time management

Ask the Readers: What Time Management Tools Do You Use?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:30:10 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to LaCinda, John, and mami2jcn for winning this week's contest!

It's easy to let things fall by the wayside when you're busy, but time management tools can help you organize your day and allow you to get things done. They can be as simple as a to-do list or a calendar, or they can be sophisticated apps or programs that run on your devices. The important thing is that they work for you.

What time management tools do you use? What are some of your trouble areas when it comes to time management? What routines or practices have been most effective for you?

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Tell us about your time management tools and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Time-Management Fails — and How to Fix Them

Paul Michael — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:00:06 +0000

Time is finite. We all have 24 hours a day, and seven days a week, to achieve our goals. However, it seems like some people have tons of free time, and others never have enough hours in the day. If you are constantly struggling to find the time to get stuff done, you probably need a little more discipline in your life. Here are 10 classic time management fails — that many of us struggle with — and how to fix them. (See also: 8 Reasons Time Is Worth More Than Money)

1. You are a masterful procrastinator

Remember those homework assignments that we put off until the last second? Or deadlines at work that we're desperately trying to meet the night before? We've all done it. You convince yourself that there's just not enough time in the day to do what you need to do, but tomorrow you can get it done. Of course, when tomorrow turns into today, the same thought takes over again, and eventually, it becomes a last-minute rush and you find yourself muttering "I wish I had more time." Thing is, you had it. You just didn't have enough discipline to make use of it.

Stop waiting for tomorrow. Even if you can't finish it today, you can still get started. Start breaking down your tasks and goals into smaller, more manageable steps you can accomplish each day, eventually leading you to the finish line. (See also: How to Add an Extra Hour to Your Day)

2. You don't take advantage of modern technology

Now more than ever, we have all the tools we need to become masters of time management. You have, at your fingertips, some of the best apps available to help you organize your time down to the second, including calendars, reminders, task managers, list makers, and so much more. If you are constantly wishing you had more time, but are not taking advantage of these great (and usually free) tools, you're missing out. Once you start using them, it will become second nature. (See also: Organize 8 Key Areas of Your Life With These 17 Smart Apps)

3. You haven't established a morning routine

One of the easiest ways to get better with time management is to start off the day in the right frame of mind. A morning routine can be tough to establish, especially if some mornings are way different from others. Do what you can to carve out 30 minutes that will set you on the right track for the rest of the day. It can be as simple as a quick shower, drinking coffee while catching up on the morning news, a brisk walk around the block, and five minutes of meditation. Do whatever works for you. But do it daily, and it will ground you for a less hectic day. (See also: 13 Things Successful People Do Every Morning)

4. You make too much time for fun

Isn't it funny how there's "not enough time to do everything," but there's always time to see that new movie, head to the ballgame, or go on a shopping trip? That's just human nature. We make time for the fun stuff because it's, well, fun.

However, you can't really justify saying you don't have enough time to get work or chores done when you easily make time for the fun things. Even laying in bed and giving the snooze button a few whacks is time that could be spent doing other things. Sure, you need to make time to relax and wind down, but balance that with some discipline so you can go to bed feeling good about the way you spent your day.

5. You waste time because you're disorganized

You can't find your keys. You forgot something you needed at the store, and have to make a second trip. You can't find that super important work email in your messy inbox. Things like this can really eat into the time you have available throughout the day. Ten minutes here, 20 minutes there, and before you know it, you've wasted two precious hours and gotten nothing done.

This problem can be eliminated by getting more organized. For example, make a place right next to the door to hang your keys, and get into the habit of hanging them there as soon as you come in the door. Make lists on your phone before you go to the grocery store. Add stars and labels and folders to keep your inbox clean. It may take you some time on the front end to make these organizational moves, but you'll save tons of time in the long run. (See also: 5 Easy Ways to Declutter Your Digital Life)

6. You're trying to do too much at once

A little multitasking here and there is fine. However, when you decide that the best way to get everything done is to attack it all at once, you're going to run into all kinds of problems. First, your focus is divided between several tasks at the same time, and that will mean each job is only getting a fraction of the attention it deserves. You may also need to be in a different mindset to do one job, and it can negatively impact the work you're doing on the others.

Mix-ups and mistakes often happen when you're juggling a whole bunch of projects, plus you can feel so overwhelmed that in the end, none of the jobs get completed; or if they do, they're half-baked. Only take on what you can manage successfully, and have the discipline to finish those tasks before attempting any more. (See also: 16 Time and Money Saving Apps for Freelancers)

7. You tend to rush things

When people rush, they inevitably make mistakes that have the exact opposite impact, and they spend more time fixing mistakes than if they had just slowed down and done it right the first time. While it may seem like going faster will get it done faster, it will probably just create problems for you. So, take a breath, slow down, and work at a steady and manageable pace.

8. Your goals are ill-defined

People who are on top of everything know exactly what they want to achieve. Usually, their goals are written down and planned out, weeks or months in advance. Not only that, but every goal is crystal clear.

For example, let's take something that we all dread — cleaning out the garage or basement. For those of us who never seem to have enough time in the day, it's just a horrible task on the horizon that we keep putting off. For those with clear goals, it will be compartmentalized and come with a list of dates and objectives:

Day one, go through all old paperwork, shred, and file.
Day two, find items to donate.
Day three, find items for a garage sale.

And so on. "Clean the garage" is daunting and feels massive. Breaking the goal into clear steps with deadlines makes life way easier.

9. You get laser-focused on one task

When you do something, you don't just want to do it well, you want it do it flawlessly. So cleaning the kitchen takes all day instead of half an hour, as you sit on the floor with a toothbrush and a bleach solution getting into every crevice and tile. Cleaning the junk drawer becomes a task that sends you to the store for a new set of containers, and bags, and labels, and zip ties. Tasks that should take minutes take hours, and hours turn into days. Simply by easing off and doing a decent job, not a perfect one, you can save so much time.

10. You have trouble making decisions

How many of us have spent an hour or more in front of the TV trying to find something good to watch? By the time we land on the perfect movie or show, there's no time left to watch it. The same can be said of deciding on meals to prepare, clothes to buy, or places to visit. Too much time is spent on the act of making a decision, and not enough time spent doing what needs to be done.

There are ways to get around this, such as apps that help you make decisions, or simply jotting down the pros and cons of the outcome. Get in the habit of making decisions more quickly, and you'll have more time on your hands. (See also: How to Simplify Your Life to Avoid Decision Fatigue)

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Manage Two Jobs (Without Burning Out)

Paul Michael — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:31:18 +0000

Many households these days have two incomes. The thing is, it's not uncommon for those two income streams to come from the same person.

If you're in that boat — working two jobs that eat up most (or all) of your time — you could be headed for burnout. When that happens, your risk your health, your mental wellbeing, and losing the money those jobs provide. Here are some tips to bring back some balance and stability to your hectic schedule.

You must make time for yourself

Just as it's important to put away a little money each month for your savings, it's equally important to tuck away some personal time as well. You may be thinking that there aren't enough hours in the day, but all work and no play is a recipe for serious burnout. When that happens, you could lose one or both of those jobs you depend on.

Even if you just take your lunch outside and eat it in the sunshine, away from the hustle and bustle, that small act of getting a breather can really cheer you up. Ideally, you should set aside time away from both jobs so that you can destress naturally. See a movie, hang out with friends for a few hours, take a hike, ride a bike, soak in the tub, or take up a fun hobby. If you don't make some time to yourself, you are going to suffer. (See also: 4 Signs You're Burned Out (and How to Recover))

Treat yourself when you can

If you are constantly working to pay bills and nothing else, you're living to work. That's no kind of existence. By working night and day on two or more jobs, but not seeing any of that hard work result in some kind of happiness, you'll resent it so much that you could have a breakdown.

So, spend a little of that money on something that makes you genuinely happy. You don't have to run out and buy a Louis Vuitton watch or a pair of Gucci shoes. Something small and inexpensive, but wonderful for you and your state of mind, is all that you need. Maybe it's a massage or a manicure. It could be a treat from the local candy store, or a special delicacy you enjoy. You put tremendous effort and sacrifice into earning a living — you deserve to enjoy those earnings once in a while. (See also: Treat Yourself With These 7 Free Self-Care Routines)

Think positive

Easier said than done, right? After all, what's fun about working two jobs just to make ends meet? Having said that, this is the reality you're living with. You can either do two jobs feeling miserable and hating life, or approach it with a positive state of mind.

One of the easiest ways to do this is to keep a daily list of the good things that happened to you that day. Even if it's as simple as, "Today I paid all my bills and did not get charged a late fee," it's something that lifts you up. Are you healthy? Is your family happy and doing well? Are you doing a job that is way better than other ones out there? Remember, many people are paid awful wages and cannot afford some of life's basics. In comparison, are you thriving? Find the good and write it down.

Release the pressure

Just like a pressure cooker, if you don't let off steam, you could blow. Now, how you do that will depend on what motivates you. Some people release all that pressure by working out, which is very beneficial to your health. Others party hard every Friday night. You could even take up boxing, or buy a punching bag and beat the living daylights out of it. Scream into a pillow if you have to, or find a friend to help you share your problems.

You could also think about seeing a therapist if you can afford it. Many insurance plans offer mental health copays as low as $20. Talking it out with an objective third party can be a great way to cope with the two job burden. (See also: 10 Tricks to Avoid Workout Burnout)

Do whatever you can to make the jobs enjoyable

Again, this is not always easy. Some jobs really are awful, and that is difficult to ignore on the best of days. But if you can find ways to make either job even a little more tolerable, you'll find it easier to juggle them both.

Can you play fun games with colleagues while you're working? For example, many copywriters in ad agencies will take bets on who can put the most ridiculous word or phrase into a piece of copy that actually gets approved. Are there challenges you can set yourself? Records you can break? Tasks that, with a slight tweak, can be made interesting, or even fun? Your job, or jobs, may suck, but a slight paradigm shift could make them much easier to tolerate.

Finally, keep your house in order

It sucks to think about housework and chores when you're busy, but it's even worse to come home to a messy house with a sink full of dishes and piles of laundry everywhere. Working two jobs gives you even less time to spend cleaning and tidying, which is a little ironic as a tidy home is essential when you're always working.

Make a schedule and stick to it. Create a task list in order of importance and focus on that. Do tidying "as you go," such as washing kitchen utensils as you're making the meal. If you live with other people, get everyone in the habit of cleaning their own plate, and get everyone to do their share. Kids are not helpless; they can certainly be helping clean up long before they are 10 years old. You can reward them with time in front of the TV, computer, or video game system if you have one. By keeping a clean house, you can actually come home and relax after a very busy and stressful day.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Become a Model Employee With This 10-Point Work Etiquette Checklist

Paul Michael — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 08:30:21 +0000

Every job is different. But one commonality is that every company, large or small, requires a certain type of etiquette. The finer points may vary vastly from business to business, but if you make yourself aware of the broader strokes, you will quickly go from being a good employee to the staff member everyone looks up to. Here are the 10 checkpoints that will make you a model employee.

1. Read the handbook

Most businesses have some kind of employee handbook or manual. It is something given to new employees to communicate key aspects about the company. Most handbooks will include:

An introduction to the company.
Company policies regarding dress code, benefits, expenses, education and training, confidentiality agreements, and outside employment.
Employment classification, including full-time, part time, and contract.
Attendance policies and holiday schedules.
Performance expectations.
Health and safety procedures.
Termination policies.

So, why is it important to know this information in as much detail as possible? Well for a start, it will stop you from asking questions that are already answered fully in the handbook. It will also give you plenty of information on how to conduct yourself at work and what the company expects of you as an employee. Become knowledgeable of the handbook, and let your boss know it. He or she will appreciate the effort, especially if it means you become a go-to person for the rest of the staff.

2. Stay away from water cooler gossip

Who doesn't love a juicy bit of salacious information, especially when it's whispered between friends about people you don't like? Well, what you do after hours is up to you, but at work, you should steer clear of any and all types of gossip and rumors.

Most of the time the information you're getting is not even close to being accurate. It's like a game of telephone, only this game can seriously hurt innocent people, and even lead to them being terminated for no good reason.

An old proverb sums up perfectly why you should stay out of this kind of talk: "What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth." If you're thinking, "Ah, but I saw this happen and know that it's true," then remember that by spreading it, the information will get distorted and harmful, and will lead straight back to you. Just stay out of it. And if anyone says, "Hey, listen to what I just heard about the boss," politely decline and walk away.

3. Don't use the computer for online shopping and surfing

If a computer or digital device is part of your daily routine, don't make the mistake of using it for personal reasons for hours on end. Remember, from the minute you step through the door to the second you leave for the day, you're on company property. You're also on company time. You are being paid to do a job, and unless that specifically includes online shopping, web surfing, and chatting over instant messenger, you should avoid the temptation to indulge.

Now, every employer knows that if you have 9-to-5 access to a computer, you are going to use the internet now and then. Maybe it's to book concert tickets when they go on sale that day, or you need to make a doctor's appointment. Small, discreet, and quick personal computer use is perfectly acceptable. But if you abuse that privilege, and spend hours browsing sites, shopping online, and watching Netflix, you are just asking for trouble.

4. Keep personal calls, texts, and emails to a minimum

Following on from inappropriate computer use is the abuse of your phone and email. These days, both of them are nicely packaged on a smartphone, and they're about as addictive as any drug out there.

It's perfectly appropriate to take important calls at work, and most employers would expect you to do so. It's also fine to send an urgent text or email, especially if it's a family emergency or medical problem. But chit-chatting with your partner, texting your buddies, and firing off email after email is just not fair to the company you're working for.

So, be mindful and imagine your cellphone as an old-fashioned pay phone. How badly would you have needed to make a call if it meant running outside and throwing quarters into a public phone? Unless it's urgent, leave it until your break or lunch hour.

5. Become a better team player

It's a cliché phrase to say the least — "Be a team player." We've all heard it, from the corporate board rooms to the warehouse floors. But what does it actually mean?

For starters, it means improving your communication skills. Make it a point to listen, take notes, and let your team members know that you heard them. Give constructive criticism, and ask for it in return. Offer your assistance when you see people struggling or overloaded. Ask to lead projects. And above all, make it a point to be inclusive on projects. That means getting equal help from everyone involved in the project, not just those with the loudest voices or pushy personalities. Some people are naturally more submissive and can hide in the background. By including them, you can get some valuable insights from smart people who may otherwise be overlooked.

6. Work on your EQ

We hear about the importance of a high IQ all the time, but what about your EQ? This is your emotional intelligence, and it is just as valuable at work.

Perhaps the biggest part of your EQ is your ability to empathize with people you work with on a daily basis. It's easy to dismiss some people as instantly unlikable, but do you know what's going on with them? They may have problems at home, medical issues, and stresses you could never understand. If you know a little more about them, you can empathize more and ease tensions in the office. (See also: This One Skill Can Make You a Better Boss)

7. Leave your personal life at the door

You may have heard the expression, "Hang your troubles on the trouble tree before you go home," or some variation of it. Basically, don't bring all those work problems home to your family. Well, it goes both ways.

You may have a lot of things stressing you out at home, but you should do your best to keep them separate from your work life. You're being asked to do a job, and it's highly unlikely that your job will be improved by bringing personal issues into the office. If you really need to talk things over with someone, find a good therapist. (See also: How to Keep a Personal Problem From Hurting Your Career)

8. Manage your time well

Good time management is highly prized in every company, since time is a precious resource. Brush up on these skills and use them to your advantage.

Don't go to every single meeting you're invited to. Instead, ask what the meeting is about and if your presence is required. If not, spend the time working on something else. Utilize tools to plan your day, like calendar software and apps. Learn how long a project should take and stick to it; don't rush some projects because you spent too long on others. Your time is money, and should be handled with the same kind of care.

9. Don't expose problems without providing solutions

Another cliché that you've heard in movies and TV shows — "Don't bring me problems, bring me solutions!" The thing is, it's spot on. If you spot major issues or faults with anything at work, it's obviously correct to bring it up. However, by simply saying something like, "These status meetings we have are unproductive," you're coming across as a complainer. Instead, you could say, "I've noticed these status meetings are not very productive so I have these ideas on how to make them more useful." You're still pointing out an issue, but the delivery is so much more positive.

10. Learn what other staff members do

You will become a much better employee if you learn to utilize the talents of other people in your department and the company. The first step is to figure out what everyone does, what their titles mean, and what they excel at. It's just like being on a sports team: If you know what each player's strength is, you take advantage of it.

If you're in marketing and you know John is excellent at pulling together data and extrapolating useful information, bring him into the project. If you work in an auto repair shop and know that Jane is excellent at working on old muscle car engines, put her on the Ford Shelby. The more you know, the better of an employee you become.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Simple Time Management Tips That Work

Amy Lu — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 08:31:10 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found articles on simple time management tips that actually work, morning rituals that can relieve anxiety, and ways to enjoy your city on a budget.

Flashback Friday: 43 Easiest Ways to Become a Time Management Master

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 08:30:10 +0000

There are never enough hours in a day to get all your to-dos done, am I right? Wrong. If there are super productive, uber successful moneymakers out there who are figuring out how to maximize every minute of the day, then you can, too. Here's everything you need to get started.

8 Reasons Time Is Worth More Than Money — You can always make more money, but time is finite. And recognizing the full value of your time will make you more inclined to pay attention to how you're spending it.

Organize 8 Key Areas of Your Life With These 17 Smart Apps — It's hard to manage your time when your everyday life is a chaotic mess. Getting organized is an important step in the time management process, and will make every step thereafter so much easier.

5 Easy Ways to Declutter Your Digital Life — No matter what your job is, you probably spend a decent amount of time on the internet. Just as you need to keep the physical space you occupy neat and tidy, you should also do the same for your digital space. That'll save you tons of time.

How to Add an Extra Hour to Your Day — No, science has not figured out a way to stop time when you need a break from reading the news. However, there are lots of little ways to cut back on time wasters to leave room for things that are worthy of holding your focus.

The Single Greatest Key to Managing Your Time — It all comes back to you. You are ultimately in control of how your time is spent, and once you learn how to manage yourself, time management will come.

16 Time and Money Saving Apps for Freelancers — When your livelihood is freelancing and your income is inconsistent, time can be extremely tricky to manage, but not impossible! These apps will help freelancers save money, and even better, time.

This article is from Chrissa Hardy of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Flashback Friday: 46 Easy Ways to Be More Productive

Chrissa Hardy — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:30:32 +0000

It's incredibly easy to lose focus at work, especially if you wear multiple hats at your company and often have to multitask in order to stay on top of your workload. But with a few simple shifts in mindset, you can become more productive, and a lot less stressed, too!

5 Ways to Stay Productive While Working From Home — Your home has distractions around every corner, so if you work from home, you are constantly trying to resist being pulled away from the work task in front of you. But if you master these tips, you'll be just fine.

10 Productivity Tips for IT Professionals — When you spend eight or more hours a day looking at a computer screen, it's easy to lose focus. If you work in IT, a few task management apps, software updates, and communication tips could turn a day of distractions into a brilliant work day.

Give Yourself a Break: The Productivity Secret That'll Change the Way You Work — Not everyone can be productive for eight straight hours, and according to recent studies, some can only be productive for three of those hours. But once you understand the way you work and when you're most productive, you can harness that energy and become a more efficient employee overall.

The 10 Best Productivity Apps for Really Busy People Like You — We could all use a few more apps, am I right? And these productivity apps will help you stay on track during a workday, at the grocery store, or while organizing things at home. Plus, once you become more productive, you can start pursuing your goals with gusto.

6 Rules of Creating a Powerfully Productive Workspace — It's hard to be productive when your desk is a cluttered mess. Your workspace should always remain tidy and organized so you know what needs to be done, and in which order. Besides, clutter leads to stress, and nobody needs more stress.

The 10 Most Productive Ways to Spend Your Lunch Hour — Your lunch hour is that sacred block of time that's just yours during a workday. However, most of us spend it thinking about all the things we still need to do before the workday ends. Trade those worried thoughts in for meditation, a nap, or a nice walk and you'll come back to work refreshed and ready to rock.

This article is from Chrissa Hardy of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Checkout Line Tricks to Finish Shopping Faster

Kyle James — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 10:30:32 +0000

Have you ever picked a checkout line at the grocery store only to realize that every other line is moving faster than yours? If you're like most, it can drive you crazy and make you feel very unlucky. Here are some checkout line tricks, many of which are based on science, to help you pick the fastest line and get you out of the store as quickly as possible.

1. Get Behind a Full Cart

This one will surprise many of you. If you have the option of getting behind a shopping cart packed full of groceries, or a line with several smaller purchases in it, always opt for the full cart. This is due to the fact that it takes significant time to complete the purchase when you consider bagging, paying, and exiting of the checkout line.

According to the New York Times, each shopper will take approximately 41 seconds to complete the purchase (including pleasantries) once the items are scanned and bagged. So if you opt for the one full cart, instead of several smaller ones, you'll quickly remove all of the fixed time it takes to complete those purchases.

2. Avoid Chatty Cashiers

Nothing holds up a line more than a cashier who likes to chat you up and ask you about your day. If you want to get out of the store quickly, avoid them like the plague. Focus on cashiers who are all business and are scanning items at a quick rate. As you begin to shop regularly at stores in your area, you'll quickly determine who the chatty cashiers are and learn to pick another checkout line.

3. Head Left for Fastest Checkout

According to Robert Samuel, who stands in line for a living, you should always head to the left cashier when walking up to the front of the store. This is because 90% of us are right-handed and tend to head to the far right cashier because of it. Be the fish swimming upstream and start with the cashier furthest left and you'll typically find shorter lines and get out of the store quicker.

4. Pick a Line That Leads to Several Cashiers

Single lines that lead to more than one cashier are good things. They tend to move quickly and are often a better option than a single line leading to a single cashier. While not prevalent at grocery stores, you'll will see these types of lines at banks and discount and department stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, Target, and Marshalls.

5. Examine Self-Checkout Lanes

As a general rule, if the self-checkout lanes are stacked with shoppers, go stand in line at a regular register. This is because a trained cashier can scan your items, collect payment, and bag your stuff much quicker than most shoppers can on their own. Also, if you're buying large items, it can be a bit tricky navigating the self-checkout lane as they require you to place items on a scale. Large items typically won't fit and will require you to get the attention of a store attendant, making it a longer process.

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Organize 8 Key Areas of Your Life With These 17 Smart Apps

Kyle James — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 10:30:38 +0000

There's no doubt the phone in your pocket is a great time killer while in a crowded waiting room, but the truth is that smartphones are actually amazing little tools that can really improve your productivity — both personally and professionally. Here are eight tasks you can do on your phone, with the help of 17 apps, that will help you organize your life and even boost your savings account with almost no effort on your part. (See also: 10 Great Productivity Apps for Really Busy People Like You)

Track Your To-Do List

Skip the Post Its, notepads, and notes scribbled on napkins. Take your pick of task management apps, depending on how simple or robust you'd like it. Some will integrate with your calendar while others can be shared with friends and family. Find the one that will keep you on task and ditch the pen and paper for good.

1. Wunderlist

Wunderlist allows you to create to-do lists, set due dates and reminders, and even assign to-dos for others.

2. Todoist

Todoist manages all of your projects — both personal and professional. You can also seamlessly manage all your tasks and events from any device.

3. Any.do

Any.do lets you link your calendar and to-do lists, so you always know what's coming up. You can set reminders for both so you never lose track of deadlines again.

Log Your Time

Have you ever wondered how much time you waste every day on things like social media or TV? The first step to managing your time effectively is understanding how your time is currently being spent, and where it's being wasted. Use a time tracker app to determine where your time is going. Some apps will work in the background, automatically gathering data on where you spend your time, whereas others allow you to manually select activities.

4. Awesome Time Logger

Awesome Time Logger Free features an intuitive interface that allows you to quickly track and log your time throughout the day and get custom reports that you can use to improve productivity.

5. My Hours

My Hours works as a stop watch, tracking time you spend on each task. The app also allows you to assign billing to hours if you are a freelancer or contractor.

6. Toggl

While Toggl is an ideal time tracker for teams, it's also great for individuals seeking an easy way to track time spent on tasks and bill accordingly.

Take Notes

There are few things more frustrating than needing to jot something down, and not having a pen and paper to do so. But luckily, this is 2017, and you no longer need traditional writing tools to record your thoughts. Note taking apps have moved way beyond just allowing you to type a few words on a file. Some allow you to create useful filing systems, set reminders, collaborate and share with others, and include everything from links to photos to screenshots.

7. Evernote

Evernote lets you create full project to-do lists that can be shared across multiple platforms.

8. Google Keep

Google Keep allows you to take quick notes, add lists, photos, and voice memos to track your every thought. Seamless integration with Google Docs makes it easy to turn those quick notes into longer documents.

Organize Your Projects

You're busy. I'm busy. We're all endlessly busy. Sometimes we don't even know where to start, when to stop, and how much to do. Use time management apps that will allow you to schedule your tasks throughout your day.

9. Trello

The Trello app helps you create "boards" for all the projects you're currently working on and lets you easily add notes, to-do lists, photos, videos, and even customized workflows for your projects.

10. Asana

Asana lets you track projects from start to finish, and easily chat with project collaborators as you go along.

Protect Your Passwords

In an era of cyber security breaches and identity thieves running amok with personal information, protecting passwords has become serious business. You want to make sure your passwords don't all match, are not easy to guess, and are updated frequently enough to protect yourself from data hacks. But you also need a way to remember or access all those secure passwords! There's an app for that.

11. Keeper

Keeper creates, organizes, and auto-fills strong passwords on your behalf for all your accounts.

12. LastPass

LastPass keeps all of your precious passwords in one safe space, and alerts you to any duplicate passwords that may put you at risk for being hacked.

Control Your Documents

Even after signing up for paperless delivery for all our accounts, we still can't escape the daily receipts, business cards, and other documents that we end up collecting on a daily basis. Use an app to quickly scan and file these away.

13. Shoeboxed

Shoeboxed lets you scan receipts and business cards, track mileage, and even send expense reports with receipt images attached.

Save Effortlessly

If you've made it a financial priority to build up your savings accounts in 2017, you know it can take time and due diligence to make it happen. Personal finance apps help you manage your money, pay your bills on time, and also effortlessly save money.

14. Acorns

Acorns automatically funds your savings for you by rounding up your purchases and adding the change to your Acorns savings account. They'll even invest the "change" for you so you can potentially make much more than what your savings account is currently paying. (See also: Here's What I Learned About Money After Using Acorns)

15. Digit

Digit is the perfect savings sidekick. Once you link the app to your checking account, Digit analyzes your spending and sets aside small amounts of cash to save. (See also: Can a Robot Called Digit Really Help You Save More?)

Schedule Appointments

Tired of having to open up your calendar each time a meeting request comes in via email or text? Integrate your emails and even your text messages with your favorite calendar app to see everything in one place.

16. Gyst

Quickly determine potential meeting dates with Gyst, both with friends and business colleagues by linking your text messages and emails with your calendar.

17. Handle

Handle does just what it says and handles your life by linking your emails, to-do lists, and calendar, so you always know what's expected of you and where you need to be.

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

These 5 Money-Saving Hacks Are a Huge Waste of Time

Paul Michael — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:01:04 +0000

One of the many reasons you read Wise Bread articles is to live large on a small budget. That means deals, strategies, and money-saving hacks. However, although most money-saving hacks are well worth your time, some are red herrings. They appear to be great ways to save, but in reality, they can end up costing you a lot of time and trouble for very little reward. Here are five you should avoid. (See also: 8 Reasons Time Is Worth More Than Money)

1. Changing Your Own Oil

No doubt many people are shouting, "Hey, that is totally worth it!" at the screen right now, but let's look at the time, effort, and costs involved and see what kind of saving you're looking at. First of all, you have to purchase the initial equipment. This is a one-off expense, but you're looking at a good jack with jack stands, a drain pan, a ﬁlter wrench, a good ﬂashlight, and maybe a creeper, a set of gloves, and coveralls.

Depending on the quality of those items, you're looking at a minimum of $300. Then, you have the parts you need for every oil change: the oil, and the ﬁlter. Again, quality here can dictate cost. You can pay anywhere from $4-$60 for a ﬁlter, depending on the make and model of your car. But let's just say $5 for a ﬁlter. Oil is also a variable, depending on your climate, your car, and your budget. You can go for regular, blend, or full synthetic. You'll need at least four quarts, and even if you get the cheapest regular oil, you're in the hole for about $20. So there you have it — $25 for materials.

Then there's your time. Mechanics with access to pneumatic tools and lifts can easily get under the car and do this in 15 minutes. You probably don't have those though. You'll spend around 30 minutes changing the oil, or longer if it's your first time. You also need to purchase a container for the old oil, and dispose of it safely. Consider all of that, and then look around for deals in your area. Many garages will offer oil changes at a loss, so that they can inspect your car, and find problems that they can work on for a profit. You can get an oil change for $20 or less, most of the time with a synthetic blend oil, plus a top off your fluids. Just don't take it to the dealership, where an oil change can set you back $50 or more.

2. Making Your Own Detergents, Soaps, and Cleaning Supplies

You will often hear people (frugal experts especially), talking about the great value of making cleaning supplies. But before you dive into this process, take a look at the basic costs involved, and the time it takes to make them. Most of the time, you will have to buy ingredients that cost as much as, or even more than, the actual cleaning products themselves.

These days, stores like Target and Walmart carry store-brand products that are so cheap it boggles the mind. And empty squeeze bottles can actually cost more than cleaning products that come in squeeze bottles! So while it may be fun to turn your kitchen or garage into a chemistry lab, purchasing bora, baking soda, lemons, bleaches, lye, essential oils, aloe vera gel, clay, oatmeal, and all the tools needed to make your own products, just remember you're not saving much money. When you can pick up laundry detergent for a few bucks, and window cleaner for 99 cents, you are literally spending a lot of time for a few cents.

3. Cutting Coupons

When you see these shows about people who clip coupons and get two carts full of groceries for under $10, you might think cutting coupons is an excellent use of your time. This, in most cases, is not actually true. Professional "couponers" go to great lengths to get these deals, and usually fill their garages and basements with hundreds of bottles and cans that they may never use. It's a lengthy investment. For the average shopper, cutting coupons involves sitting at the kitchen table with a pair of scissors and a pile of circulars, spending a good 30-60 minutes looking for deals that apply. It's 25 cents off here, and 30 cents off there.

Then, when it comes time to shop, many of us simply forget to use them, or they sit at home in a drawer waiting to expire. When you do see deals that are great, they're for products you usually don't buy, so you're actually spending money to save money. If you spend an hour cutting coupons and save $7, congratulations… you're earning less than minimum wage.

4. Searching Endlessly for a Slightly Better Deal

The Internet, deal apps, and a plethora of other price comparison tools have turned us all into deal hounds. However, we can often get sucked into the trap of refusing to buy something until we get the absolute best deal we possibly can. We go to Amazon, then eBay, then do a bunch of searches looking for promo codes and special offers. In fact, many websites experience something called "cart abandonment" because they have a box for a promo code or discount. When we see that, we start the long, drawn out search for coupons and codes that are often only sent out to former customers in an email blast. Sites like RetailMeNot have certainly helped, but even then, we can waste hours trying code after code, eventually hitting pay dirt with that $2 off coupon.

Was it worth it? We may feel like it, but in reality, so many stores price-match and offer competitive values. In the end, we could have just bought the deal we found in the first five minutes. Don't accept the first price you see, but after five minutes, when you notice the lowest prices aren't changing, it's time to throw in the towel.

5. Driving Miles to Save a Few Bucks

We're all guilty of this. Some people swear by apps that promise to find them the cheapest gas in the state, and then drive miles to save 10 cents a gallon. Other people will drive halfway across town to save 50% on the price of a toy or game, which saves them $5–$10, but costs them gas, mileage, and their time. What's even more bizarre is that often, people look at the percentages involved in deals, not the money. The same person who drives across town to save $10 on a game costing $20 will not bother doing the same on a TV that costs $1000 versus $990. Keep in mind that $10 is $10, regardless of the original purchase price. But all that aside, really consider how far you're driving, and the money you're spending, to see if it's really worth it.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Reasons Time Is Worth More Than Money

Paul Michael — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 10:00:10 +0000

Time. Most of us never seem to have enough, and we're spending a good chunk of it earning money. It stands to reason that time is money, and the more time we have, the more money we can make. But are we looking at this the wrong way? Is time the real treasure here, and are we wasting it to stockpile something far less valuable?

1. You Can't Make More Time

You can always find a way to make more money. Although it's not something we want to do, we have the option to sell possessions, work an extra shift, pick up some freelance work, or maybe even win a few bucks on a scratch ticket. But there are no chances for you to create more time. You can't add an extra hour to the day. You can't give yourself 20 extra years on this planet by investing in the "time market." Time is finite for us, as individuals. We may have 85 years to live and thrive, or we may only get 30. This is worth remembering when you are spending more time making money than you are with friends and family. Those times are precious, and fleeting. Money? There's always more of that.

2. You Can Do More With a Day Off Than With a Day's Pay

Everyone earns different amounts, but a day's pay to a rich person or a poor person is still the same, relative to his or her situation. Whether it can buy you a new Xbox or a new Ferrari, the point is that a day's pay is finite. You will be given a set amount of money that can buy a limited number of items.

But with a day off work, the world is your oyster. Well, maybe not traveling to Tahiti or scaling Mount Everest, but you really can explore all sorts of adventures that you could not do while at work. Maybe you take that time to paint that picture you've always wanted to, or begin writing a new book. You can meditate, and find some of that inner peace you've been looking for. At the end of the day, a "thing" that costs money will never compete with an experience that broadens the mind, or simply makes you happy.

3. Time Creates More Memories Than Money

Think back to the best moments in your life so far. How many of them are based on money, and how many are based on time spent with friends and family? Very rarely do we sit back and think, Oh man, the day I got that new pair of shoes was awesome! Our most treasured memories come from time spent with the people we love, and in places we adore. Yes, it certainly does take a little money to travel. Luxurious vacations are definitely something we need money for, but we also treasure those times we walked hand-in-hand with a loved one in the park, or sang karaoke with friends at a local bar. Time gives us those memories we can look back on and laugh, or cry. And while money may help, it's never the main focus.

4. You Need Time to Spend Money

You may have all the money in the world, but you only have a certain amount of time in which to spend it. Billionaires around the globe have enough money to last 100 lifetimes, and yet they only have a set number of years on this planet. Even then, the last 10-20 years are not exactly the best. Money can buy you a lot, but it cannot buy you more time, which is why time is the most valuable resource we all have. Whether you're rolling in dough, or scraping together a living, time is the great equalizer. And most rich people would gladly give up a huge chunk of money for the chance to spend a few more good years with family and friends.

5. People Close to Death Wish for More Time, Not Money

How often have you heard the story of people saying, "It went by so fast" or "If only I'd had more time" as they were living out their final days? It's something said by so many people, so often, and with good reason. But very few people say, "I wish I'd had more money" or "If only I'd been a millionaire" as they consider the lives they lived. We may have regrets, but so few are based around money and possessions. Money may provide us with some luxuries, but time gives us so much more. Ask someone with a few months to live if they'd like $10 million or 10 more years on the planet, and you know the answer you'd get back.

6. Time Brings More Happiness Than Money

A study published earlier this year asked participants what brings them greater happiness — free time, or money. Over half of the people involved in the study — some 4,600 participants — said that free time brought them more happiness, and prioritized it as such. Free time came before earning money.

The questions were not as blatantly worked as, "Do you prefer free time over money?" though. Some were asked if they would prefer an expensive apartment with a long commute over a cheaper apartment with a shorter commute. Or, if they'd want a job with long hours and a high salary, or fewer hours and less salary. It seems that more people are interested in making the most of their free time, and would rather sacrifice the fringe benefits and luxuries in favor of quality time. It is worth noting, however, that the younger people surveyed were not as swayed by time as older respondents. Clearly, when you have much more time ahead of you, you value it less than money.

7. Time Is Priceless, Money Is Not

Money is money. The value of it fluctuates from day to day, and differs across currencies and investments. But time… you cannot put a price on that. For instance, what kind of price tag would you attach to spending one hour with someone you love? How about spending the day with a friend or family member you haven't seen in 15 years? What price would you put on an experience that broadens the mind, or brings you inner peace? While it is easy to say it would cost several thousand dollars to book a vacation, what is the cost of spending a few hours on a beach thinking of nothing but the sand between your toes? No worries. No stresses. Just that moment. What's more, time is free.

8. Time, Not Money, Is a Great Healer

It takes time to gain perspective. It cannot be bought. It takes time to realize your strengths and weaknesses. It takes time to figure out who you really are, and who you want to become.

When you put time against money, it's no contest. Money helps you live your life over that time, but it's time itself that gives you the greatest benefit.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Thinking Skills Frugal People Should Master

Paul Michael — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 10:00:09 +0000

"Think before you speak" is a lesson most of us have learned well over the years. However, "Think before you buy" is just as important to the frugal shopper. It's not just a case of questioning the reasons you're spending money, but also weighing up hidden costs, wants and needs, and even the usefulness of the item. Here are six thinking skills you can adopt today that can help you become an even better frugal shopper.

1. The 80/20 Rule (Pareto's Principle)

You may well have heard this before, and it has been around for over 100 years. The rule suggests that, for many events in life, 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. So, how does that apply to you, and your frugal life?

Well, for a start, take a look at your wardrobe. Almost all of us wear around 20% of the items in our closet approximately 80% of the time. Go in there tonight, and do a little stocktaking; the things you wear regularly, versus the things you hardly ever wear. Is there any point in having those rarely worn items around? It's highly likely you can sell or donate those items, and build your closet based on the items you wear most of the time (such as Steve Jobs filling his closet with black polo shirts and blue jeans).

If you sell items on eBay or Etsy, 80% of your business will come from 20% of your clients. So, you should use this information to keep them happy. Used more broadly, the 80/20 rule can help in other ways. When grocery shopping, 80% of the stuff in your cart should be devoted to "clean eating," such as fresh fruits and veggies, with 20% being more of the treats and packaged goods. And 80% of the items you buy should be on sale, if you can spend the time hunting for bargains. And 20% of your paycheck should go straight into a savings account. What's more, you spend 20% more when using a credit card, as opposed to cash or checks, so keep that in mind.

2. Always Put a Price on Your Time

You know the expression "Time is money," but how often do you apply it to your own life? It is vital to figure out exactly what your own time is worth, and using it as an anchor point whenever you think you are saving money by doing it yourself. (See also: How a T-shirt Equals a Taco)

For instance… washing the car. For the longest time, I used to wash my own car. It would take a good hour to do it properly. The local gas station charges $8 for a decent wash when filling up the tank. I realized my time is more valuable than $8/hour, which is barely minimum wage, and let's not forget the materials that have to be purchased to keep the car clean. So, I stopped washing my own car.

Some people will spend hours clipping coupons, and yet, they forget to use them, or the savings add up to only a few bucks. What did that time actually cost? What else could have been achieved? DIY jobs around the house can go either way. Sometimes, it is clearly worth your time to do something over paying a professional, such as changing a washer or even mowing the lawn. But on other occasions, stop and think first. If you're about to tackle building your own deck, or laying a floor, figure out the cost of hiring a professional, and then figure out how long it will take you to do the same job. Which is the better deal? If it takes you 80 hours, would that have been time better spent doing something else?

If you buy and sell items on eBay, you may be making a small profit. But, have you factored in your own time? If it takes hours each day to list the items, photograph them, package them up, and get them mailed out, does that eat into your profits? Are you really only making a few bucks an hour? Your time is valuable, and you should think of it like that whenever possible.

3. Look After the Pennies — The Dollars Will Take Care of Themselves

Don't think of those expenses that cost a dollar or less as something trivial, because they add up quickly. A candy bar here, a small coffee there, and before you know it, those tiny purchases are eating away at your bank account like termites in a 19th century cabinet. So, get into the habit of tracking your smaller expenditures, and repeating the "look after the pennies" mantra whenever you are putting low-cost items into your shopping cart. It may only be 69 cents, but is it worth it? Do you need it, or just want it? A good way to do this is to pay cash for anything that costs less than one dollar; you'll be amazed at how quickly that $20 bill disappears, whereas swiping a card each time doesn't have the same instant impact on your wallet.

You should also do your best to save that small change. An app like Acorns will literally take care of those pennies for you, putting your small change into a savings account, or an investment. What's more, never be afraid to haggle over pennies. Most of the time, people won't fight you, especially on an item costing $100. So, you ask if you can pay $99.20, and pocket the 80 cents. Do that enough times during the month, and your pennies are quickly turning into dollars. It can seem like a lot of work for small rewards, but remember… they add up. It's not simply 10 cents here, and 20 cents there. It's all adding to a pile that can make a big difference.

4. Keep One Eye Fixed on the Future

Many people who live for today (or YOLO), do not have the future in mind. This can lead to overspending from things like impulse buys and extravagant purchases, and eventually, a lack of funds in savings and retirement accounts. Whether you're 19 or 69, you should have one eye firmly fixed on the future, and it should be something you think of regularly.

One such example is growth.

Money, when combined with compound interest, can grow and grow over time. A small investment today can turn into many thousands of dollars in the future. Of course, when that future is 40 years away, it's hard to think about the impact of a few dollars here and there, but it really does make a vast difference.

When buying big-ticket items, consider the future. Is this going to be something you use on a daily basis, or are you buying it on a whim? Fitness equipment is a prime example of this. The dedication and effort required should be there before spending thousands on high-end machines. If you are not committed now, the shiny new exercise bike or rowing machine won't change that. It may get used for a week, but chances are, it will be at next year's garage sale.

And think about money being spent today, and how it could impact your future. Are you spending it wisely? Would it be better off in a savings account? What are you sacrificing in your future to have things now? It may radically change the way you spend today.

5. Question Value for Money

There's an expression; "Buy cheap, buy twice." There's another expression; "A fool and his money are easily parted." These two philosophies can sometimes be at odds with each other, especially when comparing the prices of two similar purchases. A pair of shoes that costs $100 may last you four to five years, whereas a pair of shoes costing $400 may last a lifetime. However, will you still want those same shoes 30 years from now, or will they be completely out of fashion? If that's the case, the cheaper pair is probably your better bet. They may not last as long, but you don't want them to.

However, the same cannot be said of a major appliance. The $300 dishwasher may do everything you want, but will it last? The $800 dishwasher has the same features, but it's made with superior parts, and will last many years longer than the budget model. In this case, you are better off paying for the more expensive model.

This can apply to almost every purchase you make. Is it worth spending the extra $1 to go from generic ketchup to Heinz? Some people say yes, others say it's a waste. Check the weight of the items on the grocery shelves, too. Perhaps the brand name package of cereal is actually cheaper than the generic, but you may discover the generic weighs twice as much. A plumber that costs half as much as one you have used in the past may take twice as long. Or, the work may be substandard, and will need to be fixed again. However, it may be that the cheap plumber gets incredible ratings and simply charges less than the others because he or she has less overheads. Whatever you are buying, even if it's a service, question the value.

6. Examine Your Wants and Needs

Frugal thinkers have mastered the separation of the wants and the needs. Learn to do it, and you can save a fortune. Sometimes, it's an open and shut case. You need milk. You need gas for the car. You need dog food. But even in those situations, there are wants as well. You need milk, but want the most expensive brand. You need gas, but want premium. You need dog food, but want organic. You have to assess the additional costs, and whether they are worth paying simply because you want it.

Of course, things get a little more tricky when it comes to other expenses. You need a car. But you want a new one, not a used one. There are good reasons for having both. You want to buy instead of leasing. There, your wants may well be justified, or they may not be. So, you have to employ an online calculator, and figure out why you want to buy, and what the pros and cons are of each method. It may turn out your wants and needs are in perfect sync, or that your wants are impossible on your budget.

When you buy clothing, what do you need, and what do you want? You need shoes, but do you need $500 Guccis? Probably not. However, when weighing up a pair of work boots that cost twice as much as the most popular brand, but have much better protection, you may need to spend the extra money.

Wants versus needs should be top of mind whenever you open your wallet or purse. From buying takeout to getting a four-bedroom house, analyze it. Is it a want, or a need? This thinking strategy can save you a small fortune.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Top 7 Blogs for Entrepreneurs

Damian Davila — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 14:00:04 +0000

Time is money. Nobody understands that better than U.S entrepreneurs and business owners. When asked on Reddit about the most painful problems they face on a day-to-day basis, most business owners complained about time — time to meet deadlines at a neck-breaking pace, time to collect payments from clients, time to keep the company books up to date.

Still, entrepreneurs and business owners know the importance of keeping up with the latest developments in entrepreneurship and learning from successful business leaders. For those that can't afford sitting down to read an entire book, here are the seven best blogs for entrepreneurs.

1. Seth's Blog

Efficient and effective are the best words to describe the blog posts from marketing expert Seth Godin. He has authored several bestsellers on marketing, such as Permission Marketing and Purple Cow, and on entrepreneurship, such as Tribes and The Icarus Deception.

At Seth's Blog, you can find tips on many business topics, including how to create additional revenue streams from freelancing, why it's important to maintain high quality at all times, and how to purchase advertising. Most of Godin's posts take less than five minutes to read, but they are guaranteed to get you thinking about key issues in entrepreneurship.

2. Occam's Razor

In his book Web Analytics: An Hour a Day, Avinash Kaushik provides a step-by-step guide on successful web analytics strategy for your business website. And as search engines tweak their search algorithms on a rolling basis and emerging social media companies rule the Internet, some data and processes require constant revision.

At the Occam's Razor blog, Kaushik provides analysis of important web analytics and digital marketing topics for entrepreneurs, such as how to use social media as a business. Unlike other bloggers, Kaushik backs up all his claims with actual data (he's a self-professed "web analytics ninja," after all!), utilizes plenty of screenshots (particularly useful for users of Google Analytics), and provides actionable takeaways. (See also: 5 Easy Ways to Make Extra Money Blogging)

3. Guy Kawasaki's Blog

Known as the father of evangelism marketing for his work with Apple in the early '80s, Guy Kawasaki is a prolific businessman and author. With 1.69 million followers on LinkedIn and 1.46 million followers on Twitter, Kawasaki is a thought leader in entrepreneurship, marketing, and PR.

While Kawasaki's blog skews a bit towards tech startups, his writing is still applicable to other industries. For example, he provides insights on the importance of scale in business, guidelines on how to excel at a conference panel, and tips for making your pitch rock.

4. 500 Hats

A member of the famous "PayPal Mafia" (he was the Director of Marketing at PayPal from 2001 to 2004), Dave McClure is a prominent entrepreneur and angel investor. McClure knows his stuff and helps run a fund that makes investments ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 in startups. At his blog 500 Hats (one of the most-read blogs by venture capitalists, according to the Wall Street Journal), he provides an inside view into the world of venture capitalism and angel investing.

For those looking to launch or optimize their startup, developing a good understanding of what investors are looking for in a startup is essential for survival. Startup owners can learn what makes investors tick at McClure's current and previous blog (Master of 500 Hats).

5. Gary Vaynerchuk's Blog

Owners of family businesses will find Gary Vaynerchuk to be an inspiration. In just five years, he took his family wine business from a respectable $3 million revenue operation to a $60 million revenue powerhouse.

Vaynerchuk is a big fan of no-nonsense advice and his blog is proof of that. Every single one of his posts provides an estimate of how long it will take you to read it (most reads are under four minutes). In addition of his blog, check out his #AskGaryVeeShow on YouTube in which he answers questions about marketing, social media, and entrepreneurship submitted via Twitter.

6. Kabbage Small Business Blog

When you're a small business owner, you have a lot of questions. A great place for finding the answer to many of those questions is the Kabbage Small Business Blog. (Disclaimer: Until December 2015, I contributed to this blog.) What makes this blog stand out from others is that it caters to minority small business owners, offering advice on finding funding options and providing success stories from peers.

From determining when you have enough money to hire your first employee, to how to improve your business credit score, to where to find grants for women-owned businesses, the Small Business Blog covers a wide variety of topics relevant to small business owners of all backgrounds.

7. Brian Solis

A digital analyst, anthropologist, and futurist, Brian Solis keeps an eye on the latest technological developments and their effects on business and marketing. Solis constantly seeks ways that businesses can leverage technology to improve the customer experience.

On the Brian Solis blog, you will find tips on how to deliver a better customer service experience, such as to stop making unsupported assumptions about your customers and to deliver a consistent customer experience across all channels. This is key because, after all, without customers you won't have a business.

What are your favorite blogs on entrepreneurship?

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This article is from Damian Davila of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Time-Management Skills That Will Help Your Kid Win at School

Mikey Rox — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:00:29 +0000

Want your kids to succeed at school without spending every waking hour with their noses buried in books? Teach them how to manage their time most efficiently with these 11 tips on perfecting that September-to-May juggling act.

1. "Mind Map" Before a Writing Project

You may not have heard of "mind mapping," but the concept isn't new at all. It's really just a fancy 21st century name for brainstorming, which we were taught as kids. Before your kid embarks on a project — particularly a written assignment — have them brainstorm their ideas, outline the steps of the project, and start organizing their thoughts into full-fledged ideas. That way, when it's time to get to the nitty-gritty of it all, the process will flow more seamlessly since all the moving parts will be in place.

"The best time-saving tip we know of is when a child has to write something — a book report, research paper, speech/presentation — is to use mind mapping," says Bryan Mattimore, chief idea guy at The Growth Engine Co., an innovation agency. "We have kids (and corporate innovation teams) create a mind map of what they might want to write first. It makes it a great deal easier for young and old alike to first get everything out in the mind map, so that they can write an outline and then more effectively and quickly write the piece."

2. Use a Calendar

I've used a monthly calendar to roughly plan out 30 days of advance assignments since I started my own business six years ago. I'm able to see what I've completed and what's coming up at a glance, and I can easily make room for additional assignments by moving other items around if need be. I've found this method of organization extremely helpful not only in terms of productivity, but also psychologically as the completed projects I cross off help ward off feelings of anxiety that I'm falling behind.

Author Patty Wood suggests taking a similar approach with your child.

"Post a big school calendar above the child's desk or workstation so they have a visual of time and their assignments," she says. "Have them put color stickers for tests and assignments on the due dates. When they look at any assignment, they can figure out how much work and time it will take to prepare and go on the calendar and assign time on days leading up to it. For example, if they have a speech on September 26, they can put an hour on, say, five days in the two weeks prior to the speech to get ready for it."

3. Prepare for the Next Day (or Week) in Advance

In addition to my monthly calendar, I also plan ahead on a more immediate level, like preparing my weekly meals all on one Sunday afternoon, as well as choosing and ironing that week's outfits. With all of those tasks out of the way for the week, I'm able to sleep in a few more minutes in the mornings and start my days with much less stress.

Let your kids choose the clothes they'd like to wear that week, and invite them into the kitchen to choose what snacks and drinks they'd like in their lunches. As they get older, if this has become routine over the years, they'll eventually do all of this on their own (hopefully), so you can rest assured that your young adult is well on his or her way to being A-okay in the real world.

4. Establish a Dedicated Homework Time and Location

You'll have an easier time getting your child to do homework if you establish a dedicated time and location to do it. Once the routine is solidly in place, it will become habitual with, ideally, no after-school fuss.

5. Create a Checklist

In addition to my monthly calendar of projects, I also keep a daily to-do list — which includes both personal and professional items — to help me stay on task throughout the day. I try to plan them out in terms of the time I think each activity will take, but that's not always reliable as sometimes things don't go according to plan. Your kids can benefit from this system — and so can you — by providing them an outline of what needs to be done for the day and by what deadline.

6. Avoid Over-Scheduling Extracurricular Activities

A lot of kids get sidetracked or fall behind because of over-scheduling, and if that's happening in your family, it's time to take a step back and examine your priorities. Extracurricular activities — like sports, music, art, and theater — are important to your children's physical, social, mental, and emotional development, but not at the cost of education and overall well being. If they're doing too much in a day, and their homework or other educational pursuits are suffering, something has to go.

Also, as a parent, stay sensitive to your child's demeanor and personality. If they're stressed out, unhappy, or constantly on edge, perhaps it's because they feel over-worked and overscheduled. Check in from time to time to see how they're doing in that regard.

7. Limit Phone/Social Media/TV Time

If you're addicted to social media, the Internet, or your e-mail like I am, you know firsthand how much time is wasted while you're on the phone and computer instead of concentrating on your work. This goes double for your kids whose hormones are raging amid all the traditional school drama that happens from pre-teen age all the way to high school graduation. To ensure their media doesn't interfere with their after-school responsibilities, limit the time they can spend on it by perhaps confiscating the devices until all homework, chores, etc. are finished, or granting them a certain amount of time to be online/the phone each night.

You probably won't win any Parent of the Year awards in their eyes, but you're doing the right thing — and they'll recognize that someday.

8. Set Artificial Deadlines for Assignments

If your child has trouble remembering assignments or just procrastinates (like every other teenager — and adult — in the world), another potential tactic to take is to set artificial deadlines for assignments. I sometimes do this for myself if I dread a certain assignment, and I also employ this tactic when scheduling activities with my always-late husband. By creating a "window of lateness" as I like to call it, you can almost be sure that everything (and everyone) will be on time, or at least on the actual, much-later deadline.

9. Prioritize Assignments in Order of Importance

Kids tend to gravitate toward the easiest work there is, but that's not always the best approach to their assignments given that not all assignments are created equal. Some count for much more of their final grade than others, which makes the highly weighted projects a priority over smaller, more easily accomplished assignments. Review your child's schedule with them to go over their projects in depth to understand what they entail, recognize how much work they will require, and create a plan to meet the deadlines.

10. Keep a Regimented Schedule at Home

An after-school free-for-all will lead to certain disaster for your children in terms of their educational priorities, which is why it's in your entire family's best interest to keep a regimented schedule at home.

"To best help children manage their time effectively while in school, help them to understand and practice time management outside of the school day; this will allow them to internalize this structure and use it elsewhere, especially at school," says Dr. Lindsay Popilskis, certified school psychologist. "Agree upon start and end times for academic tasks — such as homework — and fun tasks, and stick to those times. You may even set a timer for activities so that children can independently see how much time has been spent and how much time is left for each activity. With all that being said, the most important time for routine is bedtime. Without a good night sleep, children have difficulties maintaining their focus, which will not capitalize on their time no matter how managed it is."

Do you have other time-management tips to help kids win at school that you'd like to add? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: What Successful People Do To Maximize Their Time

Amy Lu — Thu, 28 May 2015 19:00:09 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on things that successful people do to maximize their time, possible causes for your high bills, and ways to keep promises with yourself.

time management

Ask the Readers: What Time Management Tools Do You Use?

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

Giveaway Rules:

10 Time-Management Fails — and How to Fix Them

1. You are a masterful procrastinator

2. You don't take advantage of modern technology

3. You haven't established a morning routine

4. You make too much time for fun

5. You waste time because you're disorganized

6. You're trying to do too much at once

7. You tend to rush things

8. Your goals are ill-defined

9. You get laser-focused on one task

10. You have trouble making decisions

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How to Manage Two Jobs (Without Burning Out)

You must make time for yourself

Treat yourself when you can

Think positive

Release the pressure

Do whatever you can to make the jobs enjoyable

Finally, keep your house in order

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Become a Model Employee With This 10-Point Work Etiquette Checklist

1. Read the handbook

2. Stay away from water cooler gossip

3. Don't use the computer for online shopping and surfing

4. Keep personal calls, texts, and emails to a minimum

5. Become a better team player

6. Work on your EQ

7. Leave your personal life at the door

8. Manage your time well

9. Don't expose problems without providing solutions

10. Learn what other staff members do

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Best Money Tips: Simple Time Management Tips That Work

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Flashback Friday: 43 Easiest Ways to Become a Time Management Master

Flashback Friday: 46 Easy Ways to Be More Productive

5 Checkout Line Tricks to Finish Shopping Faster

1. Get Behind a Full Cart

2. Avoid Chatty Cashiers

3. Head Left for Fastest Checkout

4. Pick a Line That Leads to Several Cashiers

5. Examine Self-Checkout Lanes

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Organize 8 Key Areas of Your Life With These 17 Smart Apps

Track Your To-Do List

1. Wunderlist

2. Todoist

3. Any.do

Log Your Time

4. Awesome Time Logger

5. My Hours

6. Toggl

Take Notes

7. Evernote

8. Google Keep

Organize Your Projects

9. Trello

10. Asana

Protect Your Passwords

11. Keeper

12. LastPass

Control Your Documents

13. Shoeboxed

Save Effortlessly

14. Acorns

15. Digit

Schedule Appointments

16. Gyst

17. Handle

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These 5 Money-Saving Hacks Are a Huge Waste of Time

1. Changing Your Own Oil

2. Making Your Own Detergents, Soaps, and Cleaning Supplies

3. Cutting Coupons

4. Searching Endlessly for a Slightly Better Deal