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Life Tips for Personal, Financial and Business Growth

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5 Smart Ways To Save For Vacation

Vacation may be the only time you get to wind off and relax. Your career or business may be too demanding such that you look forward to vacation. This is a time to forget any stress as you bond with your family. As much as holidays can be fun, the obstacle is when you find yourself short of cash, and you have to cut your journey short.

Finances are highly crucial towards enjoying your stay. Are you planning to go to Hawaii, or Los Angeles or your dream destination? How do your finances look? Below are some brilliant ways to ensure that you have enough funds for your entire stay.

  • Plan in Advance

Identify with a rough estimation of how much you will need for the vacation. Plan a year before as it works well. Once you have an estimated budget let’s say around $1200, divide it into 12 months will give you $100 monthly. This is what you will need to save every month for the next year for you to actualize your idea.

  • Be specific in terms of your Travel

Where do you plan to stay? How much will you spend on the room? Will you be sharing with your friend or family member? All these questions help you work on a plan that will motivate you to save for your next vacation. This requires you to be disciplined on how you manage your money. Also, in a bid to save money, go for a destination that will not hurt your pockets. Find hotels or vacation rentals that have reasonable rates and ones that you can afford. Also, try booking your preferred hotel directly so that there is room for negotiation.

  • Open a Specific Savings Account for Vacation

Open a specific savings account for vacation. Not everybody has the discipline to keep saving every month. However, you can set automatic payments into the account such that you won’t even realize when money gets into the account.  You can open an account that enables your money to earn interest.  By the end of the year, you will have saved money as well as gained some more which will help you go for that deserved vacation. You can open an account at your local bank as well as an online bank.

  • Cut Down on Expenses

Minimizing your expenses will help you save your way towards the trip. Be careful not to apply for numerous credit cards as you may find yourself in financial debt making you unable to save for the vacation. Also, such debt may push you into a financial hole making your credit rating drop. Applying for loans will make creditors have authority to access your credit report which is in the form of an inquiry. Every time that happens, your credit rating drops. To avoid such occurrences, there are ways on how to remove credit inquiries from your credit report. (https://creditrepaircompanies.com/credit-inquiries/)

  • Find Ways to Get Extra Income

How much do you need that vacation? Get a side job that is manageable to supplement your full-time job. This could mean sacrificing a few hours during the weekend. The positive side is that it will totally be worth as you will travel to your dream destination knowing you deserve it. You could do some online jobs or simply do some babysitting job.

A strategy is what will determine if the above tips will work in your favor. Have a detailed plan of everything before starting and track your progress. You can even have an accountability partner who is saving for the same as it is easier to keep track and motivate each other.

 

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How to Deal with a Negative Review

You put your heart and soul into building your business. Whether you sell a product or a service, no matter how amazing it is, it’s inevitable you are going to run into a few negative reviews. They can crop up for any number of reasons: the customer is having a bad day; something went wrong with your product/service; what you offer really just wasn’t a good fit with the customer; or perhaps it was the ever-present internet troll (people who will do or say anything to get a rise out of someone). Whatever the reason for the negative review, don’t take it personally.

Here are a few things to consider so you can come out ahead after a bad review.

CREATE A PLAN: In fact, if you have protocols in place ahead of time, then you can be strategic about your response rather than rely on decisions that might be based on an emotional reaction. Regardless of the situation, how you respond shouldn’t differ.

DON’T WAIT TOO LONG TO RESPOND PUBLICLY: Gauge the situation – if it’s an internet troll, they are just looking for an argument. If it’s a credible customer situation, respond strategically within 48 hours. A quick response and an attempt at a positive outcome reflects positively on you. In many cases the review may be edited or deleted if they are happy, but never ask them to remove a bad review.

TAKE IT OFFLINE: While it’s good for everyone to see that you are listening to your customers and are concerned about their experience with your brand, you don’t need to air all the details of the situation publicly. Ask to move the conversation to private message, email, or even a phone call, depending on the situation.

CREATE A DIALOGUE: A bad review is a great opportunity for you to build a strong foundation for a long-term relationship with a customer. You are both human, after all. Show a willingness to work with them, be truthful, but keep it neutral – keep emotion out of your problem-solving.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY: Your customers and potential customers are always listening. A bad review can turn away customers and you may not have a chance to win them back. If more than one person has the same complaint, then you need to take a step back and review your approach – that many people can’t be wrong.

ENCOURAGE CUSTOMER REVIEWS: A great loyalty program or contest can encourage your customers to review you. The goal is to outweigh the bad with the good. You can’t (and shouldn’t) have the negative review removed but the more reviews you have, the more credible you look.

LEARN FROM IT: A negative review is a great chance for you to learn more about what types of customers you shouldn’t Refine your target audience by listening and understanding the value of feedback (both negative and positive). You can also tweak your approach and potentially your product/service offering based on negative reviews. Remember, multiple negative reviews about the same thing means that you are doing something wrong.

A negative review doesn’t have to be the end of the world. How you choose to deal with it will either allow you to come out ahead or fall behind. The important thing to remember is that you can always work to win back favour from your customers if you do it in the right way.

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Visiting Or Living In Hong Kong? Top Attractions To Visit

Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most prominent city states, and over the last few decades, it’s developed its well-deserved reputation as a place which should be on everyone’s travel bucket list. Combining a gorgeous harbor and natural beauty with plenty of attractions to sample, like shopping centers and cultural destinations, there’s so much to do here that you’d need weeks or months to get it all in. But to shorten the list a little, here’s a summary of the top places to visit in this truly global city.

Shopping malls

Hong Kong is one of Asia’s top shopping destinations, and it boasts a whole range of both accessible and top-end malls which are certainly worth checking out if you’re a shopaholic. Those who fancy doing a bit of luxury shopping can head to the Times Square Mall in Causeway Bay, where outlets such as Salvatore Ferragamo and Tiffany can provide you with the goods you’re looking for. And if you’d prefer to head to a mall with some less high-end brands on offer, the Tsuen Wan Plaza Mall has stores like H&M for you to try.

Cultural venues

However, Hong Kong is also known for its many cultural sites. Those who love museums can head to the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui East, for example, where can they learn about everything from the Opium Wars to the influence of Japan on Hong Kong. And if you’d like to visit an art gallery, why not check out the Opera Gallery on Wyndham Street – which features a range of exhibitions and showcases lots of talented artists? There’s no shortage of culture here in Hong Kong, and the best bit of all is that the small size of the city and the top-quality MTR public transit system means that you can easily move on to another venue if you, or any children you have with you, get bored

Schools and colleges

Hong Kong is home to a number of prestigious educational establishments, and whether you’re considering enrolling yourself or your child, or you simply want to see what these buildings look like from the outside, you’re in luck. The University of Hong Kong’s Main Campus in Pokfulam, for example, boasts a beautiful main building designed in a Baroque style. And the school for Americans in Hong Kong on Man Fuk Road in Ho Man Tin is also worth a visit, although tours are by appointment only.

Hong Kong is a fascinating place to live, work or even just to visit, and there’s plenty of culture and fun to soak up just by walking the streets. But if you’re looking for a specific activity, you’ll be spoiled for choice here. Culture vultures and shopping fanatics alike will find something to fill their days with here, and from top shopping venues to amazing educational institutions there are plenty of top attractions to visit in this city – so don’t miss out!

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Tips For First Time Home Owners in 2018

There is no more exciting time in your life than buying your first home. Although it is a big commitment, it marks a major milestone and gives you somewhere to call your own. Whether you plan to move in by yourself or with your partner, it really is a wonderful time.

Of course, as a first-time buyer, you have not been through the whole process before. This can make it all seem a little confusing or overwhelming. If you feel like you need some help in making that first move, read on.

The best tips for first-time buyers in 2018

With so much to think about, it is always worth getting a few tips on how best to approach buying your first home. The below should give you just the helping hand you need:

  • Think about location – This first tip actually is for before you buy your new home, but it’s worth factoring in anyway. Be sure to fully consider the location of any home you buy and what amenities it has close by. Also, be sure to check how easy it is to get to your work and any transport links available. All this will make sure you own your first home in an area that is suitable for your needs.

 

  • Get to know your neighbors – In fact, it is great to get to know as many people in the local area of your new home as possible. Not only will this help you settle into your house but also help you integrate into the community. It will also mean that there are plenty of people to call on for help or advice if needed.

 

  • Choose a home warranty – Ideally, you should try to take out a home warranty as a first-time home owner. These warranties are to cover against the repair or replacement of the major appliances and systems in your home. It is much safer and easier to budget for than suddenly getting a huge bill when your boiler or central heating system fails in the winter months.

 

  • Think about your finances – Making sure to really think about your finances when you become a home owner is key. This is especially important for first-time buyers who might not have a lot of savings left in the bank to fall back on. These considerations should start before even buying your home, by asking yourself the question ‘How much home can I afford?’ and using this formula of 28% of your gross income to be sure. Once you are settled into your home, make sure to devise a budget to keep yourself financially stable.

Owning your own home is fantastic

There is no doubt that owning your own home is amazing as a first-time buyer. While there are lots of things to think about, both before and after the move, you will love having your own sanctuary to relax in. Take the time to think about the above tips and you will be able to look forward to a blissfully happy time in your new home.

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5 Ways Of Making Your Business More Profitable

Every business owner wants their business to be as profitable and healthy as possible, but what are the most effective methods of achieving this? Let’s take a look at five of them.

Invest Profits Wisely

Your business will never be able to improve its profitability if you aren’t able to make good use of the profits you are generating now. To invest your profits wisely, you will need to focus on ensuring that you are always making the most informed and considered decisions possible when it comes to investing your money. Achieving appreciable and sustainable business growth needs to be built on solid foundations. Therefore, the first thing you should do is to ensure that you have an accurate overview of your current financial situation.

Adding enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to your business’ infrastructure will allow the different departments that comprise your business to share data directly with one another. This means that all your departments will be able to work together with maximum efficiency and harmony. With the most accurate financial data possible available to you, you will be able to formulate detailed corporate strategies.

Look for Ways to Cut Costs

In business, you should always be on the lookout for ways that you can bring your costs down. There is a multitude of approaches you can take to reducing costs, depending upon the individual circumstances of your business. One of the most common ways that modern businesses can save themselves money is by introducing automation into their supply lines.

The opportunities for automation are growing by the day. As well as allowing repetitive and tedious administrative tasks, such as completing payroll, to be handled automatically, automation is also finding a growing number of uses in other areas of business. Any business looking for an immediate way to bring their costs down should investigate the potential to introduce automation to some of their everyday business processes.

If your business uses any specialised services, such as payment processing services, investigate whether switching to another provider could be an effective cost-cutting measure. For example, if your business needs to make regular international payments, look for a payment processor who will be able to handle those payments for a reduced cost. Look to services such as SWIFT GPI, which you can access through AccessPay.

Make Smarter Marketing Decisions

Many businesses make the mistake of thinking that by simply throwing money at their marketing campaigns, they can generate appreciable increases in both awareness and profitability. In actual fact, to receive the best ROI on their marketing campaigns, businesses should look to make smarter marketing decisions. Often, embracing the seemingly more rudimentary and low-tech marketing techniques out there can save a business a considerable amount of money while achieving their desired goal of increased profitability.

Instead of building your next marketing drive around a sophisticated digital advertising campaign, why not embrace a more guerrilla approach? Guerrilla marketing encourages businesses to look for more cost-effective ways of getting their marketing message out to as wide an audience as possible. There are a variety of techniques utilised in guerrilla marketing. Generally, they involve incorporating the local environment into the marketing, for example, by putting up stickers and other homemade media.

Seek Additional Funding

If you need a quick injection of cash into your business to enhance its profitability, you might want to look at generating some additional funding. There are many ways of going about this. If your business is in a secure state financially, you might want to approach private equity and venture capital firms about potential investments. However, in today’s world, there is an endless number of ways you can go about funding your business.

Focus on Customer Loyalty

It is much more expensive to acquire a new customer than it is to retain an old one. You should, therefore, make sure that you invest properly in maintaining customer loyalty, whether through some kind of rewards program or through general customer outreach. However, you go about it, improving customer loyalty is a crucial step in creating a more profitable business.

A businesses profits are often the best indicator of its overall health. A business that isn’t profitable is one that is clearly in danger. Enhancing your profitability requires a long-term commitment. It is no good taking short-term measures unless they lead to long-term change in your corporate structure.