your employees’ hard work is recognised, they will feel more like part of the team and will want to continue their solid work as they are seeing the benefit of this. Many employees are more likely to stay if good work is recognised, as they feel more appreciated. With a small business, you can easily notice how your employees’ work makes a difference and this is something that should be actively encouraged. Even if you do not have a large budget, little rewards can make a huge difference to staff morale.

Teamwork in a small business can bring big progress for a company. This also brings with it a nicer environment to work in. Rewarding your staff with days out and team building exercises will increase their motivation and communication skills and help you retain your staff. The happier your staff, the better the results for your business.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/why-your-small-business-could-benefit-from-team-building%ef%bb%bf/

How a Business Can Manage Technology Effectively from Beginning to End

Dealing with technology from acquisition through its use to eventual disposal is something that almost every business must go through. How to go about it effectively as a SME is a worthwhile question.

In this article, we provide some answers to help your business.  

Buying Technology from Reputable Suppliers

It’s important that businesses acquire technology equipment from reputable suppliers. While getting a bargain is always nice, it’s sensible to stick to reliable brands/suppliers that have a vested interest in doing right by their business customers.

It’s not necessary to buy every piece of technology new. Certainly, there’s some cost savings when selectively purchasing refurbished equipment. However, extra care must be taken if going this route.

In terms of a laser printer, for example, the risk is more about whether it’s going to offer value for money with its remaining lifespan vs the discounted price. However, with a refurbished laptop or desktop PC, there’s a greater risk of buying a compromised Windows operating system or malware lurking ready to steal away company account details. A full security inspection of a refurbished PC must take place, preferably along with a reformatting of the hard drive and installing a new Windows operating system too.

Getting the Most Out of Technology

Like any piece of machinery, technology might occasionally become faulty or wear out. Office equipment has a different average operational life depending on wear and tear. For instance, a server that’s rarely turned off will often have a shorter life than a desktop PC that’s only used a few hours on weekdays and powered down on weekends.

Maintenance is important with computing equipment. For printers, they require cleaning internally and the occasional replacement part. With PCs, the first thing to go wrong is usually the hard drive and with a laptop, the battery and power brick are significant vulnerabilities.

Covering for Equipment Redundancy

When relying on warranties where the PC may or may not be fixable with on-site coverage, it’s a good idea to have a few backup parts or replacement PCs available.

By sticking to the same brands and models, parts like a new power brick, power cable or laptop battery often can be replaced with almost zero downtime.

Safe, Legal Disposal of IT Equipment

E-waste in the UK is significant at over 44 million metric tons in 2017 alone. Businesses are legally responsible for protecting customer data by wiping the storage of computers, flash drives and external hard drives/SSDs before disposal.

The message is slowly being better understand across the business community yet over 40 percent of businesses still erase data before disposing of equipment often leading to significant data breaches. This risks substantial fines for failing to protect customer data.

EOL IT Services provides essential IT asset disposal services to businesses. Secure wiping of data storage using one of several methodologies ensures their clients meet legal requirements and protect company data. After all, it’s not just customer data that’s at risk; confidential company information might be on an IT technology asset too.

From the initial purchase through to eventual disposal, as long as businesses act sensibly towards both security and data records, technology will be far less of a headache.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/how-a-business-can-manage-technology-effectively-from-beginning-to-end/

Are Company Cars a Worthwhile Investment for Your Business?

Giving your employees the use of a company car can seem like a great idea, particularly if their jobs involve travelling to several different locations on any given day. But, as always, offering a company car can be a lot more complicated than it may at first seem. As an employer, you’ll need to think about policies and procedures, legal restrictions, taxes, and your company’s reputation and profitability. If you’re thinking about offering company cars to your employees, here are some factors to keep in mind.

#1. Is It Worth It?

First of all, make sure that offering a company car scheme is worth it for your business. If you’re offering a car scheme that allows employees to also use their cars for personal use provided that this is funded by themselves, it may well be beneficial in terms of employee retention, satisfaction, productivity, and loyalty. But, will it help your company save or make more money? If your employees regularly travel for work and your company is regularly reimbursing their expenses, consider whether a company car scheme will make this easier, and whether any additional cost will be worth the investment – for example, company cars are usually more reliable than public transport and tend to look more professional when visiting clients, for instance.

#2. Consider Insurance Costs:

There are several different routes that you can take when it comes to finding the right insurance policy for your company cars. If you’re providing cars to your employees through your company that they are also able to use personally, then it may be worth instructing them to source their own, suitable business insurance that you can cover the difference for. If you’re arranging a fleet of company cars for several employees of your business, then it’s worth looking into fleet insurance. If you want to find the best fleet insurance quotes, take a look at the quotezone.co.uk website. Quotezone is a UK-based business fleet insurance comparison site that will connect you with suitable insurers for the best quotes. All you’ll need to do is enter the details of your company and fleet into their simple form, and they’ll do all the hard work for you. They will pass your details onto suitable fleet insurance policy providers, who’ll be in touch with a motor fleet insurance quote.

#3. Keeping Records:

Since company cars are a taxable business expense, it’s crucial that you are prepared to keep strict records of all company car use, and that your drivers will agree to do the same. This is especially important in the case of company cars that are used for both business and personal purposes and your company reimburses drivers for any business use. No matter who drives the car, if the lease or ownership is in the company’s name, then the lease payment or other expenses incurred will be deductible as business expenses. Ensuring that all company car drivers keep accurate records is important, as this will ensure that you are able to correctly reimburse driving expenses, prove business use for tax purposes, and deduct any depreciation expenses.

#4. Choosing the Right Car:

So, if you’ve decided that offering company cars to employees is the right step for your company, the next factor to consider is the type of cars that you are going to offer. There are several factors to take into consideration when choosing company cars for your fleet. First of all, you’ll need to consider what the car is being used for on a daily basis. For example, if they are for business purposes only and will only need to carry one or two passengers at a time, reliable hatchbacks are usually the way forward. But if the vehicles are going to be used for carrying more passengers, goods or equipment, you will likely require a larger car or even a van. Take the time to sit down with your drivers and consider everybody’s needs and requirements before making a decision. Don’t forget that fuel economy, reliability, age, and technical specifications should also be considered when choosing a type of company car.

#5. Measuring and Tracking Performance:

Last but not least, although every business that offers company cars would like to think that their drivers are committed to upholding their good reputation on the road, this is sadly not always the case. Consider using dashcam devices and telematics for each company car, to get a better idea of the individual habits of each driver and make it easier for you to work on improving driver performance before it becomes a serious issue. In addition, telematics devices can also make it easier for you to track your fleet without the need to directly contact the driver and distract their attention from the road. And, both telematics and dashcam data can be extremely useful to your insurance company in the event of an accident, regardless of the party at fault.

Is a fleet of company cars the best decision for your business? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/are-company-cars-a-worthwhile-investment-for-your-business/

How to Make Your Time at University More Productive

Being more productive with your time while at university isn’t every students’ strong suit. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with so many classes to cover and coursework projects to complete.

Accordingly, here are some suggestions for you to manage a little better.

Fix Your Procrastination

Procrastination is a killer of goals and dreams. Left unmanaged, procrastinators see their university grades decline and college work submitted at the last minute. The sheer number of distractions has been growing for students in recent years as smartphones and internet use become ubiquitous. For male students, gaming on their console, smartphone or PC eats up untold extra hours too.

Work to allocate your time more precisely to make better use of it. Have dedicated times for classes, homework, and projects, play time and chores. Use Google Calendar to set reminders about classes and study times. It’s equally important to set stop times as it is start times. It prevents open-ended sessions without a sense of urgency that simply fills the available time.

Take Regular Breaks

Without taking regular breaks, concentrating for long periods becomes increasingly difficult. While deadlines for the submission of a college paper help to push you along (as do cans of Red Bull or coffee infusions), eventually you’ll run out of steam.

It’s necessary to take periodic breaks. You can use the Pomodoro system where you work for a period of 25 minutes and then break for a few minutes or devise something else. Some students prefer longer 90-minute sprints of focused intensity when getting into complex subject matter, where it takes time to get their head back into the topic after a break.

Find a system that works for you. That might mean trying a few out. Using study periods and breaks strategically, it helps to eliminate procrastination too. You’ll then be busy enough that you don’t have a chance to procrastinate.

Include Fun Things to Do Outside of Studies

It’s always good to have something to look forward to. It doesn’t have to be an expensive trip either. Perhaps it’s an hour of gaming or watching Netflix or hanging out with your buddies after your classes and coursework are complete for the day. It could be getting into the latest Michael Connolly thriller on your Kindle e-reader. Whatever it is, having something to look forward to later once your studies are finished makes for an excellent driving force.

Stay Healthy Through Good Nutrition and Effective Hydration

It’s easy to be so busy at university that you forget to eat sensibly and stay hydrated. When you don’t give your body the fuel that it requires, it impairs your functioning. This can be mental, with an inability to learn new information quickly and recall it when needed. It can also be physical with a lack of endurance to get through long lectures, get coursework completed, and still get enough rest.

Eat balanced meals. Plan for snacks if you need one between study breaks to keep you going. Also, look for drink dispensing machines on campus for healthy water beverages. If your university doesn’t yet have one, put in the suggestion and lobby for it.

Be Smart About Waste

This blog post from Bevi discusses the issue of campus sustainability, which might be of interest if you regularly drink soda in plastic cups. Bevi provides healthy drink choices that skip the high-sugar, less healthy hydration options. Follow the example of all the zero waste university campuses that play a key role in avoiding creating more junk to put into landfills. Adopt a zero waste policy in your student life. Don’t purchase what you do not need. Use a refillable water bottle rather than paper cups and canned drinks.

Also, consider the waste from product packaging when buying new items at college. Where will it go? Can it be packed down and put into a recycling bin on campus? If there isn’t a recycling option, go online to check local resources to dispose of the packaging in an environmentally friendly manner.

Freecycle, swap or donate useful goods that you’ve out-lived. Don’t just throw them out. Someone will find those items useful even if just for spare parts. That includes an old laptop that no longer starts up and has been since replaced.

Don’t Overschedule Yourself

While it’s certainly good to take on extra projects while at university to pad out your resume, you don’t want to overdo it. The same goes for trying to work all your spare hours too. It’s important to find a balance otherwise you’ll be burning the candle at both ends with your grades and body suffering as a result. If you think that you’re overdoing it now, find places to reduce your commitments.

Using the above tips, you’ll be a better student. Hopefully, you can graduate with better grades giving you increasing employability when going into the full-time job market. Many of these ideas work equally well in the world of work too, so they’re quite transferrable.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/how-to-make-your-time-at-university-more-productive/

Making Quick Money: 5 Methods for Students to Raise Some Cash Fast

Being a student is harder than people often realise, especially when you do not come from a particularly affluent family or if you want to make your own ends meet, without seeking help from your parents. You have to keep the grades up in order to ensure a better future for yourself while earning some cash on the side to take care of your own needs. Hoping to make matters a little easier, here are five proven methods to raise money for students that are not just effective, but relatively quick too.

Write Content Online

There is a constant and unending need for fresh online content and there aren’t enough writers doing it full-time to saturate the market yet. This creates the perfect opportunities for students to make some extra cash every week through writing content. In order to land good writing gigs, you will need to be at least a decent writer though and it is preferable if you stick to specific subjects such as the ones you are studying or have studied before. Just in case you are proficient in a few other languages such as Spanish, German and French in addition to English, you can expect to earn a pretty decent amount from online writing and translation jobs.

Drive with Uber

Uber drivers make quite a bit of money and students in the UK often sign up as part-time Uber drivers to make their extra cash. In order to sign up with Uber, be sure that you meet the following criterions.

• You need to be 21-years or older
• You will require a valid UK driving license
• You will need to have a permit to work in the United Kingdom

To find out more about how you can sign up with Uber in the UK as a student, check out this article.

Scrap Your Car

If the car you own has seen better days and you are likely going to need a better car soon anyway, it is time to scrap that car for cash. The Scrap Car Network makes scrapping your car super easy because you can get instant quotes for your vehicle right from their website. Head over to their site, enter the number plate and your postcode to get an instant cash quote on how much you are likely to get by scrapping that old car. They provide their services all across the United Kingdom, so once you enter the details and agree to what they are offering, they will even pick up the car from its parking spot, free of charge. When you are in need of quick and urgent cash, this could very well be the fastest way to get it.

Put that Camera to Use

If you are more than just a selfie enthusiast and take your photography seriously enough, there is seldom a shortage for photography jobs these days, as long as the student has at least a basic idea of what he/she is doing. Of course, this doesn’t apply to just everyone because you will need a basic understanding of camerawork, but you would be surprised how fast naturals pick up on the necessary basics by joining a short course. Even if you do not have the professional knowledge or experience to land a gig, stock photo sites are always on the lookout for quality photographs and pay a decent amount of money to amateur photographers for relevant clicks.

Tutor Others

If you are good at your studies, tutoring others can be an excellent way to earn money and a lot of people do it full-time as well. In fact, you don’t necessarily have to be good in class because all you need is a skill that others want to learn, and you are set. This could be anything from popular musical instruments like the guitar and the piano, to singing classes and teaching English to non-native students. On the flip side, if you know any other popular languages aside from English, you will probably find an even wider range of students. Spanish, French, Mandarin, and German are particularly in high demand at the moment.

These five methods should be enough to take care of most quick cash need that you may have, but just in case these are not enough, do not be shy to ask for help from your parents or guardians if you really need it. You can always pay them back later and since you are still in school/college, it isn’t anything to worry too much over either, as long as you do pay them back when you are able to. However, if the money required is a significant enough amount, it might be worth reconsidering whether or not the cause justifies the investment.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/making-quick-money-5-methods-for-students-to-raise-some-cash-fast/

Top ways to avoid financial scams in the digital age

Everyone wants to look after their money and keep it safe. Even if you do not put lots of effort into financial planning, that is a given. Protecting your cash means it is there for you to enjoy and treat yourself with, rather than some scammer who has stolen it from you. Making sure you keep your savings safe is essential so that you do not lose a large sum to criminals that you may have been saving for retirement or to fund a child’s education.

The digital age has given us many great things, but a downside is the number of financial scams that are possible through the internet. As so many of us head online each day, it means avoiding these monetary scams is essential. Whether you are a regular social media user, buy goods online or use the internet for services like banking, then you need to always be on your guard.

Ways to stay safe from financial scams online

What many people wonder is just why there are so many con artists online that are trying to steal your money with false promises or schemes. The simple answer lies in the reason we all like to use the internet – it is an easy and convenient way of reaching people. For scammers, digital methods require less work, are often more successful and widen their reach compared to more traditional ways of scamming the public.

To protect your money online, here are some great tips on how to avoid financial scams.

• Check a website’s security – one way that scammers may target you is by creating fake versions of genuine banking or shopping sites. Or they could set up a fake site of their own to lure shoppers in. The issue here is that once you enter your card details to buy something, they have them to raid your bank account. To help avoid this, always look for the security padlock symbol when entering any financial details on a website. This symbol is the clue you need that the site is genuine and is not a scam. It is also wise to get a general feel for how professional the website is – lots of spelling mistakes and no contact details are a red flag.

• Look at reputable online review sites – one great way to avoid online financial scams is simply to know what they look like and which websites to avoid. The Forex investment market is a great example as there are some sites posing as genuine online brokers that are simply scams. The problem is finding out which online brokers are legitimate, and which are the scammers. To do so it is best to look at reputable broker review sites including www.forexfraud.com. These review sites help to weed out the scams and show you who you can trust.

• Trust your instinct – very often, the best way to avoid being scammed financially online is to act on your instincts. If something does not look right with a website or the item they are selling is at a price that appears too good to be true, be very wary. Similarly, if you are approached on social media by strangers offering foolproof ways of making money for an upfront payment, be careful. Pretty much all of them will be scams. When on social media sites, it is also worth being guarded against people wanting to be involved romantically with you. This can often be the precursor to them trying to extract money from you at a later date.

• Use strong, unique passwords – to stay safe from online financial scams, you need to think about the passwords you have. Whether it is your bank password or your Amazon account, weak passwords that are easily guessed can give criminals easy access to your money. Do not use the same password for every account and remember to change them regularly. That way, at least if yours is breached without your knowledge, it will not be for long. That is one very useful tip for looking after your finances online.

Stay safe like a pro in the digital age

The above should not put you off from going online to do all the essential things that you need. It does however show that there are many simple ways to protect yourself from losing money to scammers. By being on your guard and trusting your instincts, you will be well on the way to looking after the money you have worked so hard to earn.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/top-ways-to-avoid-financial-scams-in-the-digital-age/

4 Ways to Plan for Retirement

According to a survey in 2017 by the Financial Conduct Authority, about 15 million people in the UK have no pension savings at all.

This means that they will have to rely solely on the State Pension when they enter retirement. It’s fairly obvious to see that this is not an ideal situation.

So, what can you do to avoid this fate and plan adequately for your own retirement? Here are 4 great tips to help you on your way.

Start a Pension
The first and most obvious way to plan for your retirement is to start a pension if you don’t already have one.

Firstly, it would be worth chatting to your employer to see if you are currently making any pension contributions.

If you are, discuss how you can potentially top these up. If you’re self employed then you could look into setting up a SIPP or Self Invested Personal Pension.

However you go about it, contributing an adequate amount per month towards your pension will be the first step to planning properly for retirement.

Decide What Standard of Living You Want
Another great step to take is to decide what standard of living you want to have in retirement.

When you’ve done this, try and work out how much you are going to need to put away each month if you are going to achieve your goal.

Many people get a big wake up call when they do this, as it can really bring home the fact that they are not saving anywhere near enough.

Don’t just think about the basics either. Try and be realistic and factor in that you may want to have a decent holiday now and then.

The more honest you are now, the better things will be in the future.

Educate Yourself Financially
You might also want to start educating yourself financially, so that you can get the most out of every pound you put away.

Learning about the different types of investments that are available, the potential risks involved with each and the fees charged by fund managers can pay dividends over the long
term.

Nowadays there are many free guides available online from reputable investment firms and also from the government.

These can be a great help in planning properly for retirement.

Think About the Bigger Investments
Finally, take some time to think seriously about some of the biggest investments you might need to make in life.

Buying a house, for example, might seem unattainable right now but is it?

Or, is it just that you might need to make some lifestyle changes now in order to achieve the goal?

Owning your own home by retirement could drastically increase your standard of living at that time.

It could also give you some home equity to tap into if needs must.

Sacrifice Today for a Better Tomorrow
While planning properly for retirement might seem like a disruption to your current lifestyle, it is a necessary evil that shouldn’t be put off.

Do you really want to be sat at home when you’re 70 worrying about whether or not you can put the heating on? Or, would you rather be on a cruise around the Mediterranean?

While this comparison may seem far-fetched, it could very well become a reality depending on the decisions you make right now.

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/4-ways-to-plan-for-retirement/