How to Become a Money Magnet

How to Become a Money Magnet
By Valerie Dawson


Like most people, you have probably been taught to see money as a tangible resource that resides in your wallet and bank account until you need to spend it. You use it to pay bills, buy products and services, and support worthwhile causes.When you need more money, you probably do what most people would do: take physical action that will bring in more money, such as working extra hours, asking your boss for a raise, or even selling a few of your material possessions. What you may not realize is that you can attract money into your life in much easier ways; simply by changing the way you think about money and abundance. It’s called the Law of Attraction, and getting it to work effectively for you can make the difference between a lifetime of lack and struggle, or abundance and ease. This report is going to share 7 of the biggest mistakes that people make when attempting to use the Law of Attraction to attract more money into their lives; and offer helpful suggestions on how to turn them around if you find that you may be doing the same.
Law of Attraction Money Mistake #1 Holding a Mind-Set of Lack and Struggle Based on your own life experiences, would you say that obtaining money on a regular basis is easy or difficult? In other words, do you have to work very hard to receive enough money to cover your monthly expenses, or does money seem to come to you effortlessly? Take some time to think carefully about these questions because they reveal something very important: your overall mind-set regarding money and wealth. You can tell immediately whether you have a wealth mind-set or lack mind-set by looking at your life experiences. Law of Attraction Think Rich Lesson #1 Your Mind-Set Creates Your Experiences The Law of Attraction is activated by your mind-set – in other words, the things you think, believe and feel on a regular basis. Here’s how it works: Your thoughts trigger your emotions. Your emotional state emits a specific frequency of energy to the universe, and the universe returns events and experiences into your life, that correspond with your emotional frequency. When you think and feel positively on a regular basis, everything in your life seems to flow more easily, including money. When your thoughts and emotions lean more toward the negative side on a regular basis, you experience more problems, setbacks and financial lack in your life. Also important are your beliefs. Your beliefs form the structure of what is possible for you. If you believe you have to work hard to have a lot of money, you’ll create exactly that experience for yourself. If you don’t believe you deserve more than a certain amount of money, you’ll block more from arriving. Whatever your beliefs are, they are your TRUTH, and you will subconsciously create evidence that supports that truth over and over again until you learn to do things differently.
Law of Attraction Money Mistake #2 Focusing on What You Don’t Have Have you ever agonized over a shortage of money? Have you worried obsessively about not being able to pay your bills or buy something you wanted? Believe it or not, you were probably making the situation worse by doing so. We know that lack is the condition of not having something you want – in other words, the absence of something. But the absence of exactly what may surprise you. Lack is not the absence of money, or health, or love. Those are just the symptoms of lack. At its core, lack is simply the blockage of ENERGY. When it comes right down to it, everything is energy. When you experience lack of any kind, it’s a sure sign that you are cutting off the natural flow of energy through your life. Every time you worry about your financial situation, agonize over a shortage of money, or feel stressed about your bills, you attract more of the experience of lack into your life.

Law of Attraction Think Rich Lesson #2 Focus on What You DO Have and DO Want It may sound incredibly difficult to focus on the positive when your life doesn’t look so rosy, but it is vital to find a way to do it. When you focus on the good things you already have and think about the things you want from an optimistic and hopeful state of mind, you cannot help but attract more of them into your life.There are endless ways to begin focusing your thoughts on the things you do have and do want. Start a gratitude journal and jot down a few things each day that you are grateful for. (Hint: even if these things are not related to money, they can still get that positive energy flowing and attract more good things into your life; including more money.) You can also visualize having more money and imagine being able to pay your bills easily. The more you focus on things like this, the more they will begin to show up in your physical reality.

Law of Attraction Money Mistake #3 Attracting Lack with Negative Emotions Focusing on lack and struggle is destructive enough, but it’s possible to make it even worse by infusing this focus with strong, negative emotions. Think of your emotions as the fuel that lends power to everything that manifests in your life. When it comes to money, do you often find yourself locked into negative emotions like these? Fear Anxiety Helplessness Hopelessness Pessimism Doubt Frustration Worry Jealousy ResentmentEvery time you experience emotions like these, you are creating more lack. In order to turn lack into abundance, you have to avoid investing in these negative emotions.

Law of Attraction Think Rich Lesson #3 How to Prevent Negative Emotions from Creating More Lack

There are two things you can do to prevent these emotions from creating more lack in your life:1) First, avoiding sinking into feelings like those described above is crucial. As soon as you notice yourself starting to feel stressed or worried about money, immediately shift your focus to something else. You can engage in a bit of self-talk if it helps; say something like, "There’s no point worrying about something I can’t control, so I’m going to focus on something that makes me feel good." Then spend time on unrelated activities, or find a way to feel better about your financial situation.2) Secondly, begin directing more positive emotions toward your financial situation.Even if you have to engage in a bit of fantasizing in order to do so, you need to get some positive emotions flowing to attract more abundance. There are many ways to do this, but one that works well is to keep affirming, "I always have more than enough money for everything I need." Just keep saying it over and over again, allowing yourself to feel confident and happy that your financial needs are being met. This is also a good thing to do when you notice you’re starting to feel worried or frightened about not having enough money. Immediately turn the focus around and say, "I ALWAYS have more than enough money for EVERYTHING I need." (Say it with power and conviction in your voice, and really believe that it is so.) As you begin shifting your focus from negative emotions to positive emotions every day, you should start to notice your financial situation shifting to a better place also. You might receive an unexpected check in the mail, you might get a bonus or pay raise at work, or you may even notice you’re starting to receive unexpected gifts or discounts. These are great signs that it’s working! Keep replacing negative emotions with positive as often as possible and you’ll keep the good energy flowing – which will keep inspiring greater and greater change in your life.

The Cost Question

By Dr. John C. Maxwell
Want to Live the Dream? Pay the Price.
Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when - POW! - THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it's the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it's the adorable dress that's exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features.
Whatever the case, there's an initial moment when you're enamored with THE product. For a split second reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.
The Dream Is Free, but the Journey Isn't
When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As my friend Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?
If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don't fall into our laps by accident or good fortunate. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.
The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think
Dreams can't be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn't an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment.
I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don't realize how quickly the costs come. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.
The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect
All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, "Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated." The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.
Having done a good deal of travel, I've learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately access the costs upfront. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full costs won't be apparent until we're already on the journey.
The Price Must Be Paid More Than Once
As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.
Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so to a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up to go up.
Let's face it: dreams don't work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won't get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.
It Is Possible To Pay Too Much for Your Dream
Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don't mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I've seen it happen all too often. I've watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience - all in the name of a "dream."
As Jesus of Nazareth once said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?" Some prices aren't worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.The Cost QuestionBy Dr. John C. Maxwell
Want to Live the Dream? Pay the Price.
Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when - POW! - THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it's the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it's the adorable dress that's exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features.
Whatever the case, there's an initial moment when you're enamored with THE product. For a split second reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.
The Dream Is Free, but the Journey Isn't
When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As my friend Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?
If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don't fall into our laps by accident or good fortunate. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.
The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think
Dreams can't be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn't an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment.
I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don't realize how quickly the costs come. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.
The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect
All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, "Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated." The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.
Having done a good deal of travel, I've learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately access the costs upfront. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full costs won't be apparent until we're already on the journey.
The Price Must Be Paid More Than Once
As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.
Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so to a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up to go up.
Let's face it: dreams don't work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won't get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.
It Is Possible To Pay Too Much for Your Dream
Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don't mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I've seen it happen all too often. I've watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience - all in the name of a "dream."
As Jesus of Nazareth once said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?" Some prices aren't worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.

Five Pillars to Wealth
By Kofi Oppong


You should know that there are five pillars to wealth, putting them all together will allow you to live the life of your dreams. For me this is time freedom and lots of money, why not? I am not ashamed to say I like money and enjoy spending it! Time freedom allows me to do what I want, when I want, and how I want. The five pillars have been used by many millionaires to create wealth. So what are they?
1. Career
2. Business
3. Property
4. Stocks
5. Internet
Add your mentality and mind set, then gain some ideas from millionaires or wealthy mentors and the cash will start flowing in.
Of the five pillars listed above the career in the form of a job is the most limiting in terms of tax paid and time freedom. You should use this area to fund the development of the other four.
When you are earning as much as you would in your career from any of the other four pillars, then it is time to give up the just over broke (JOB)! If you only have a career then I would suggest using seminars to learn about the other four pillars.
Your financial education begins with you! Most people have a hidden talent but don't know it as they are caught in the systems of perpetual debt and lack of understanding of the 5 pillars to wealth.
The foundation of the five pillars are your mindset / Psychology and your millionaire concepts. I.e think big, the end goal is the big picture and your five pillars are the vehicle to get you there!

Ten Financial Mistakes That Will Put You In The Poor House
by Maria O'Brien on 7/29/2008

As a teenager, I became a much better driver after my only car accident, in which I crashed into an oncoming vehicle and both were totaled. I was a much more aware motorist, and certainly drove more carefully, after this event. Mistakes can be the best teachers, as the lessons learned are ingrained by the outcome of our failures. Finances are the same way. You can avoid making bad financial mistakes (that could land you in the poor house) by learning what not to do. Here are ten of the biggest financial mistakes people make that you can avoid.
1. Spending more than you earn
Whether you make $20,000 a year or have another zero on the end, your spending habits are the single biggest influence on your financial success or, conversely, your failure. Avoid the poor house by spending wisely and keeping your expenses in line with your income. Ideally, save and invest a percentage of each paycheck or income source you have. And don’t spend money on a credit card that you can’t pay off when the bill arrives.
2. Wasting money frivolously
Spending money wastefully, even if you do spend less than what you earn, is another bad money idea. Even if you think you can afford the payments, buying a new car every two years just doesn’t make fiscal sense for most people. Ironically, most first-generation millionaires buy slightly used vehicles or drive their new ones for many years instead of frequently buying expensive, depreciating vehicles. The problem with wasting money is that you have less for saving and investing.
3. Not having a financial plan
Eschewing a financial plan, and not setting goals can set you up for financial problems. Success in any area is largely dependent on having a written plan, short-term and long-term goals, and by working that plan. Reevaluate your plan and track your progress often using whatever method best suits you, whether it’s through online software or in longhand in a notebook. Discuss money with your spouse or partner, meeting regularly to go over the budget and common financial goals.
4. No insurance or the wrong type
Allowing yourself and your assets to be exposed to damage, injury or lawsuits without proper coverage is another way to lose everything you’ve worked to obtain. Health insurance protects you in case of physical injury and high medical bills, and an umbrella policy over your house, auto and other policies protects you from lawsuit judgments.
5. Investing in get-rich-quick schemes
Putting your money in investment vehicles you don’t understand or buying those get-rich-quick packages will put you on the fast track to the poor house. Your best bet for avoiding all of that is to invest in things you understand and regularly adding to and diversifying your holdings. Don’t waste your money on online courses and packages that promise to teach you how to earn six figures online. Do the research before you spend the money.
6. Taking on too much debt
How much is too much debt? Some financially-savvy advisors say any debt is too much, including Dave Ramsey, who became a millionaire and then lost everything because he relied too heavily on debt in his personal life and for business finances. Others are comfortable with small amounts of debt, or house mortgages and auto loans. But realize that even student loans can be hard to handle if money is tight. If you do acquire new debt, do so cautiously and after researching the best loan options.
7. Not expecting the unexpected
Life happens, and if you don’t have any emergency savings, life insurance on yourself and your spouse and contingency plans for potential income loss, you’re setting yourself up for financial trouble. Plan to save three to six months’ expenses in easy-to-access savings accounts as a starting goal for a rainy day, whenever it happens.
8. Working the minimum
Whether you’re just doing the bare minimum at your job or only making enough money to scrape by, working the absolute smallest number of hours you can get away with or completing only the essential tasks, you’re putting your career in jeopardy. To get ahead at work or in your business, give your work the time and attention it deserves. After all, your ability to make income is likely the biggest financial asset you have.
9. Counting on Social Security funds
If your retirement plan is entitlement benefits, it’s past time to reevaluate that plan. Social Security is on shaky ground, and the sensible approach is to discount it entirely when planning for your future. That way, if anything does come through, it’s just icing on the cake in retirement.
10. Putting money above family
While most people tend toward not doing enough for their financial success, there are those at the opposite end of the spectrum whose priorities have been warped until money takes the highest place in their lives. Take the time to evaluate your life and the place money has in it. Money is simply a means, a tool, and should never be sought as the end in itself.
Just Say ‘No!’
It is not just a cheesy anti-drugs campaign. Saying ‘No!’ should be a regular expression for someone trying to stay in the black. Anytime you’re presented with a reason to spend, be it for just a large sized fries at lunch, additional coverage, or buying two to get the third free, alarms should sound and you need to ask why you’re forking over that extra dough. Don’t let it just apply to things you add on to a bill. Just say ‘No!’ to everything that forces you to open your wallet, then take a good hard look and decide if it’s worth your hard earned money.
What financial mistakes have you made? Which ones have you been able to avoid?

• Don't Lose Money!By: Brian Tracy

Throughout the history of American enterprise, you've heard the words, "work hard and save your money." Work hard and save your money. It is the oldest rule for success in America. It's so important, as a matter of fact, that W. Clement Stone once said, "if you cannot save money, then the seeds of greatness are not in you."Saving Is a DisciplineWhy is it that saving money is so important? Because saving money is a discipline and any discipline affects all other disciplines in your life. If you do not have the discipline to refrain from spending all the money that you earn, then you are not qualified to become wealthy and if you do become wealthy, you'll not be capable of holding on to it.The Law of AttractionA principle with regard to saving your money is the law of attraction. The law of attraction is activated by saved money. Even one dollar saved will start to attract more money. Here's what I suggest that you do. If you're really serious about your future, go down and open a savings account. Put as much money as you can into it, even if it's only ten dollars. And then begin to collect little bits of money, and every week go down and put something into that account.Attract More Money Into Your LifeYou will find that the more you put in that account, the more you will attract from sources that you cannot now predict. But if you do not begin the savings process, if you don't begin putting something away towards your financial independence, then nothing will happen to you. The law of attraction just simply won't work.
Invest Your Money ConservativelyOnce you begin to accumulate money, here's another rule. Invest the money conservatively. Marvin Davis, self-made billionaire, was asked by Forbes Magazine, "How do you account for your financial success?" And he said, "Well, I have two rules for financial investing." He said, "Rule number one is, don't lose money." He said, whenever I'm tempted, whenever I see an opportunity to invest where there's a possibility I could lose it all, I just simply refrain from putting the money in. Rule number two is, whenever I get tempted, I refer back to rule number one. Don't lose money.Get Rich SlowlyGeorge Classon says, in The Richest Man In Babylon, that the key is to accumulate your funds and then invest them very conservatively. One of the characteristics of self-made millionaires, one of the characteristics of old money in America is that it's very cautiously, conservatively and prudently invested.Don't try to get rich quickly. Concentrate rather on getting rich slowly. If all you do is save ten percent of your earnings, put it away, and let it accumulate at compound interest, that alone will make you wealthy.Action ExercisesHere are two things you can do to apply these lessons to your financial life:First, open a separate savings and investing account today. From this day forward, put every single dollar you can spare into this account and resolve to never touch it or spend it for any reason.Second, whenever you consider any investment of your savings, remember the rule, "Don't lose money!" It is better to keep the money working at a low rate of interest than to take the chance of losing it. Be careful. A fool and his money are soon parted.

How Do Entrepreneurs Do It? The Incredible Power Of Mental FocusBy Kerry Needs


Wouldn't you just love to know how the likes of Richard Branson or Dragon's Den entrepreneur Peter Jones accumulated their wealth? To truly discover the attributes and qualities that separates the rich, successful people from those who struggle against life?
Well, all successful people have one thing in common- the power of their mental focus. These people are experts in mirroring their inner world with what they desire in their outer world. It is living the principles of Whole Science to its fullest- noticing and appreciating that our inner, mental world is not distinguishable from the outer, material world.
It truly seems a miracle how many entrepreneurs go from nothing to great riches, doesn't it? So what is it about their mental state that is so important? And how can you replicate this mind-set to succeed in your life? Just think-what would happen if you won the lottery tomorrow, if you became a millionaire overnight? I'm sure you're already thinking of the house(s) you would have, the places you'd visit, the clothes you'd wear... and soon enough you're becoming excited at the prospect of having wealth beyond your wildest dreams.
What would happen if I told you that part of what you were doing just then is the secret to many entrepreneurs' success? No, not dreaming of winning the lottery, but thinking of all those things you do want. I bet if I told you to think of a car you'd like to buy, you have a mental image- right? Maybe even hearing the sound of the powerful engine or the good feeling you'd have driving it around.
Entrepreneurs have these kinds of images running through their heads pretty much all the time, which enables them to consistently gain the specific results they want.
'The power of positive thinking' has now become a marketable commodity. From empowerment gurus such as Anthony Robbins to groundbreaking movies such as 'The Secret', we are consistently told that the way to achieve our desires is to focus on what we want- not what we don't want.
Anthony Robbins likens it as to a speed rally driver racing round a track- if we focus on the wall, that's what we're going to crash into! To achieve the outcomes, goals and dreams you truly want in life, focusing on the end point- where you want to go, is the main key to success.
So what if there were solid, reliable scientific evidence for the power of mental focus? I'm guessing we would all begin to hold images in our minds of cheques instead of bills arriving through the post! But firstly, why is it important to focus on where you want to go, instead of those things you want to avoid? Well, by making pictures or images in your mind, you are giving instructions to your unconscious mind.
Believe it or not, your unconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a real image and an imagined one, which is why dreams can often seem so terribly lifelike and can sometimes frighten us- as if they were actually happening. An important thing to remember is that the unconscious mind does not process negatives. It actually deletes them. The reason being is that you will, consciously or unconsciously, create an internal picture or representation of that which you were trying to avoid. Have you ever thought 'I mustn't spill this' or 'I better not knock that over' . Your unconscious mind will create a picture of that which you wish to avoid- so a spilt glass of wine or broken crockery can often result.
But what about those negative things we hold in our mind on a consistent basis? Things like 'I'm poor' or ' I'm no good at anything'. What kind of images do these create?
'So what?' You may be thinking. 'It doesn't actually matter what thoughts I have, positive or negative, these thoughts are mine and thinking positively won't change a thing'. This would be indeed true under the interpretation of our current scientific model. However, the power of our mind is much more influential than we first thought.
To put it briefly, advances in physics have discovered that when you delve through the levels of our being, our molecules and our atoms, all that is left is energy- interconnected energy fields. They discovered that particles also act like waves, and can change depending on our observation.
What do I mean? Well, everything exists as possibility, or a waveform. When quantum physicists discovered that the act of observation causes possibility to collapse, it meant that our minds have the potential to create reality.
Simply put, our minds are like a laser beam which when focused, have the potential to change the 'energy' around us. Since the new paradigm of science has revealed that mind and matter are part of the same force, the same 'energy', it means that having a consistent focus is akin to being a magnet, pulling those things toward you which you hold in your mind.
Our thoughts create our reality? Having focused thoughts of wealth can bring us riches? Surely, its not that easy? I hear you say. And you'd be right. Just think, if our minds are lasers we need to have enough power within us to drive that laser towards what we want. Many successful people have noted that a burning desire and passion towards what they wanted to achieve helped them towards financial freedom.
As Napolean Hill, author of the acclaimed 'Think and Grow Rich' states 'weak desires bring weak results'. So if you were setting up a business say, but were not truly focused, passionate or determined about that business it is less likely to succeed.
To create enough 'mental energy' that is needed to achieve your goal there has to be so much desire for what you want that it will drive you into taking action. For example, entrepreneurs such as Donald Trump, Duncan Bannatyne and Richard Branson all mention that their goals sometimes became a bit of an obsession- something that they would pursue at all costs.
So as you think of that house or car you want, stop, and just ask yourself- how much do I really want this? You'll know how much if you get an excited feeling- the feeling of 'I've got to have this!' Ask yourself- what will it be like if you get what you want? Imagine living in the house, or driving that car. If your reaction is nothing less than bursting with excitement and enthusiasm you can be sure you're on the right track.

How Can Duncan Bannatyne Spend So Much Time on TV and Still Grow a Multi-Million Pound Business?By Richard Parkes Cordock


Some years ago, I interviewed Duncan Bannatyne as part of my research into high-performing entrepreneurs. The first time I first met him, Duncan wasn't as famous as he is today; he hadn't yet starred in Dragons' Den. However, he was a hyper-successful entrepreneur who was listed in the Sunday Times Rich List and could freely choose how he spent his time. In fact, Duncan had bid £7,000 at a charity auction and won a walk-on-part in a Guy Richie movie. He enjoyed it so much, he decided he wanted to become an actor - and let his people run his companies (in here is a clue to Duncan's success!)
He told me he'd just finished studying at the New York Film Academy, which is off the Strand near Trafalgar Square in London, but his subsequent auditions hadn't gone well. Even with this lack of success in the movies, his star quality and 'winning smile' shone through, and it's no surprise to me that Duncan has become a household name for his TV work.
I interviewed Duncan at the Park Lane hotel in Piccadilly, asking the same questions I had asked many UK entrepreneurs.
Duncan said one thing to me that day which, at the time, didn't register with the potency it does now as I look back and reflect on those particular words.
He told me he had a Board meeting the following day and that he should have looked at his accounts but didn't because he knew they were going to be fantastic.
How did Duncan know? He knew because he had people in his company who thought and acted like him. He had people he could trust in his absence to run the business and make decisions for him, while he went off pursuing his own acting career, and in later years his own television career.
His people think and act like business owners.
Let's look at what is going on in the mind of a business owner, the mind of somebody like Duncan Bannatyne, and the mindset and attitude you need to develop in your own employees, so that they too think, act and make decisions like a business owner.
1. Confidence and Belief
The starting point for success for any great business leader is true inner self-belief and confidence.
·Confidence in your own ability to achieve the goals you set out to achieve. ·Confidence that you can overcome any obstacles. ·Confidence that you can make your customers believe in and buy from you.
Simply put, if entrepreneurs didn't believe in the businesses they set out to create, they wouldn't start in the first place, because they wouldn't be able to make the team believe or their customers believe.
Your employees need to share the same level of inner confidence as someone like Duncan.
Anybody that has a vision and takes it personally upon themselves to create a business needs to have within them an unswerving, unshakable resolve, which becomes something of substance that other people can buy into and believe in.
It goes back to the very simple fact that if you don't believe in what you are doing you can't make your team believe. If your team don't believe, they can't make your customers believe. If your customers don't believe, they won't buy, buy again, or recommend you. So belief is the starting point.
2. Passion and Desire
The next core trait of a business owner, or someone like Duncan, is passion and a pure unadulterated love of what they're doing.
Passion is the fuel that drives you forward, it provides momentum and energy, and is infectious. People around you will be inspired by your passion and will pass on that energy to their team. This feeling will be conveyed to your customers who will then be compelled to buy from you.
It's your job as the business leader to instil your passion in every member of your team.
Customers pick up on passion and belief. It is a company's passion and belief that customers buy into.
If you show passion and deep belief in everything you do, you give your customers a memorable and remarkable experience which they will want to share with others.
But, if your employees don't share your level of passion and belief for the business, then as a company you will never achieve high levels of success and fulfil your true potential.
Clearly people like the Barman lack that passion and desire, and if you have employees like him, you'll never be able to create a business which customers can believe in and buy from.
Whereas if you have people like Paolo who love their job, and demonstrate business-owner-thinking, they will exude an inner confidence and passion for what they do, which in turn will send out viral shock waves into the market about how excellent your company is.
3. Courage
The third element of the mindset of a business owner is courage and the confidence to step outside your comfort zone.
So much about success at a personal and business level comes down to having the confidence and courage to conquer your own inner fears, doubts and limiting beliefs. It's having the courage to do the very things that you are uncomfortable doing.
You only have to look at one entrepreneur, Richard Branson, who (by his own admission) is a shy person and uncomfortable in public speaking situations.
However, he knew only too well that the best way to promote his brand was for him to become the face of it. Now, whenever we think abut Virgin we automatically think about Branson. When Virgin Brides was launched, he famously dressed up as a bride himself; when he launched Virgin Cola he drove a Tank down Fifth Avenue in New York to proclaim his battle with Coca Cola. He even injured himself whilst abseiling down the Palms Resort Fantasy Tower whilst promoting his new airline route between San Francisco and Las Vegas. He personally does television and radio interviews, but speaking to an audience is not naturally comfortable for him, as it is for media personalities such as Jonathan Ross or Ricky Gervais.
However, what Branson clearly does is find an inner courage, which is fuelled by his passion and supported by his own inner belief in himself, to step outside his comfort zone, and to do the very thing he needs to do to achieve his goals.
4. Goals and Purpose
The fourth element is to have a clear purpose, clear goal, and a higher vision and mission.
You need to understand why you do the things you do.
You can have all the passion and energy in the world, but without a clear goal (which everyone understands and believes in), nothing will ever be achieved.
In the courses and books I've written, I talk about entrepreneurs having 'man on the moon goals' which are ambitious, stretch goals.
America would never have made space travel history if President Kennedy, in 1961, hadn't set a goal to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.
By announcing this goal publicly, the whole team behind the mission had something real and tangible to work towards. They passionately believed in that goal and as a result, made it happen.
In your organization your team needs to have the same clarity of goals, the same higher purpose, and your own 'man on the moon' goals.
There may be thousands of sub-goals in order to achieve the higher purpose, but if your staff don't understand what the higher goal is, there is no way they can help drive your company towards it.
A perfect illustration of this is the story (possibly apocryphal) of President Kennedy visiting the space station in the early 1960s when the space rocket was being developed.
In true Kennedy style he stopped to speak to somebody who was sweeping the floor. Kennedy said to the man, "What are you doing, sir?" The man sweeping the floor said, "Mr. President, I'm helping put a man on the moon."
Everybody in your organization has to understand what the higher purpose of your company is. They must know what your man on the moon goals are what their part is in helping you to achieve them.
If they don't understand what the bigger picture is and if work to them is purely a job without a sense of purpose, then there is very little reason that they will give their all. Ultimately it is the customer who will suffer.
5. Persistence and Tenacity
The fifth element of business-owner-thinking is pure persistence and the refusal to accept no for an answer.
This is a trait consistent with all high achievers. Every entrepreneur business owner you ever speak to will have endless stories where they have had to demonstrate persistence and never give up.
Inevitably in business, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. It is your inner resolve (and the inner resolve of your employees) to keep going and to push on, to overcome the endless hurdles and crushing lows, and push on through to reach your ultimate goals, which is the difference between success and failure.
Without the passion and belief, it would be all too easy to give up when faced with those endless barriers.
Famously, Branson's engine blew up the night before the maiden flight of his Virgin Atlantic crossing. For most people this would have been a barrier, but Branson pushed on and kept going to create one of the world's premier airlines.
Duncan Bannatyne ran out of money before finishing the build of his first nursing home. Where other people at that point may have given up and said, 'Well, I can't complete this because I can't afford it', Duncan found an ingenious, creative way of solving the problem. He asked his mother and her pensioner friends to temporarily fill the nursing home in order to persuade the bank to release the final payment of the loan which was dependent on the nursing home being full.
Stories that entrepreneurs tell you about persistence often sound like they have been made up, and are a testimony to their levels of creativity and ingenuity. It's this level of creativity and ingenuity you need to unleash in your staff.
6. Energy Flow
The sixth trait of entrepreneurs is having positive energy and thinking positively even when times are tough.
So much in business is about the flow of energy, and creating an environment where a positive flow of energy can thrive, without being destroyed by negative people who disrupt the balance.
I used to work for a software company in London and each day the managing director would walk in, and with him through the door, would come all of his negative energy.
Prior to him walking through the door, the office would be buzzing and alive but his negative energy would soon start to infect everyone and create negative pockets throughout the company.
Virtually all companies have this negative energy in some shape or form, but coming from the business owner it is inexcusable. It's your responsibility as a business owner or business leader to create an environment of positivity, of positive thinking, of can-do and will-do, and of ambition and drive where success can, and will be achieved.
7. Failure
Number seven is the understanding that failure is a good thing.
The reality is that nothing of any note has ever been achieved without experiencing failure along the way.
Failure is inevitable when trying something new, pushing for new heights, and new innovations, or entering new markets as entrepreneurs inherently do.
It goes without saying that not everything will work. Entrepreneurs embrace failure, see it as a positive and agree that if you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough.
That's not to say that they actively seek it, but when it comes along they are ready to react. It doesn't get them down because their belief, passion and their drive keep them going.
All too often though, in companies failure is seen as a negative thing and is frowned upon.
In certain circumstances, failure through lack of attention or lack of effort should be seen this way.
But when trying new things, such as innovating and changing, it is only those companies that recognize that failure is part of the journey to success who truly will achieve higher goals.
You need people who understand that failure can be a positive thing and should be learnt from. They know that by failing they can develop wisdom and experience which will ultimately get them closer to their goals.
8. Hard Work and Hustle
Number eight is hard work and the hustle factor. It is simply taking action. It is the physical act of working with a level of commitment, intensity, and sense of urgency, that is needed to get things done to deliver results.
Duncan Bannatyne didn't start his multiple businesses without working hard, putting in the hours, and being 100% committed to achieving his goals.
I'm sure Duncan will agree that his journey, and the journey of his team, has been fun. They've enjoyed it and as a result, the hard work has not seemed like hard work because it was fun.
It was fun because they were doing something they were passionate about, that they believed in and that they had the desire and the ambition to create.
If you have people who are despondent and indifferent to their work, and who see it as a chore, then how can they ever perform at a higher level? How can their own inner splendour pour out into your products and services and be felt by your customers?
It can simply never happen.
That is what customers should pick up on, the fact that you enjoy your work and love what you do.
The beautiful Apple iPod could never have been designed by someone who didn't love and enjoy their work. It was clearly created by someone who loves music, loves design, and loves technology. It was not something that happened overnight. I would imagine it required thousands of hours of intense effort, concentration and time.
The people working on that project are clearly proud of what they've created. It shows in the smallest details: in the design of the iPod player, the packaging, the marketing, in the way the menu system rolls up and down, and from the constant innovation that comes from generation to generation of not only iPods but a whole range of Apple products.
Apple is a clear illustration of a company whose people embody business-owner-thinking. Their products have become so beautiful and have that wow-dazzle factor that they sell themselves.
As a result, their customers are passionate fans of Apple and now, because of the energy and buzz in the marketplace, people want to be part of Apple.
That could never have happened if the people in Apple didn't love their work, or if they acted like the Barman I spoke about in Chapter 1.
Similarly, it wouldn't have happened if the people in Apple were Middlemen who neither underperformed or over performed.
Putting it all together: Leadership
The net result of all of this is that business owners are actually leaders.
They are people who lead themselves to achieve their higher goals, and are able to lead and inspire their teams to achieve more.
It's the personal development of your staff to turn them into leaders (who think, act and make decisions like business owners) that you need to focus on to achieve extraordinary results in your company.
Can anybody become a leader?
I'm often asked whether anybody can become a leader and whether everybody has these traits within them.
Without question I say the answer is yes, if that person is working in an environment that they are passionate about and have the desire for.
Everybody demonstrates this leadership ability at some point in their lives. I spoke in the previous chapter about buying a house, and the increase in business acumen and leadership you demonstrate when you want something that badly.
The same is true when you book a holiday. You immerse yourself, and for a moment in time, you become a leading expert on your desired destination, whether it is a two-week long haul trip to Thailand, or a five day skiing holiday in the Pyrenees.
A friend of mine recently wanted to get tickets for a key Manchester United European Cup game at Old Trafford. Immediately, with this goal in mind, he fought harder than he usually would and demonstrated just the kind of traits that a high achieving entrepreneur would, simply because his own ambitions and goals were aligned. He was chasing a goal that he was passionate about, that he had a burning desire for, and that he believed ultimately he could reach. Needless to say, he got his coveted tickets in the end!
Leadership ability and business-owner-thinking lies within everybody if the right circumstances arise. But this may not be the case currently with everybody in your organisation.
Your staff who are like the Barman may not show leadership ability at work, but this doesn't mean they don't have leadership ability within them. They just don't have it in them for your company, or for the work that they're doing.
The Barman could for example, be a gifted cyclist and someone who outside of work regularly organizes long-distance bicycle rides from the UK to the South of France. He could be a first-class footballer who is the captain of his local football team and leads by example. He could be a church goer who leads his church group every Sunday.
Given the right circumstances and the right motivations and desires, anybody can be a leader and a person of high-performance, but they have to be playing to their strengths and following their passion.
In your company, you need to find and actively develop people so that they play to their strengths. You need to align their passions, goals and motivations with the goals and aspirations of your organization. You need to develop your people into leaders who think like business owners, not just employees.
It is these people who will make your customers want to buy, buy again and then do your marketing for you. It is these people who will transform your workforce into your salesforce.
I'll explain in the following chapter how you can download (in MP3 format) a copy of my interview with Duncan.
This extract is taken from the book Profit Upgrade - How to add $1,00s, $100,000s or $1m+ to your bottom-line profits (each year, and even in sluggish times).

The Do’s and Don’ts For Financial Success – Money Expert mark aucamp

Now more than ever it pays to be savvy when it comes to getting the credit you need to run your life. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert to stay on the money. These simple steps could help you find financial success. Do know what you owe… In the current climate, you need to know exactly where you are before making plans – and what you really owe could come as a wake up call. Instead of wading through files and old bills, you can find your credit accounts, from credit and store cards to loans, mortgages and even mobile phone accounts, listed in your credit report, along with your repayment record. You can see your Experian credit report for free with a 30 day trial of CreditExpert, the online credit monitoring and ID fraud protection service. …and don’t stick your head in the sand The worst thing you can do is nothing. Interest could be mounting up on borrowing you’ve forgotten, so you could end up owing even more in the long run. Do keep up with your repayments… It can be tempting to skip the occasional repayment if you’re having a tough month but you could rack up penalties and interest – and it will be recorded on your credit report for at least three years, where lenders will see it when you make a new application. …and don’t be afraid to talk to your lenders If you’re having financial problems it’s in their interest, as well as yours, to come up with a sensible solution. Together, you may be able to agree a new schedule of affordable payments, although this may mean that it will take longer to clear what you owe. Do your research… When you need a card, loan or credit account of any kind, research what’s on offer – visit personal finance and price comparison sites to see what’s out there and what matches your circumstances. You’ll stand a better chance if you ask for an appropriate and affordable deal. …and don’t take a scattergun approach There’s no point in firing off lots of applications in the hope that one of them will succeed. Not only could you get turned down, but you could damage your credit rating in the process. Each application will trigger a search by the lender and these leave a record on your credit report. If other prospective lenders see a lot of these, they could fear you’re overstretched, out of financial control or even suspect a fraud. Do shred before you bin… ID fraud is one of the UK’s fastest growing crimes, so make sure thieves can’t get hold of personal or sensitive information from your rubbish and use it to borrow money in your name or max out your accounts. …and don’t put too much in the recycling You may think you’re doing your bit for the environment but you could also be offering a free gift to a thief. Remove the address or account information from all letters and documents before you put them in the box – even an old catalogue could put your ID at risk if a bin raider picks it up. Do check your credit report regularly… Lenders look at your credit report every time you apply to them and when they’re setting interest rates and other conditions, so it pays to be sure that all the information it contains is up to date and accurately reflects your situation. You’ll also be able to spot suspicious applications or transactions that could indicate attempted ID fraud. …and don’t assume everything’s okay If you haven’t received any payment demands or red bills, don’t assume you have a good credit rating. A simple clerical error or misunderstanding could damage your credit status, so make regular checks on your credit report part of your financial routine. A credit monitoring like CreditExpert can help – members receive an email or text alert every time there is a significant change, like a late payment recorded by a lender or a large change to a credit account balance. Do put a shine on your credit history… If you can demonstrate that you are a responsible borrower with a stable lifestyle, you have a better chance of getting the deals you want. You can improve your credit status by taking simple steps – for example, ask lenders to correct any errors in your credit report, close unused accounts and register to vote at your current address. …and don’t assume the past is over and gone If you’ve been bankrupt, taken out an IVA or had court judgments against you for debt, the evidence remains on your credit report for at least six years and even a missed repayment can be seen by lenders for at least three years. If special circumstances, such as illness, an accident, redundancy or divorce, were behind any past problems, you can add a note of explanation that lenders may take into account when deciding whether to make you an offer. Do ask for help If you’re having problems, get free, professional advice. Try Citizens Advice at adviceguide.org.uk, National Debtline at nationaldebtline.co.uk or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service at cccs.co.uk. As well as offering advice on how to manage and reduce your debts, these organisations have the legal right to negotiate with creditors on your behalf. …and don’t be tempted by offers that are too good to be true “There is no magic spell that will allow you to walk away from money troubles without any consequences and only you can sort out your credit status, so be wary of miracle cures for your financial ailments. They almost always cost you money you can’t “

Spending On Dates Could Cause Financial BurdensBy Tom Dawson



Taking a lady out on a date could have significant financial implications for many men, it has been claimed.
Research released by NS&I as part of its quarterly savings survey shows that single males are set to spend more than 12 billion pounds each year on romantic rendezvous, in comparison women were indicated as splashing out around 4.5 billion pounds. The average man expects that the typical date will set them back by about 52 pounds, with the opposite sex looking to fritter away just over 32 pounds.
However, research from the financial services firm revealed that a trip to the movies or a fancy meal could place significant numbers of consumers under monetary strain. Three-quarters of British males claim that they have spent more cash than they anticipated while on a night out, with some 12 per cent being left short of funds at the end of a date. Meanwhile, one in four respondents state that they are prepared to use a credit card to supplement romantic spending, despite being aware that they will struggle to keep up with repayment on this type of borrowing. An estimated 16 per cent stated that they are ready to borrow money from family members and friends to finance going out on a date.
Due to overspending while on dates, it may be possible that men develop difficulties in meeting other demands on their spending. Such areas could include loan repayments, mortgage or rent costs, utility and grocery bills and credit cards.
Further research showed that just under half (45 per cent) of men believe that being seeing as financially well-off and generous in the eyes of a prospective partner is important. Meanwhile, some 17 per cent of women expect the man to pay for the bill when on an evening out, although just 29 per cent think that being wealthy helps to make a good impression among men.
Commenting on the figures, Dax Harkins, senior savings strategist for NS&I, said: "There is no doubt that dating costs a lot and many people in Britain need to think beyond impressing with wit and charm and also plan their finances. Given the expense, especially for men, it is great to see that some are setting money aside specifically for this reason. However it is clear that men need to keep at least a few of their thoughts on money when they're trying to impress on a date, so they don't end up overspending or being caught short of cash."
Whether planning a weekend break at a five-star hotel in London or a mid-week trip to the cinema, those wishing to treat a loved one in style may wish to consider getting a cheap loan. Not only could a loan help borrowers to splash out on their partner in style but also assist with other sources of financial demand. A cheap loan may additionally be of help to those wishing to go on a dream honeymoon. A recent study carried out by esure indicates that the average post-wedding vacation costs 1,614 pounds, with beach holidays shown to be increasingly popular

Checking Bills Advised To Help Avoid Unnecessary Financial PressureBy Tom Dawson

Despite the convenience that paying for bills via direct debit may provide, it is not a reason for Britons to be complacent when it comes to keeping track of their money management, new research suggests.
In a study carried out by moneysupermarket, it was revealed that such a payment system is becoming increasingly popular among many consumers. At present it was revealed that a quarter of credit card bills are paid using direct debit, with this proportion rising to 48 per cent for gas bills. Meanwhile, 63 and 54 per cent of demands for payment on landline telephone and electricity bills respectively are met this way.
Research from the price comparison site also revealed that 17 per cent of consumers have uncovered an error on their bill during the past three months, while over the last year about one in three have discovered that they have been incorrectly charged. Overall, it was indicated that around eight million people were overcharged in the last quarter. Moneysupermarket went on to assert that at "a time when household budgets are being squeezed more than ever, the last thing Brits need is to be landed with an incorrect bill". In spite of this however, it was shown that half of respondents claim that they do not check every bill that they receive.
Indeed, following on from being charged more money than they should have been for bills, it is possible that consumers could find that they develop greater problems in managing various demands on their spending. Such areas could well include personal loans, credit and store cards and mortgage repayments.
Commenting on the figures, Rob Barnes, head of broadband and mobiles for moneysupermarket, said: "The staggering amount of people who've been hit with an incorrect bill only goes to show how inadequate some providers can be. Consumers are already facing increased living costs, the last thing they need is to be charged for something they never had. Worryingly there are millions of people who still don't check their bills, meaning they could be paying over the odds for a service they have never received. If you don't check all your bills you're leaving yourselves open to being taken advantage of."
Mr Barnes went on to report that it is particularly important for consumers on direct debit to check every statement that they receive. He added: "If payments are made automatically against incorrectly charged bills, suppliers are raking in millions of extra pounds."
However, those who choose not to adopt direct debit appear to be more cautious with managing their money. A third of such consumers believe that direct debits limit their ability to control their spending, with one in ten not trusting companies to charge them the right amount. Meanwhile, women were shown to be keeping a more cautious eye over their finances than men.
For those consumers finding that they are struggling to keep up with various demands on their spending, a debt consolidation loan might be advised. By doing so, it is possible that borrowers can merge numerous financial constraints, such as household bills, council tax and credit cards, into a single low-cost monthly repayment. A debt consolidation loan might be of additional help for Britons after a recent uSwitch study showed that by opting to receive bills via email rather than postal mail consumers could save 162 million pounds a year. Overall, it was stated that switching payment methods could generate annual savings of 237 million pounds.

Fifteen Great Money Saving Ideas and Tips to Survive This Recession
Fifteen Great Money Saving Ideas and Tips to Survive This Recession
Mark Aucamp

Any expert would tell you to sit down and analysis your current spending habit before considering any money saving ideas and tips. You should do a budget of all your income and expenses and see how much money you have left at the end of the month. Armed with your spending information you should then consider the money saving tips below. Keep a record of how much you should be saving next month and compare the results. It is important that you continue this exercise annually. In the current market it is difficult to know what to do with your savings so I suggest you consider looking at the last money saving idea for a tip that will save you thousands of pounds in the future Switch to Freeview TV Switch to Freeview digital TV and save up to £200 a year. You will need to buy a Digi box receiver for around £50. Then you will receive more than 40 free digital TV Channels for free and there’s no monthly subscription to be paid. Switching your Gas and Electricity Providers Consider switching your fuel providers it could save you £100’s. As a nation we don’t like changing our utility providers and as a result our suppliers don’t offer us any better deals. They use their cheaper deals to entice new customers. Use a Comparison site to find the best deals around for your Gas and Electricity. Cheaper Telephone and Broadband bills Shop around for cheaper telephone and broadband suppliers. Many providers offer cheaper dual packages and low cost dial up services as well as cheaper line rental. Use a Comparison site to find the best deals around today. Reduce your Mobile Phone costs Consider switching your mobile from a monthly contract to a pay as you go scheme if you don’t use your mobile a lot. If your family all have a mobile phone then you should consider a package with all the phones included. Make sure that you all share the number of call minutes and the texts each month. There are deals around that will provide you with new phones within the package and they will allow you to alter the number of texts and call minutes each month. Shop around for Better value Insurance Cover Shop around for cheaper Car Insurance, Building & Contents Insurance and Life Insurance. Remember everything that glitters is not golden. When looking to rebroke or change Insurance providers you need to compare like with like and not on price alone. Always look for the same cover and definitions for each Insurance policy or a better policy for a cheaper price when looking to change providers. The cost of life cover only Insurance has reduced due to the fact that we are all living longer and the unthinkable has happened Life Insurance policies have become cheaper. If you have any Critical Illness Insurance cover then tread very carefully and use a mortgage broker to rearrange a cheaper policy for you. The reason for this is the Insurance companies have changed many of their Insurance cover definitions and the number of conditions that they will cover. For peace of mind you should use a mortgage broker for protection. Should they change a good policy for an inferior policy then you could claim compensation for negligence. Food Shopping 1. Always make a list and try not to deviate from your shopping list. 2. Don’t take your children or husband shopping as you will probably find it really hard to say no when they ask for something and they will only increase your shopping bill. 3. Have your supermarket shopping delivered, it’s a great way of ordering what you need to maintain your weekly budget. 4. Try and cook all meals from fresh, they are healthier than ready made meals and more nutritious. Invest in a cook book if you lack inspiration or knowledge. 5. Look for a Farm shop with a butchery attached; our local Farm shop sells half a Lamb for £20 and half a Pig for £30 they are already frozen ready for the freezer. What a bargain! 6. Consider using the supermarkets own brand products as they are often the same or similar as branded products without the brand name and price tag. 7. When last did you shop at your local market? The food is generally cheaper and fresher from your local market as they have lower overheads and can therefore pass on the savings to you. 8. Use the discount supermarkets like Asda, Aldi and Lidl. There are big savings to be made here. Don’t worry about shopping here; the food is quality and the car park is full of expensive cars, which suggests that everybody is shopping here – rich or poor. Always ask yourself whether or not you really need a product or service and always consider alternatives. Don’t be enticed to buy the special offers like, buy one get one free promotions or the 30 off discount offer. It’s not a bargain if you don’t need it in the first place. Remember a bargain or an offer is either priced to get rid of stock quickly for a reason or it is priced into the product to start with. Save money by Buying in the Sales Clothes we all agree are cheaper if bought during shop sales. It’s possible to save a hundred pounds or more on a designer evening dress or a suit or any other type of clothing. Sometimes we just need to be patient and not be impulsive when deciding to buy items. Slowly, slowly catch a Bargain! Have a look in the charity shops. You will be amazed at the designer clothes and the quality of some of the items they have for sale. Always check on e Bay for anything that you are considering buying, people all over the country sell clothes that are new or nearly new and have either never been worn or are nearly new. There are some real bargains to be had if you are willing to spend the time searching. Recently there have been some swap sites being launched on the internet to swap designer clothes for cash or other garments. Consider Shopping Online The internet has grown rapidly over the past five years and you can buy just about anything while sat at home in a comfy chair. You can use the comparison websites to search out the cheapest price for the item that you are looking for and you can compare one brand with another without leaving your chair. Are you claiming all your allowance Many of us don’t know what benefits and tax credits we and our families are entitled to when it comes to claiming for Pension Credits, Child Benefit, Child tax Credits, Working Tax credits, etc. It is reckoned that around £8 billion a year is not claimed by people who are entitled to claim benefits. Prepaid Credit Cards I love this idea as it gives you all the benefits without the credit card balance and you cannot overspend on it. To use a prepaid credit card you need to transfer an amount of money onto the card first before you go shopping. I guarantee that you will only spend what you can afford. This is a truly money saving product that everybody should have. Quit Smoking If you are smoking 20 cigarettes a day then you will be spending around £2,117 a year or more. This is a mind blowing amount of money and it will just be going up in smoke. Now look at the benefits to your health and the health of your children, family and friends. We found when my wife and I gave up smoking that the house smelt cleaner and fresher. Our home does not need painting inside as often anymore, which is now saving us a small fortune as we don’t need to paint as often. Just think if you packed in the weed, you and your family could enjoy a foreign annual holiday each year. You could choose to overpay your mortgage and finish paying it earlier. Alternatively, you could choose to save the money over the next twenty five years and save £52,925 plus any interest. Wow! What are you waiting for? One persons junk is another’s pride and joy Consider selling anything that you haven’t used in the last two or three years. This is a pretty good indicator of whether or not you need it or not and if you have not used it the chances are that you don not need it. Sell it for some hard cash on e bay. Annual Holidays This year is an exception compared with previous years when we were all going to America and other exotic holiday destinations. Now we find that our money in America won’t go as far as it did last year due to the exchange rate. Our European holidays have also just become more expensive due to the exchange rate. America is now 25 more expensive and the Euro is nearly on a parity with the Pound. So why not have a holiday in the UK and support our economy. At least your money will be worth the same and you will save on the cost of holiday travel. You would be surprised at how beautiful our island is. Savings If you are fortunate to have any savings then your need to search out the best Individual Savings Account (Isa) accounts. You can also chose to save up to £850 per month split between the two types of accounts. An Isa provides Tax free savings and a saver can invest up to £10,200 into an Isa each tax year irrespective of whether you are a low or high rate taxpayer. Under the new provision announced by The Chancellor Alistair Darling in the last budget you can be put £5,100 into a cash Isa or a saving account and £5,100 can be invested in stocks and shares. You can withdraw your money at anytime as long as you have not locked them into a fixed rate deal, once the money is withdrawn you cannot return it and if you withdraw during the year you will lose the tax free incentive and the money will become taxable in the year you with draw it. If you are a lower or high rate taxpayer then you will not pay any tax on the money invested in an Isa each year. Under normal circumstances you would pay 40 on the interest received from other saving schemes. If you are a lower rate taxpayer then you would pay 20 on the interest received from other saving schemes. Your Mortgage At present your only hope if you have any savings is a maximum return of 1.5 per year – this is appalling and outrageous! So why not over pay your mortgage which will be on an interest rate of 4 to 7 depending on your mortgage deal. By overpaying your current mortgage will save you many thousands of pounds in interest and you can choose to reduce the term of your mortgage as well. Imagine paying your mortgage off two or three years early. If you paid £500 per month and you were to overpay your mortgage and you paid it off three years earlier you will save £18,000 plus the interest you would not be paying

Modern Methods To Save Money - 4 Tricks To Tackle Money MattersBy Abhishek Agarwal
People who wanted to be in control have always been frugal and have constantly saved up money. These people save more and more money so that their future is better established.
People find money harder and harder to save as time progresses. They are happy with spending their balance and call saving money isn't a part of life anymore but a resolution to salt away some hard earned cash of yours.
Most people deny that they can save any more and say that they are already cutting down on everything they can and live between the paychecks. They explain that inflation has caused saving money to become next to impossible.
People do, however, have the potential to save more.
Here are a list of modern ways by which you can build your bank balance.
1. Save a portion of your salary. Most people who build successful budgets save up to 30% of their total salary by crediting it immediately to their savings accounts. It is human nature to spend all the money we receive as our salary. In order to constrict ourselves from doing so, we must limit the cash in hand. This increases our savings.
2. Use cash. Many customers use credit cards for payment. These cards are so easy and comfortable that people use it for buying almost everything. In fact a recent survey showed that most middle class families had around $7000 outstanding on their cards. This makes them pay almost an entire grand on interests alone. The comfort offered by these credit cards is probably the chief reason for overspending. People fail to keep a track of how much they spend and end up spending more than they can afford to.
3. Plan your work and Work your plans. Add only things that you feel are definitely achievable in your goals. Don't keep changing your mind about it. Use definite amounts of money and not a hazy figure like around $2000. Instead say, I will save $2000 this year.
Prioritize your life and set goals based on this. Fix a definite time period for each.
4) Use retirement benefit plans of your company. You can save a lot of money for your future with plans like 403(b) or 401(k). These are plans where your company deducts a very small portion of your salary each month and invests the money in mutual funds or any instrument of your choice. You get this back when you retire.
All this in the end means only that saving is not a lifestyle of resolution. It is a great fruit your receive as a gift for all the labor you put in.

Ezine Advertising Tips - How to Generate Thousands of Responsive Visitors From Ezine AdsBy Fabian Tan
A secret way I use to get an avalanche of traffic and leads is ezine advertising. But you might be asking, which ezine spots are profitable for me? I don't believe anyone is going to hand you their spots on a platter; you've got to test out the spots yourself. People who are successful in advertising with ezines spent a lot of money to find the right spots that produce, so you've got to respect that these people have spent their resources to find them.
Alright, how do you generate thousands of responsive visitors from ezine ads? I'm going to hand you my secrets for reeling in the traffic. So read on. Firstly, you need to of course find a few ezines to advertise in. Then you need to write ad copy that compels prospects to take action.
An important step you have to take is to set up an ad tracker so you can track your results with different ezines you happen to advertise in. For me, I just set up a simple domain extension like and I track sign-ups like that. But you can get a hold of those ad tracker software if you're not the more analytical type.
I would advise sending the visitors from ezines to a name squeeze page to capture subscribers. The goal is not to make short-term front-end sales, but to build a list that will pay you in the long-term. So do send your traffic to a squeeze page to build your mailing list, as it will pay off big for you in the future.
Fabian Tan is a well-known Internet Marketing expert and the author of the popular 45-page Report:
"Murder Your Job: How To Build Cash Sucking Autopilot Businesses In 30 Days Or Less!"
Head over to http://www.MurderYourJob.com to get your FREE copy now!

Two Rules For Maximum Web Site ProfitsBy Sean R Mize

In traditional web design, your website benefits to some extent from the amount of links you offer--viewers have more of an incentive to visit your site. (This is the logic behind the successful "portal" websites that sometimes offer little beyond a very good and well-organized collection of links.) In direct response web design, your website is actually harmed by offering viewers external links, or any distractions from buying the product.
Therefore, the first basic rule of direct response web design is this: no external links. Once your customers get to your website, they should only leave once they've bought your product (or decided that it isn't for them.)
Basic Rule #2: Small User Base, High Conversion Rate
Traditional web design's aim is to attract and retain a consistent user base. If a traditional website's hit count is high, the website is more attractive to potential advertisers, allowing the website to make money. But that high hit count carries with it a cost: bandwidth fees. (Think of bandwidth fees as your electronic "rent.") The more users go to a website, the more data your web server is responsible for sending and receiving--which means a higher basic operating cost.
In direct response web design, you also need a high hit count--initially. What you don't want is a high hit count that keeps coming back for more without ever buying a product (unless you want your viewers to constantly return to your site in order to check for new products and offers--for some specific notes on what to do if this is your business model, see the next chapter.)
In order to accomplish this, make your website as simple as possible. Give your viewers some basic facts about the product, some information about how this product stands up against its competitors, a few positive testimonials or a photo or two, and then an ordering procedure. That way your viewers can read your information, think about whether they want to buy the product or not, and then either buy it or leave--keeping your bandwidth costs down by keeping out people who won't be of value to your product sales.
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing success, 'Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide'
Download it free here: Secrets of Article Writing

Make a Living From Internet Marketing Without Spending a DimeBy Alex Cadens


When I first started exploring the internet business arena I always found myself paying a lot of money to join websites or programs that most of the times left me clueless about what I needed to do in order to make money online, and what is worse, some of those websites or programs encouraged me to spend more money on their products or simply asked me to promote those products by using paid advertising options.
There is nothing wrong with using paid advertising, but the problem is that setting up a PPC AdWords campaign or any other for that matter is a risky business, and you need to know exactly what to do in order to avoid getting hurt.
However, as much as I got hit hard in my pocket, I kept going until I finally felt capable of telling the difference between scams and really educational and business oriented resources. From there I actually consider I did not spend money, but I invested money, for the simple reason that I was getting value and know-how, something that would allow me to get a return on that investment.
After joining and investing a couple of good internet marketing programs, I discovered that there are literally dozens of free traffic techniques that can deliver the same -if not better- results that the PPC or paid traffic techniques (in which I wasted a lot of money).
However, it is a fact that free traffic techniques take time to deliver actual results, whereas a well laid out PPC campaign can make you money in a day. It is really up to each person which one is best, based on availability of cash, risk tolerance (because using PPC poses a risk of losing money) etc. In any case you need to know what to do, where to do it, and when to do it.
In my personal view, it pays off to be patient and go for free traffic techniques. They will demand an additional effort on your part, but you can gradually scale up your results without risking a single dime.
Some of those free traffic techniques involve writing articles, using social bookmarking, creating feeds that link to your content and many others that require a bit of work but little or no money.
If you know how to do things and how to adequately canalize your efforts, you can start a solid internet business with an unlimited potential for growth with only your brain power and a fair share of effort. A realistic estimation based on my own experience, is that within a 6 month period you can be hitting the $3,000 monthly income mark without spending money on anything other that a good educational internet marketing resource, which is the one thing that will enable you to achieve this goal.

The Worst Investment of the 20th Century?By Graham Summers
Graham SummersLevel: BasicGraham Summers is Senior Market Strategist at OmniSans Research. As such, he co-authors Gain, Pains, and Capital, OmniSans Research’s FREE daily e-letter covering the equity, ... ...



The Worst Investment of All Time Is Set to Make New Lows
One investment, more than any other, has proven to be a terrible storehouse of value for well over 80 years.
While some disasters unfold rapidly (Enron, subprime mortgages, etc.), this investment's decline has occurred in slow motion, losing an average of 3.6% a year. Indeed, you can hardly find a period in the last 89 years in which this investment actually MADE money.
That investment is the dollar.
The dollar has lost 94% of its purchasing power since we abandoned the gold standard. The most dramatic loss in purchasing power occurred directly after Roosevelt made it illegal to own gold. However, with few exceptions, the dollar has been spiraling downward ever since 1920.
After Nixon ended Bretton Woods (legislation that pegged the dollar to gold indirectly), the pace of purchasing power destruction accelerated with the dollar losing an average of 4.4% in purchasing power annually.
Gold and the Dollar have maintained an inverse relationship ever since this time. One zigs, the other zags. One rallies, the other falls. And starting in 2000, both entered long-term trends: the dollar falling while gold rallied.
Now, nothing ever goes straight up OR straight down. And starting in June 2008, the dollar erupted in its strongest rally in decades, jumping 22% in eight months. The story here was easy to understand, although most of the media ignored it. With the dollar continually in decline and interest rates well below the rate of inflation in the post-Tech Crash, foreign corporations and institutional investors borrowed heavily in dollars.
Doing this meant their debts were continually shrinking relative to their profits (sales were denominated in a currency that was rising relative to the currency in which their debts were denominated). This means their debts were easier to pay off.
However, when the dollar started a rally in July '08, this positioning began going horribly wrong. Anyone short the dollar got killed and had to cover their shorts (buy dollars) which in turn pushed the dollar higher. At one point there were an estimated $9 trillion in dollar shorts in the world. So the dollar rally was the mother of all short squeezes. And as you can see, it kicked gold in the teeth.
However, with the Feds running the printing presses and inflationary concerns hitting the market (oil and most industrial commodities have soared in the last three months), the dollar's rise may have come to an end. If the dollar breaks below 79 in a meaningful way, it's "look out below" time. Which should put gold above $1,000 in a sustainable way.
Paul wrote last week that based on the historic trends in the last gold bull market (1970-80) he expected gold to begin its next leg up this fall. However, looking at the dollar vs. gold chart above, it may already be happening. Watch these two investments closely. We may be on the verge of a truly seismic shift between the gold and the dollar.
Good Investing!

Good Financial Management 'Can Help Control Debts'By Abbi Rouse
Although the past few days have seen the country gripped in the throngs of love, the majority of Britons would prefer their partner to be careful with managing money, a new study indicates.
Research carried out by CreditExpert indicates that more than three out of four (76 per cent) adults in a relationship would rather they did not receive a gift this Valentine's Day and instead were secure in the knowledge that their significant other was successful in organising their finances. As part of its Love or Money study, the credit report company indicated that, during a first date, 55 per cent of Britons would view a wallet or purse which is full of credit cards as an indicator of bad monetary management.
Those looking to get to grips with their finances, however, may wish to consider applying for a low-cost personal loan. In using such a loan as a means of debt consolidation, it is possible that borrowers can merge demands for payment across a number of credit cards into a single low-rate repayment.
The study indicated that although 84 per cent of Britons are aware that when a couple apply for joint credit two people become financially linked, consumers will often avoid asking each other financial questions. About half of people would wait to be told a date's salary, with 81 per cent having never asked their other half about their credit history. Meanwhile, just over a fifth (21 per cent) of those in a relationship state that they would leave their partner if their ability to manage their money had an impact on their own life.
Jim Hodgkins, managing director for CreditExpert, said: "In the run-up to Valentine's Day, we are all encouraged to spend money. It's refreshing to see in our research that the majority of the British public would actually prefer their partner to be careful with their finances than spend money on an extravagant present. Good financial management can help couples keep their debts and credit agreements under control. Regular credit report monitoring enables you to keep tabs on your own credit status and be aware of where you are financially linked to a partner via a joint credit agreement."
The company also reported that their loved one's credit history is vital should someone want to buy a home with their partner or apply for a joint loan or other type of borrowing arrangement. Should one person have a negative financial background, it was claimed that money lenders could opt to refuse a joint application. CreditExpert went on to point out that should couples have differing attitudes when it comes to managing money this could cause difficulties in the future if they are linked together in a fiscal, as well as an emotional, sense. As an example, it was suggested that should one consumer be late in repaying credit card bills then their partners' ability to get credit could also be damaged.
In being honest with their loved ones, it is possible that consumers will be able to get to grips with finances more easily. Furthermore those looking to be open about money, with the full knowledge of their other half, may wish to apply for a consolidation loan to pay off other debts quickly. This may be of assistance to a significant number of consumers after a recent engage Mutual Assurance study revealed that over a fifth of Britons who are either married or co-habiting have a financial secret from their partner.

3 Smart Ways to Make Money With Your ArtBy Greg Gillespie


Before I tell you a story about how just one piece of artwork created over 15 years ago continually and regularly brings me $3,000 every year I would like to ask you a question.
Have you ever wondered how you could be capitalizing on your art talents in way that could generate some extra income for you and your family?
I certainly have as a veteran artist of some 25 years, creating and selling art across the globe, have at times wondered if there were any ways to actually sell my art that would keep on bringing me income long after I have finished my artwork.
The times when my income has dropped for whatever reason, recessions, global financial crisis or just general market dips, have been testing times and have forced me to "think outside the square". After careful research along with some trial and error, I have come up with 3 sure fire ways to make money from your art, that are bound to help you if you put them into practise.
#3 Smart Ways To Make Money From Your Art
1. Sell your art online and have royalties come in for years to come
2. Sell your art tution to students willing to learn "how to..."
3. Other people sell your art & art tuition
So how is it done?
#1 Sell your art online - collect royalties for years.
This is my preferred Smart Way No#1 as it has a payoff that just keeps coming, for me personally 4 times a year I receive a royalty check for work done over 10 years ago. This is a very smart way to make lots of money from your artwork, but you have to know what you are doing before you can guarantee success with this method.
Who Will Pay For My Artwork? What are the Markets? First and foremost you need to work out which markets are going to be interested in your artwork. Do you like to paint landscapes? Or animals? Or cartoon characters? Or Cars & Bikes? Or Nudes? Or abstract? Or caricatures?
Each of these have different markets that can be exploited for royalties for years to come. Some of the distributors of such art are: jigsaw puzzle companies, computer and cell phone wallpaper companies and homewares companies, are 3 goldmine areas to explore. Each of these different markets rely on fresh and inventive artists like yourself to come up with more "PRODUCTS" for them. That is right, you are the product creator, they are the marketers. That is how it works.
Let me give you an example:
Several years ago I was approached by a jigsaw company in Australia "Blue Opal Jigsaws" and asked if a piece of artwork I had already made for a former client who allowed me to retain copyright of the original and profited from, could be reused for a new jigsaw they had planned.
After careful negotiations I was offered $1,500 for some slight modifications to the artwork and a 7% royalty, payable quarterly for the life of the product.
I currently receive approximately $3,000 annually from this one puzzle that keeps on selling over and over. I will give you a hint - it is in the souvenir/tourist category (this market never gets tired of buying your product, because they are a new breed every year, as most people take that big overseas holiday perhaps just once in their lifetime and so they want something classic to remember their trip by) which is the perfect market for a repeat sale of your product. You don't want to choose something that is contemporary if it is longevity is your aim, as it will eventually lose steam and fade out of existence.
Here's an another example:
Visit all the pop culture websites and make a list of the coolest people (celebrities of course!) and create cool caricatures of them(just Google celebrity and follow the leads). They need only be head and shoulders, (face really - you will see why in a minute). Each different subculture idolizes a different mob of heros, so get your mind into their space, in fact MySpace is a great place to start. Learn your market, think like your market and create what you would want if you were them instead of you. It takes a little time but well worth it when you read this next sentence.
Each year the mobile phone ringtone industry sells $7,000,000,000 dollars worth of ringtones to young people around the world. This market has tons of disposable income (mummy and daddy are paying for the house, food, transport and general upkeep) so they love to spend their time (also tons to spare) with friends online and on their cell phones. Guess what they love to spend their spare cash on - "Wallpapers". For those of you youthfully challenged readers are probably wondering what's a Wallpaper and why would they buy it?
A wallpaper for a cell phone or mobile phone is the display image on the full color screen on the phone itself. The picture is small so a celebrity head that fills the screen is going sell better than a whole body, so less work to do (this is easy if you know the secrets to a quick and cool caricature).
Wallpaper sales are the next most popular download (read purchase$) next to cell phone ringtones, so you can see it is a huge market. Yes I hear you say but how do you sell to this young lot, isn't the market saturated with products like this? Well yes there is competition like any field but you only need a small piece of a very big pie to feed the family as they say.
You could setup your own website, (more info on doing this correctly below) and draw in traffic by giving away 5 free wallpapers to members who register for your weekly newsletter (the one you send with your latest "pay for" caricatures, that is the who is hot and in the news this week, follow scandal websites for tons of ideas here!!!) and watch the income increase as your newsletter subscriptions increase. If only 4% of subscribers bought your latest celebrity caricature of the week for .99c and you had a subscriber list of 50,000 you would be $1,000 a week better off.
Work once and get paid many, many times now that is smart.
#2 Sell Your Art Tuition Online - Everyone Wants To Learn How To.
Now the obvious suggestion here is to launch a website and setup a shopping cart and off you go to success, but if it were that easy then everyone would be doing it right? Exactly, so that is NOT what you are going to do. You are going to set yourself apart from the herd and have people lining up for your tuition and keep on paying you forever, or as long as your art teaching is popular.
So how is this going to be done?
Everybody loves to watch don't they? Yes, they love to watch others and see if they can pick up some tips on how they are doing their magic, whether it is oil painting a landscape in "plain air", sketching caricatures at a theme park, or creating fantasy art with 3D computer programs. Whatever your leaning towards, if you have mastered your craft then you can get people interested in learning your methods by this very simple technique, that doesn't cost you a cent.
A) Set up a YouTube account
B) Record yourself creating your art
C) Publish to YouTube some introductory video lessons
Once you have published your artwork on YouTube and all the other major video sharing sites, watch the traffic of visitors come in to your website to learn more. That is how it works for me, as some of my videos have had 50,000 viewings in less than a year. That is a lot of targeted traffic for your site and the "Full length videos on DVD delivered to your door - for $39.95" or the "ebook instant download version for $29.95". I personally have "How To...Products" that have been selling on an almost daily basis for months now and the best thing is the market is steady despite the economy being anything but.
#3 Get Other People To Sell Your Art & Art Tuition!
This one is also a favorite smart way to make money by selling your art online. Creating art as in example #1 and then selling the tuition in #2, sets you up perfectly for doing this - getting AFFILIATES to sell your artwork for you.
You see there are whole armies of folks selling things online to their audiences who login on regularly to the websites that they control. Most of their time is spent on creating content for blogs, answering forum posts and keeping the site up to date, so they have precious little time to do what you and I do - make art!
So those with the website visitors, (some popular sites have hundreds of thousands of unique visitors everyday) are in the perfect position to sell your wares, your artwork by commission, your art 'how to...' products. I personally have a long list of affiliates who are out there promoting my ebooks who only get paid IF they make a sale. Now that is my kind of workforce, no base salary, no holiday or sick leave to account for, only commission on sale. It doesn't get any better than that.
Using the contemporary example above for cell phone wallpapers, you can approach hundreds of website owners with your - "this weeks best sellers celebrity caricature wallpaper" and have them sell for you on a royalty basis as well.
The limits to these lucrative areas are boundless and with your crazy artistic imagination you are going to do well to follow these 3 smart ways to profit from your art online.
Click here to see some celebrity caricature examples you could be doing: http://www.learn-to-draw.org/caricature-celebrities/ and scroll down and go to page 3, 4, etc for some very cool looking celebrity caricatures