I have a regular cleaning schedule that I follow year round; the house is divided into sections. During spring cleaning I just put a little extra effort into things I may normally skimp on. I make my own cleaners using vinegar, water, and baking soda; I use microfiber cloths which work great. And open up all the windows in the house to let that fresh air in and chase the hidden dust bunnies out into the open where I can get em'!
Great article, and I think it's completely true! Quitting your job before you can pay out of business funds is foolish! I tried that, too, and that business (years ago) failed miserably. And it was very, very stressful.
I did bootstrap my second business, but my husband is able to cover our living expenses. I have just hired my second employee, and I still am not making quite enough for my husband to quit. :) (Everything is on a part-time basis since we also have kids. I make half the money I need until I can work full-time. But that's okay because I'm where I want to be.)
My best advice for starting up a business is to treat your customers as they want to be treated. And consider that as well, when choosing a business.
One of the first things you should establish is what kind of relationships they want from you - purely professional, friendly, etc. My customer base requires that I be very friendly and friend-like to my customers (though only rarely have I become friends with any of them.) But to be honest, I like that. It suits my personality, and I love chatting with my customers. But if your personality was purely professional in my field, it would be *much* more difficult to gain and keep customers.
I can't clean until I declutter more. So that is my priority. It doesn't make sense to move stuff around to clean it if it is stuff I don't truly need to have.
Use a friend! I invite a good friend over to keep me company and keep me on task (no cleaning required on her part!). I don't notice what I'm doing as much when it is the background to chatting with my friend. And then I do the same for her!
This is a great article. I personally believe that the most important point highlighted in here was how credit card companies bent normal perceptions on pre-identified demographics and went in for the "low risk customer in high risk groups". Brilliant lesson for all businesspeople.
For deodorant, add a little baking soda to palm, then wet down. Rub hands together and add enough water until the baking soda turns into a slippery concoction with no granules left. Rub this under your arms. If you just put pure baking soda under your arms, you can expect to have chafed, raw baking soda arm pits at the end of the day. But, turning the baking soda into a slippery slurry helps break down the sand-like granules. When it dries, it still provides odor and wetness protection, but w/o the chafing. Only lasts about 6 hours, though.
Baking soda is also amazing at getting rid of oily dandruff (seaborheaic dermatitis). I used to get bad dandruff, and it even got on my face. Dermotoligist's solution was to just give me a steroid cream to rub on face to control the rash. One day I stumbled across baking soda as an idea. I tried it ... it was as if my whole face sloughed off in the shower when I used it. What I realized after-the-fact was that all the soap and shampoo I was using in the shower was over-drying my skin so much that my natural body oil couldn't keep up. When I'd get out of the shower and dry off, my skin would keep on drying, so the top layer would just get dried out, die and look dull. Then, the natural body oils would form under the dead skin, and natural bacteria and yeast on the skin would get under the dead skin, flourish in the oil, and cause irritation. This is what lead to itching and raw rashy skin. When I used baking soda, it cut all the dead skin off w/o over-drying. I was left with clean, healthy skin that had just enough body oil left on it. I still use baking soda about 3-4 times per week in the shower to prevent dandruff and dead skin build-up. I only use soap once per week to get a deep clean. Other than that, I will switch back-n-forth with using baking soda or just rinsing off. I will use soap / baking soda on pits, crotch, etc. But the rest of my skin I just rinse with water on "off" days. On baking soda days, I put ~1 tblsp in a plastic cup, fill it with water in teh shower, and douse it over me. Rub it around, let it sit for a few minutes while I shave or brush my teeth, then rinse off. The baking soda exfoliates, rinses clean, and leaves you with fresh skin. In the winter, I pull out the olive oil or mineral oil to add some oil to my skin and hair after the shower. This prevents chap skin from forming due to cold. The baking soda also makes the shower so saline that no mold or mildew grows. I only clean the shower once a month, and that's only to rinse out any excess baking soda that may coat the shower tiles. By using a soft soap as body wash once a week, there's no soap scum (like you wuold get from bar soap). And the baking soda acts as a microorganism deterent. So, cleaning the bathroom is a snap.
Property doesn't always appreciate. If you're thinking of buying a home, scout out the surrounding neighborhoods. If the one you're going into and the surrounding areas are all nice, eg: newly built, older but well-maintained, or "historic district" type of places that are constantly being renovated and kept up, then chances are your property values will go up. But, if a block or two away you end up in ghetto-land ... chances are you're buying a house on the verge of becoming the next ghetto in 5 years. You roll in at $200k for the house hoping it will appreciate to $250 in 10 years or so, then realize it's worth $150k after 5 years as the neighbors start getting seedy. Look at how many "for sale" signs are up around the neighborhood. If tons of folks are selling in the neighborhood you're moving into ... that's a huge red flag. Means there's a high turnover, and/or folks are realizing it's turning ghetto, so get out while they can still recoup the money they sunk in. As much as folks want to think of a house as an asset, it's not. A house is a piece of tangible goods, like a car. It can appreciate, but it still degrades over time. You can maintain it, upkeep it, renovate it, but that doesn't mean it will always gain value. If you go in primarily buying it as a place to live or rent out, then you will have realistic expections. If you go in expecting it to increase in value to cash out later, then you need to be a little more grounded in your expectations.
Bust out your steam cleaner! We just hit everything in our place with the steam corner: stove, floors, tub, toilet, etc. I think I paid $60 for it online. Worth all the time and definitely the money.
As Matthew said, a great time to look for formalwear on ebay is January, when many rental shops sell off their used stock. I bought two jackets that way and neither looks worn in any way.
Also important: take a little time to learn about the styles and tradition so that you'll know what you are looking for! I can't recommend the blacktieguide.com enough. He gives a thorough history and lots of pictures, including a hall of shame that is hilarious.
I actually like the fact that my formalwear was acquired over time from various sources, as now each piece has a bit of a story to it and reflects my style much better than if I had enough money to buy everything all at once (when I didn't know enough to make an informed purchase).
I had purchased some bright, flowered material during my travels last summer and made some new throw-pillow covers last week. They were super easy and much cheaper than buying new ones. I'm generally not very crafty, but the instructor of a sewing class I took mentioned that home decor is one of the areas that sewing will save you the most money. And I love to decorate, so it is worth it to me! :)
I don't get it i understand what ya saying but don't c how ya can profit. E.g if 10 people sat at a table each put in $5 makes $50 that can sit there 4 as long as u like but when we split the $50 in the middle equally we all only get our $5 back. unless someone misses out. so to turn your $5 in to $5000 that's a 1000 to get $50000 like what u r telling me is possible that's 10000 people who miss out and that's just for my share. $50000 lol dream big buddy u must think people r stupid, good 4 u if ya got a couple of people but 10000 good luck buddy. p.s all that bullshit at the start doesn't help but the paypal account is a cracker thanx 4 the ideas
We pick a day in advance to do a big clean. Before that day I'll declutter so there isn't stuff all over surfaces that need cleaning. My husband and I usually go out for a big hearty breakfast to fuel up, and then we just hit the ground running, usually working on one room at a time. We use somewhat natural multipurpose cleaners whenever possible. We just try to get through it and know it'll be a great feeling of accomplishment when we're done, and we'll enjoy the nice clean house. Oh, and we'll usually have a treat afterward, like a cupcake, to reward ourselves for a job well done.
I use Pine-Sol to clean virtually everything. It cleans great, it disinfects, and it works every bit as good as any of the newer, more expensive products available.
I also dust using a microfiber cloth, which attracts and picks up dust extremely well. Microfiber works way better than, say, a regular cotton cloth.
I love Sriracha and use it on nearly everything. I like Tobanjang chili paste too, maybe even better, but it's not carried in the stores where I live. Try making Pad Thai with Sriracha. Delicious!
I like and recommend having one manageable project to focus on at a time, along with a plan for getting it done. I love using vinegar and water to clean just about anything. Also, I recently discovered that paper coffee filters are great for cleaning mirrors without worrying about lint residue.
This is a great article! When I was pregnant I think I owned one pair of maternity jeans. All my other clothes were either ultra stretchy or a couple sizes bigger than my normal size. I felt trendy but still very comfortable and didn't have to spend $100 on a blouse for work. Great tips!
Long ago I worked for a boutique dress manufacturer -- Mother of the Bride and special occasion dresses and outfits. Every summer we held a "Sample Sale" on the parking lot out front of the factory in Culver City, CA.
Lots of pieces actually were samples from trunkshows and boutiques (so, sized to fit models...), but there were also plenty of returns in various sizes, usually in terrific condition. We priced the clothing 25-50% below WHOLESALE, depending on the style and color. Late in the day we increased the discount. Buyers had the option of paying for alterations or repairs.
If there's a designer or manufacturer near you who makes nice stuff, get on the mailing list.
26. Join affiliate marketing programs online and recommend others to buy from those stores. I'm not rich from doing this however a steady few hundred dollars a month is all I need.
Love thrift store shopping.. Even b4 it was cool. Lol as an artist I appreciate an eclectic theme n 1 of a kind items n like to recycle n re-do whenever n whatever possible! Have came across many good deals on vases that I design n personalize with etching sand for x-mad gifts that are sentimental n become family hand me down heirlooms!! Fun family project !
I have a regular cleaning schedule that I follow year round; the house is divided into sections. During spring cleaning I just put a little extra effort into things I may normally skimp on. I make my own cleaners using vinegar, water, and baking soda; I use microfiber cloths which work great. And open up all the windows in the house to let that fresh air in and chase the hidden dust bunnies out into the open where I can get em'!
Great article, and I think it's completely true! Quitting your job before you can pay out of business funds is foolish! I tried that, too, and that business (years ago) failed miserably. And it was very, very stressful.
I did bootstrap my second business, but my husband is able to cover our living expenses. I have just hired my second employee, and I still am not making quite enough for my husband to quit. :) (Everything is on a part-time basis since we also have kids. I make half the money I need until I can work full-time. But that's okay because I'm where I want to be.)
My best advice for starting up a business is to treat your customers as they want to be treated. And consider that as well, when choosing a business.
One of the first things you should establish is what kind of relationships they want from you - purely professional, friendly, etc. My customer base requires that I be very friendly and friend-like to my customers (though only rarely have I become friends with any of them.) But to be honest, I like that. It suits my personality, and I love chatting with my customers. But if your personality was purely professional in my field, it would be *much* more difficult to gain and keep customers.
I can't clean until I declutter more. So that is my priority. It doesn't make sense to move stuff around to clean it if it is stuff I don't truly need to have.
A can of tuna, a dollop of mayo, squirt of mustard, healthy sprinkle of garlic powder, salt and diced pickle makes a great poor man's tuna salad.
Use a friend! I invite a good friend over to keep me company and keep me on task (no cleaning required on her part!). I don't notice what I'm doing as much when it is the background to chatting with my friend. And then I do the same for her!
This is a great article. I personally believe that the most important point highlighted in here was how credit card companies bent normal perceptions on pre-identified demographics and went in for the "low risk customer in high risk groups". Brilliant lesson for all businesspeople.
Dust dust dust those dust bunnies out! I use a Swifter dry sheet, spiked with lavender!
For deodorant, add a little baking soda to palm, then wet down. Rub hands together and add enough water until the baking soda turns into a slippery concoction with no granules left. Rub this under your arms. If you just put pure baking soda under your arms, you can expect to have chafed, raw baking soda arm pits at the end of the day. But, turning the baking soda into a slippery slurry helps break down the sand-like granules. When it dries, it still provides odor and wetness protection, but w/o the chafing. Only lasts about 6 hours, though.
Baking soda is also amazing at getting rid of oily dandruff (seaborheaic dermatitis). I used to get bad dandruff, and it even got on my face. Dermotoligist's solution was to just give me a steroid cream to rub on face to control the rash. One day I stumbled across baking soda as an idea. I tried it ... it was as if my whole face sloughed off in the shower when I used it. What I realized after-the-fact was that all the soap and shampoo I was using in the shower was over-drying my skin so much that my natural body oil couldn't keep up. When I'd get out of the shower and dry off, my skin would keep on drying, so the top layer would just get dried out, die and look dull. Then, the natural body oils would form under the dead skin, and natural bacteria and yeast on the skin would get under the dead skin, flourish in the oil, and cause irritation. This is what lead to itching and raw rashy skin. When I used baking soda, it cut all the dead skin off w/o over-drying. I was left with clean, healthy skin that had just enough body oil left on it. I still use baking soda about 3-4 times per week in the shower to prevent dandruff and dead skin build-up. I only use soap once per week to get a deep clean. Other than that, I will switch back-n-forth with using baking soda or just rinsing off. I will use soap / baking soda on pits, crotch, etc. But the rest of my skin I just rinse with water on "off" days. On baking soda days, I put ~1 tblsp in a plastic cup, fill it with water in teh shower, and douse it over me. Rub it around, let it sit for a few minutes while I shave or brush my teeth, then rinse off. The baking soda exfoliates, rinses clean, and leaves you with fresh skin. In the winter, I pull out the olive oil or mineral oil to add some oil to my skin and hair after the shower. This prevents chap skin from forming due to cold. The baking soda also makes the shower so saline that no mold or mildew grows. I only clean the shower once a month, and that's only to rinse out any excess baking soda that may coat the shower tiles. By using a soft soap as body wash once a week, there's no soap scum (like you wuold get from bar soap). And the baking soda acts as a microorganism deterent. So, cleaning the bathroom is a snap.
Property doesn't always appreciate. If you're thinking of buying a home, scout out the surrounding neighborhoods. If the one you're going into and the surrounding areas are all nice, eg: newly built, older but well-maintained, or "historic district" type of places that are constantly being renovated and kept up, then chances are your property values will go up. But, if a block or two away you end up in ghetto-land ... chances are you're buying a house on the verge of becoming the next ghetto in 5 years. You roll in at $200k for the house hoping it will appreciate to $250 in 10 years or so, then realize it's worth $150k after 5 years as the neighbors start getting seedy. Look at how many "for sale" signs are up around the neighborhood. If tons of folks are selling in the neighborhood you're moving into ... that's a huge red flag. Means there's a high turnover, and/or folks are realizing it's turning ghetto, so get out while they can still recoup the money they sunk in. As much as folks want to think of a house as an asset, it's not. A house is a piece of tangible goods, like a car. It can appreciate, but it still degrades over time. You can maintain it, upkeep it, renovate it, but that doesn't mean it will always gain value. If you go in primarily buying it as a place to live or rent out, then you will have realistic expections. If you go in expecting it to increase in value to cash out later, then you need to be a little more grounded in your expectations.
Fantastic
Bust out your steam cleaner! We just hit everything in our place with the steam corner: stove, floors, tub, toilet, etc. I think I paid $60 for it online. Worth all the time and definitely the money.
As Matthew said, a great time to look for formalwear on ebay is January, when many rental shops sell off their used stock. I bought two jackets that way and neither looks worn in any way.
Also important: take a little time to learn about the styles and tradition so that you'll know what you are looking for! I can't recommend the blacktieguide.com enough. He gives a thorough history and lots of pictures, including a hall of shame that is hilarious.
I actually like the fact that my formalwear was acquired over time from various sources, as now each piece has a bit of a story to it and reflects my style much better than if I had enough money to buy everything all at once (when I didn't know enough to make an informed purchase).
I had purchased some bright, flowered material during my travels last summer and made some new throw-pillow covers last week. They were super easy and much cheaper than buying new ones. I'm generally not very crafty, but the instructor of a sewing class I took mentioned that home decor is one of the areas that sewing will save you the most money. And I love to decorate, so it is worth it to me! :)
Using the old but very good cleaner of water & vinginer usually does the task and without the high cost of new clearners.
I start from kitchen and work my way out!
I don't get it i understand what ya saying but don't c how ya can profit. E.g if 10 people sat at a table each put in $5 makes $50 that can sit there 4 as long as u like but when we split the $50 in the middle equally we all only get our $5 back. unless someone misses out. so to turn your $5 in to $5000 that's a 1000 to get $50000 like what u r telling me is possible that's 10000 people who miss out and that's just for my share. $50000 lol dream big buddy u must think people r stupid, good 4 u if ya got a couple of people but 10000 good luck buddy. p.s all that bullshit at the start doesn't help but the paypal account is a cracker thanx 4 the ideas
We pick a day in advance to do a big clean. Before that day I'll declutter so there isn't stuff all over surfaces that need cleaning. My husband and I usually go out for a big hearty breakfast to fuel up, and then we just hit the ground running, usually working on one room at a time. We use somewhat natural multipurpose cleaners whenever possible. We just try to get through it and know it'll be a great feeling of accomplishment when we're done, and we'll enjoy the nice clean house. Oh, and we'll usually have a treat afterward, like a cupcake, to reward ourselves for a job well done.
I use Pine-Sol to clean virtually everything. It cleans great, it disinfects, and it works every bit as good as any of the newer, more expensive products available.
I also dust using a microfiber cloth, which attracts and picks up dust extremely well. Microfiber works way better than, say, a regular cotton cloth.
I love Sriracha and use it on nearly everything. I like Tobanjang chili paste too, maybe even better, but it's not carried in the stores where I live. Try making Pad Thai with Sriracha. Delicious!
I like and recommend having one manageable project to focus on at a time, along with a plan for getting it done. I love using vinegar and water to clean just about anything. Also, I recently discovered that paper coffee filters are great for cleaning mirrors without worrying about lint residue.
I am working on an alternative list of drink to get you off soda http://stopdrinkingsoda.net/
This is a great article! When I was pregnant I think I owned one pair of maternity jeans. All my other clothes were either ultra stretchy or a couple sizes bigger than my normal size. I felt trendy but still very comfortable and didn't have to spend $100 on a blouse for work. Great tips!
Long ago I worked for a boutique dress manufacturer -- Mother of the Bride and special occasion dresses and outfits. Every summer we held a "Sample Sale" on the parking lot out front of the factory in Culver City, CA.
Lots of pieces actually were samples from trunkshows and boutiques (so, sized to fit models...), but there were also plenty of returns in various sizes, usually in terrific condition. We priced the clothing 25-50% below WHOLESALE, depending on the style and color. Late in the day we increased the discount. Buyers had the option of paying for alterations or repairs.
If there's a designer or manufacturer near you who makes nice stuff, get on the mailing list.
26. Join affiliate marketing programs online and recommend others to buy from those stores. I'm not rich from doing this however a steady few hundred dollars a month is all I need.
Love thrift store shopping.. Even b4 it was cool. Lol as an artist I appreciate an eclectic theme n 1 of a kind items n like to recycle n re-do whenever n whatever possible! Have came across many good deals on vases that I design n personalize with etching sand for x-mad gifts that are sentimental n become family hand me down heirlooms!! Fun family project !