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Money

How to make the most out of the funding opportunities in your area

It is great to take advantage of funding opportunities, especially in scenarios where a business can’t fund their own project. There are lots of opportunities on the market right now to get funding for your business. For example, Green Deal First are offering ongoing funding opportunities for suppliers needing to fulfill their energy company obligation.

Below are a few ways you can guarantee making the most out of funding opportunities in your local area.

Be specific and concise

When you’re applying for funding, make sure you are specific about the question you are answering and you have actually answered it! When a funder is reading your application, they should feel confident that they know exactly how their money will be spent.

Rather than giving long winded explanations of exactly how each pound will be used, consider using bullet points and brief facts to get your point across. A good starting point would be to write a draft that includes every detail you can think of, then work on cutting it down from there, keeping the bare essentials.

Research and contact

Do some research into the company you’re applying for funding from. Firstly, you need to know whether or not that particular funding body will be interested in the activities of your business. If they have a website, be sure to read through it. Do some reading elsewhere online or in local publications to see what kind of projects they have funded previously.

Never be afraid to contact a funding body you’re interested in working with. Finding out whether or not they would be interested in your project first hand, means that you don’t waste your time on the application. A phone call is also a great opportunity to find out any basic criteria the team looks for, like a minimum number of directors. Most funders are able to sniff out blanket emails, no matter how professional they seem, and they don’t like them, so avoid these at all costs.

Be Persistent

Funding proposals are often rejected on the first attempt. Do not interpret a rejection as someone saying your idea isn’t good enough! In fact, they are a chance to revise your proposal and submit to that body again, or go to a different funder. If you are left with no feedback or don’t hear back from the body, get in touch with them. Take any criticism seriously, address them then move forward.

Being polite and persistent can pay off endlessly. Investors don’t always have time to follow up on every project they come across, so popping up again after a few days of silence can work in your favour. However, there is a fine line between persistence and being pushy. Take care not to cross it. If after reaching out several times you still haven’t received a response, it’s time to move on.

Although the above tips should be considered when applying for funding, it is important to avoid the temptation to mould your project to fit the funding requirements. Apply for grants that suit your project, rather than forcing your project to fit and you will be able to take full advantage of funding opportunities in your area.

How To Save Money?

As a Mother, no penny goes to waste. There’s always something else you need to buy or an emergency that you need to cover. When everything puts pressure on your wallet, you feel the need to save a few bucks.

We gathered a few great tips on how to save money while still caring for your baby and having fun. Let’s go!

Keep an eye out for hand-me-downs

Babies grow extremely fast, and many parents are left with boxes of clothes that their baby barely got the time to wear. Instead of investing big amounts of money into clothes, shoes or toys, ask around among your friends and family. They probably have some things to give or they know someone who does.

Keep the receipts for everything

No matter if you buy a new bottle, a colorful onesie or a wooden baby chair, make sure you keep the receipts. Chances are that you will not have the chance to use that item before your baby outgrows it, or simply you receive a similar one as a gift. You can easily return them and put that money aside or spend it on something necessary.

Do your research

There are millions of baby products on the market, and they all promise to do something for you. Some gadgets may seem necessary, but in reality you may not even need them. Sure, everyone is buying a stroller, but do you really need one if you like babywearing?

Before buying anything because all your friends swear by it, do your research and think if it fits your lifestyle and your expectations.

Ask for discounts for children

Many places have discounts for children; from restaurants and coffee shops to themed parks and zoo’s. If your child is old enough to pay for a ticket but young enough to get the discount, don’t hesitate to ask for it; it might not seem like a huge amount now, but all these expenses add up.

Buy in bulk

Whenever you can, buy in bulk. Diapers, cosmetics, toiletries, dry food that does not have a short expiry date; all these cost much, much less when you buy big amounts of them. This also gives you the chance to search for the best price and to save some money by taking less trips to the grocery store.

Once you get into the habit of buying large quantities, you will never be willing to run to the store for a single bottle of baby shampoo.

How To Get Your Finances In Order

Personal Finances are a challenge for many people. We are educated to believe that we need to make as much money as possible and that we need to buy things to keep ourselves happy. However, we have very little information on how to budget our money, how to save them and how to turn them into a safety net. This is what you have to do to get your finances in order!

Know your debt

In a world where credit cards are widely available and common, the majority of the people have some kind of debt. Student loans, credit cards, mortgage, car payments, all these can add up to incredible amounts. When you don’t know exactly how much you owe, it is easy to neglect paying them back.

The first thing you need to do is to write down all your debt and understand how much interest you pay for every single loan. Once you have this figured out, you can move on to the next step.

Make payment plans

Even if the interest seems small, it adds up, especially on big amounts and over the years. Even if you can’t afford to pay all your loans in a few years, make sure you have a stable (and realistic) payment plan. When possible, pay more than the due monthly amount.

A simple trick that you can apply is to save your loose change for the entire month then deposit it towards your loans at the end of the month. It may not seem like much, but it makes a huge difference in the end.

Have a budget for everything

And by this, I mean every single thing. When you get your paycheck, sit down with a calculator and plan your budget. Put money aside for groceries, for gas, for clothing, for fun times, home improvement and whatever else is needed.

When you spend money from a smaller budget, you tend to be more careful towards your spending. Plus, you will know exactly how much money you can spare.

Helpful tip: save first. Put the designated amount in your savings account at the beginning of the month, not at the end, so you don’t get tempted to spend them.

Apply a “stand-by” rule for big expenses

It is much easier if you implement this rule for all members of your household. Whenever you want to buy something that is more expensive (you can set the amount depending on your income), you have to keep it in “stand-by” for 10 days. If you still feel the need to buy it after 10 days, go ahead.

How To Increase The Value Of Your Home?

The Real Estate industry is moving very quickly, and it can be a challenge to maintain high the value of your Home. While there are many things that you can’t control and that are taken into consideration, such as your neighbors or the schools in the neighborhood, there are other things that will definitely help you. These are the main things to consider:

Keep your front lawn as beautiful as possible

Sure, this may require a few weekly hours of work from your family and a small investment in lawn, but it is what any visitor sees first. Luckily, there are many plants and arrangements that are made to last with little to no care, so the only thing left to do is to water and clean them.

If you don’t have the time to do this on your own or you don’t feel you are particularly good at it, for sure you can find someone in the neighborhood willing to make a few extra bucks.

Don’t postpone repairs

When there’s something that needs to be done, do it with the first chance you get. The more you postpone fixing things around the house, the more damage is done. Water infiltration, cracked walls or stained paint will go worse and worse as the time goes by, and it can create serious issues if you ignore them for long.

Yes, you may have to make an effort to fix all problems immediately, but you will be thankful you did so on the long term.

Invest in high-quality materials and furniture

Your home is not the place where you should save money if it affects quality. Sure, there are times for crafts, but only if it does not potentially damage the value and safety of your home.

Spend some extra bucks and buy strong, sturdy and long-lasting furniture instead of the cheap and light one. Hire professionals to work on your electric grid instead of asking your friend to make it for you.

Don’t invest in superficial things

Sure, it is very nice to come home to a bedroom that has all the right candles, blankets and pillows, but is it the best business move? In reality, when you sell your home, they won’t be interested in buying these things. Don’t spend too much on decorations, especially in those that need to be changed in the next season. A fur blanket is nice, but it will not be as comfortable in the summer.

How To Be An Entrepreneur And A Mom

Motherhood can turn your life upside down, but it will also be a fascinating and exciting adventure. Becoming an Entrepreneur too will take even more of your time, but it will also fulfill your ambitions and goals and it will teach your children that with hard work and desire, you can achieve anything. Are there are tips and tricks to combine them both successfully and still have time for yourself?

Improve your time-management skills

This is probably one of the most important things when you decide that you want to be an Entrepreneur, especially if you are already a Mom. You have to learn how to divide your time fairly between your family and your business, and how to tackle your to-do lists every single day.

If you find yourself being busy without being productive, it is time to create a schedule for yourself. While emergencies will still appear, you will know when you should focus on your children, when you should manage your business and when you have an hour to relax.

Delegate

Mothers have the tendency to take everything upon themselves, from small tasks to important ones. In order to have enough time and energy to invest in your business, you need to know when and what to delegate. Your friends and family will be happy to help you with simple tasks like bringing your groceries or running an errand. You don’t have to do everything; focus on important things!

Set realistic deadlines and goals

You have your own rhythm and priorities, and you should not compete with anyone. It does not matter how fast you should do something, according to other people. If you need two months instead of one to launch a new product, then this is how it will be. If you don’t have time to cook every single meal from scratch and your family gets takeout once per week, that’s great! As long as all of you are healthy, happy and on a path to success, details don’t really matter.

Be creative

Sometimes, you will have to pack your orders while reading a story to your baby. You can answer e-mails when you wait to pick them up from the kindergarten or you can check bills while they are playing in the sand. You have to be creative to adjust your lifestyle and to find new ways to combine the best of both worlds.